Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Department

English

Committee Chair

Marcus Wicker

Committee Member

Courtney Santo

Committee Member

Emily Skaja

Abstract

Where Tenderness Begins focuses on the perspective of a queer Filipino American woman in the midst of reckoning with the distinct realities that come with inhabiting one's cultural and sexual identity. Using foundational dynamics with family members and a romantic partner as a framework for understanding the self in relation to others, the speaker dissects the struggle inherent in attempting to keep these lives divided and the pride found in embracing individuality. Food, film, and language serve as vehicles for love and connection to a far-flung heritage and a long-distance relationship. Self-discovery and growth are also considered through various travels over the course of the speaker’s life, either across the United States or around the world. The collection cycles through a diversity of content contained in various poetic forms, further examining the fluidity of the individual via narrative and structure. Poems grapple with the conflict that comes with managing two separate identities before honoring their inherent intersectionality.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Embargoed until 2099-04-01

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Available for download on Wednesday, April 01, 2099

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Archival Statement

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