Geographies of Comfort: Exploring the Spaces of Comfort/Discomfort With Graduate LGBTQIA+ STEM Students

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Eighteen
  In Roundtable Session: Experiences of Minoritized Students in STEM (Table 3)

Abstract

Despite efforts to understand the experiences of LGBTQIA+ students on university campuses, less is understood about LGBTQIA+ graduate students who are enrolled in STEM programs. LGBTQIA+ STEM graduate students occupy a unique position compared to their undergraduate counterparts. Graduate students participate in a wider array of social relations and spaces than STEM undergraduate students. In this paper, we explore the spaces which LGBTQIA+ STEM graduate students discuss as comfortable or uncomfortable. By analyzing focus groups and interviews, we named three spatial geographies which students discussed: (a) regional geographies; (b) local geographies; and (c) virtual geographies. We provide examples from interviews or focus groups with students and discuss implications for future research or diversity initiatives.

Authors

• Travis Bouchard, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Aanchal Singh, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Siya Asatkar
  Presenting Author

• Raleigh Margulies
  Presenting Author

• Kaitlan Brandstetter, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Brandon Bakka
  Presenting Author

• Maximilian Sherard, Southern Methodist University
  Presenting Author