Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Educational Psychology & Research

Committee Chair

Susan Nordstrom

Committee Member

Alexander Pratt

Committee Member

Alison Happel-Parkins

Abstract

This sensory ethnographic study conducted in the summer of 2025 looks at the impact of for us, by us queer spaces on queer young adults working as counselors at a queer youth camp located in a rural Midwestern United States area. Interviews and a researcher journal were used to co-create data with the queer young adult participants and provide sensory information beyond spoken language. Queer theory as presented by Judith Butler (1990, 1993, 2004, 2015) and Sara Ahmed (2006, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021) is considered throughout, as well as ideas of space and place as conceived by Doreen Massey (1993, 1994, 2005). Using creative analytical process (CAP) as put forth by Laurel Richardson (2000), five campfire stories were created to convey not only the data for this project, but also the depth of sensory details and emotion as experienced at camp. Consideration is given to the impact of for us, by us queer spaces in the lives of the queer young adult counselors, the possibility of creating more spaces of this nature beyond the camp, and where the spaces might be able to come to fruition.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Open Access.

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