Category
Oral - Applied
Description
The issue of transgenderism has been part of prominent public and academic discussions in recent years and as such ought to be addressed by communication scholars. One area of communication research that is missing from the current body of literature is that of preferred pronoun usage amongst religious groups, particularly Christians. This study offers insight into this issue by answering the following research questions: how do members of Generation Z attending a Christian university adapt or not adapt their communication to accommodate individuals who identify as transgender? and what motivates members of Generation Z attending a Christian university to adapt or not adapt their communication to accommodate individuals who identify as transgender? A qualitative survey of Generation Z college students attending a Christian university was conducted to assess their perspectives. This survey was then analyzed via thematic coding through the lens of Communication Accommodation Theory. Results indicate these students have varying approaches to communicating with and about those who identify as transgender, with some gravitating toward the use of accommodating language and some gravitating toward nonaccommodation. The desire to communicate love and express their own beliefs characterized their motivations for varying these approaches. The results of this study can be utilized by pastors, policy makers, political candidates, and other scholars to better understand the perspectives of young Christians and their interpersonal communication tendencies with those who identify as transgender.
Transgenderism and pronouns: Assessing the communication practices of Christian college students
Oral - Applied
The issue of transgenderism has been part of prominent public and academic discussions in recent years and as such ought to be addressed by communication scholars. One area of communication research that is missing from the current body of literature is that of preferred pronoun usage amongst religious groups, particularly Christians. This study offers insight into this issue by answering the following research questions: how do members of Generation Z attending a Christian university adapt or not adapt their communication to accommodate individuals who identify as transgender? and what motivates members of Generation Z attending a Christian university to adapt or not adapt their communication to accommodate individuals who identify as transgender? A qualitative survey of Generation Z college students attending a Christian university was conducted to assess their perspectives. This survey was then analyzed via thematic coding through the lens of Communication Accommodation Theory. Results indicate these students have varying approaches to communicating with and about those who identify as transgender, with some gravitating toward the use of accommodating language and some gravitating toward nonaccommodation. The desire to communicate love and express their own beliefs characterized their motivations for varying these approaches. The results of this study can be utilized by pastors, policy makers, political candidates, and other scholars to better understand the perspectives of young Christians and their interpersonal communication tendencies with those who identify as transgender.
Comments
Undergraduate - 1st Place Award Winner