title: Exiting the closet daily: Examining the repetitive nature of minority gender and sexual identity self-disclosures.

authors: Stanley, Jessica

subjects: identity

abstract: The process of minority gender and sexual identity self-disclosure is inherently complex. The act of ‘coming out’ is often perceived as a significant, singular event; however, those with lived experiences recognise that it is an ongoing, repetitive experience influenced by varying social contexts—a concept referred to within this research as identity maintenance. Understanding this phenomenon is paramount in addressing the psychosocial realities of LGBTQIA+ people—both individually and collectively—as they navigate the decision to disclose their minority identity in a range of environments, contexts, and interactions. Specifically, this thesis seeks to illuminate the processes of identity maintenance within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand, providing a foundational understanding of the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals. To do so, five research questions were constructed, these include: 1. How do participants interpret their experiences of identity self-disclosure or non-disclosure? 2. What social factors influence the decision to self-disclose minority gender and/or sexual identity? 3. How does the repetitive nature of identity self-disclosure affect participants? 4. How does identity self-disclosure vary in different social environments? and 5. How does language shape identity self-disclosure? This research utilises Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyse qualitative data gathered from a cohort of 10 self-identifying LGBTQIA+ participants. By focusing on lived experiences, the research captures the psychosocial factors involved in self-disclosure practices. Participants were selected through a purposive sampling method, ensuring a range of backgrounds and identities were represented, including age, ethnicity, neurological and physical ability, and religious status. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with each of the 10 participants, and five participants elected to complete a diary entry task following their interview. Participants described navigating their LGBTQIA+ identities across different contexts, drawing on a range of psychosocial tools in their day-to-day practice of identity maintenance. Four themes arose from the findings. Firstly, The Temporality of Identity highlighted how the LGBTQIA+ identity is experienced over time, from early identity development to the long-term, ongoing practice of identity maintenance. Secondly, The Tax of Identity theme identified how participants experienced mental, emotional, and educational taxes as a result of their LGBTQIA+ identity. Thirdly, The Ecology of Identity theme identified the ways in which participants experienced effects from distal and proximal environments on the development and embodiment of their LGBTQIA+ identities. Finally, The Language of Identity theme highlighted how participants engaged with both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication to disclose their LGBTQIA+ identity as well as the social monitoring tools they utilised in disclosure decision-making. The findings of this thesis contribute to existing discourse on LGBTQIA+ identities and form the first known literature on the identity maintenance experiences of Aotearoa’s LGBTQIA+ community. Ultimately, this research highlights the ways in which identity maintenance serves as a beneficial tool for restoring the agency of LGBTQIA+ people in choosing when, where, how, why, and to whom identity self-disclosures will be made.

