Getting Ready and Getting Unready: How Queer College Women Navigate Their Casual Sexual Experiences

The purpose of this study is to explore how queer women, or people that identify with the label ‘woman’, navigate their casual sexual experiences while attending college or university. Previous studies acknowledge that, while college campuses are arenas for sexual experimentation and identity development for many young adults, students across gender and sexual identities engage with these experiences in both similar and unique ways. Data for this study came from twelve semi-structured interviews with undergraduate and graduate college-attending queer students. These data were analyzed using thematic analysis with a queer theory perspective to broaden the understanding of how sex takes place on campus. By considering experiences beyond the traditional gender binary and heteronormative assumptions, this research suggests more inclusive sexual health and safety practices and recommendations to ensure effective public health and safety for all college students.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Department dc:contributor.department

Sociology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Hodges, Elizabeth

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Johnson, Jennifer A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Harrison, Anthony Kwame
• Catalano, D. Chase J.

• sexual health and safety
• queerness
• gender
• college and university students

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10919/125150

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/125150