Examining the Experiences of Atheist Undergraduate Students' Navigation of Stigma on Campus

• In Event: Spirituality in K–12 and Postsecondary Classroom Settings

Abstract

This phenomenological study employs Goffman’s (1963) theory on stigmatized identities as well models of atheist identity formation (LeDrew, 2013; Smith, 2011) to explore atheist undergraduate students’ experiences of navigating their atheism on campus. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with each of the nine participants. Findings indicate the students employ various strategies on campus to navigate the social information pertaining to their atheism. Strategies include passing, indirect disclosure, hedging, and probing. Moreover, participants experience a lack of contexts or spaces in which to disclose or discuss their atheism. Although students reported few experiences of social tension arising on campus due to their atheism, they all expressed avoiding the topic out of concern that tension could occur.

Author

• Gerald Von Bourdeau, University of Houston