text: Exiting the closet daily: Examining the repetitive nature of minority gender and sexual identity self-disclosures. The process of minority gender and sexual identity self-disclosure is inherently complex. The act of ‘coming out’ is often perceived as a significant, singular event; however, those with lived experiences recognise that it is an ongoing, repetitive experience influenced by varying social contexts—a concept referred to within this research as identity maintenance. Understanding this phenomenon is paramount in addressing the psychosocial realities of LGBTQIA+ people—both individually and collectively—as they navigate the decision to disclose their minority identity in a range of environments, contexts, and interactions. Specifically, this thesis seeks to illuminate the processes of identity maintenance within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand, providing a foundational understanding of the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals. To do so, five research questions were constructed, these include: 1. How do participants interpret their experiences of identity self-disclosure or non-disclosure? 2. What social factors influence the decision to self-disclose minority gender and/or sexual identity? 3. How does the repetitive nature of identity self-disclosure affect participants? 4. How does identity self-disclosure vary in different social environments? and 5. How does language shape identity self-disclosure? This research utilises Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyse qualitative data gathered from a cohort of 10 self-identifying LGBTQIA+ participants. By focusing on lived experiences, the research captures the psychosocial factors involved in self-disclosure practices. Participants were selected through a purposive sampling method, ensuring a range of backgrounds and identities were represented, including age, ethnicity, neurological and physical ability, and religious status. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with each of the 10 participants, and five participants elected to complete a diary entry task following their interview. Participants described navigating their LGBTQIA+ identities across different contexts, drawing on a range of psychosocial tools in their day-to-day practice of identity maintenance. Four themes arose from the findings. Firstly, The Temporality of Identity highlighted how the LGBTQIA+ identity is experienced over time, from early identity development to the long-term, ongoing practice of identity maintenance. Secondly, The Tax of Identity theme identified how participants experienced mental, emotional, and educational taxes as a result of their LGBTQIA+ identity. Thirdly, The Ecology of Identity theme identified the ways in which participants experienced effects from distal and proximal environments on the development and embodiment of their LGBTQIA+ identities. Finally, The Language of Identity theme highlighted how participants engaged with both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication to disclose their LGBTQIA+ identity as well as the social monitoring tools they utilised in disclosure decision-making. The findings of this thesis contribute to existing discourse on LGBTQIA+ identities and form the first known literature on the identity maintenance experiences of Aotearoa’s LGBTQIA+ community. Ultimately, this research highlights the ways in which identity maintenance serves as a beneficial tool for restoring the agency of LGBTQIA+ people in choosing when, where, how, why, and to whom identity self-disclosures will be made.

year: 2024

title: Capacity-testing as a means of increasing political inclusion

authors: Munn, Nicholas

subjects: voting

abstract: Some competent political actors, primarily young people and the cognitively impaired, are excluded from political participation by modern liberal democratic states. This exclusion occurs because the means utilized by states to distinguish between competent citizens (who must be included) and incompetent ones (who may be excluded) are imperfect. They include age restrictions on enfranchisement and, commonly, legal restrictions on enfranchisement for those with cognitive disabilities. Capacity-testing provides a means to improve on these existing mechanisms for exclusion. It is not, however, often suggested, nor seen as viable. Here, I argue that we should utilize capacity-testing to more effectively include capable citizens in our democratic practice. I defend a particular scope and kind of capacity-testing against common objections.

text: Capacity-testing as a means of increasing political inclusion Some competent political actors, primarily young people and the cognitively impaired, are excluded from political participation by modern liberal democratic states. This exclusion occurs because the means utilized by states to distinguish between competent citizens (who must be included) and incompetent ones (who may be excluded) are imperfect. They include age restrictions on enfranchisement and, commonly, legal restrictions on enfranchisement for those with cognitive disabilities. Capacity-testing provides a means to improve on these existing mechanisms for exclusion. It is not, however, often suggested, nor seen as viable. Here, I argue that we should utilize capacity-testing to more effectively include capable citizens in our democratic practice. I defend a particular scope and kind of capacity-testing against common objections.

year: 2012

title: The development of guidelines for indigenous research ethics in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

authors: Hudson, Maui

abstract: The development of Indigenous frameworks for research ethics has been a key component of progressing Indigenous aspirations for research around the world. They have provided a focal point for challenging approaches to research that prioritise non-Indigenous methods and values, and allow non-Indigenous researchers to claim expert status over Indigenous peoples, places and knowledges. The theme of self-determination underpins contemporary approaches to Indigenous development and the repositioning of state-Indigenous nation relationships. This paper describes the background, development, and implementation by Māori communities and researchers of an Indigenous ethical framework in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

text: The development of guidelines for indigenous research ethics in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The development of Indigenous frameworks for research ethics has been a key component of progressing Indigenous aspirations for research around the world. They have provided a focal point for challenging approaches to research that prioritise non-Indigenous methods and values, and allow non-Indigenous researchers to claim expert status over Indigenous peoples, places and knowledges. The theme of self-determination underpins contemporary approaches to Indigenous development and the repositioning of state-Indigenous nation relationships. This paper describes the background, development, and implementation by Māori communities and researchers of an Indigenous ethical framework in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

year: 2016