Date
9-19-2023
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Tracy Baker
Keywords
sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, adolescence, microaggressions, microaffirmations, school climate
Disciplines
Counseling | Education
Recommended Citation
Barnhart-Ramirez, Sheila, "The Impact of Microaggressions and Microaffirmations on Safety, Acceptance, and Inclusion for LGBTQ+ Middle School Students: A School Counselor’s Perspective" (2023). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 4800.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4800
Abstract
Despite societal and cultural trends toward acceptance, the LGBTQ+ community continues to endure stressors related to their minority status, often in the form of microaggressions. As the average age of “coming out” is much younger than in years past, a greater number of adolescents are now subject to these same stressors. Accordingly, this qualitative phenomenological study sought to examine the experiences of school counselors who support LGBTQ+ students at the middle school level to determine their perceptions related to safety, acceptance, and inclusion for this vulnerable population. Additionally, the impact of microaggressions and microaffirmations on LGBTQ+ students was explored. This research was shaped by three fundamental research questions: 1) From the perspective of school counselors, what factors related to school climate are most impactful in creating a safe, accepting, and inclusive school community for LGBTQ+ middle school students, 2) what incidents of microaggression have been experienced by LGBTQ+ youth in middle school, as perceived by school counselors, and 3) what incidents of microaffirmation have been experienced by LGBTQ+ youth in middle school, as perceived by school counselors? The sample was comprised of 15 school counselors representing 12 states in the United States. Data was collected through a demographic survey and semi-structured individual interviews conducted via the Zoom virtual conference platform. From these interviews, seven foundational themes emerged, including emerging trends, safety, acceptance, inclusion, microaggressions, microaffirmations, and overcoming obstacles. As LGBTQ+ research historically focuses on individuals of high school age or older, the findings of this study addressed a gap in the literature by considering factors specific to a younger adolescent cohort. Furthermore, insight gained from this research may be used to improve school climate and, consequently, the mental health and well-being of this marginalized population.
