"Far from being the reflection of an inner drive, [Gray] argue[s] that youth identities are cultural assemblages that work with the materials on hand" (551-567). So Mary L. Gray, in her book Out in the Country, does not see identity as an individual thing, but as a cultural, social construction as posed by theorists like Barbara Ponse and Anselm Strauss. Gray posits that she investigates "rural queer-youth identities as performative, socially mediated moments of being . . . ." (584-601).
In light of these statements, then, I would like to look at one particular statement she makes later in this chapter. Gray notes, sadly, that there were in her study only "small numbers of young women and youth of color of different gender available and/or able to participate . . . ." (665-682). The lack of racial diversity, she believes, "superficially reflects the ethnic makeup and distribution typical of rural communities in these regions" (665-682). The regions she mentions here are the rural areas of Kentucky and it's bordering states: what is known as the Central Appalachian Region (or my stomping grounds).
So why, out of 34 participants, did only 11 identity as women? The answer to this is pretty obvious to me but still interesting. As Gray states, "the rural young women [she] met were 'highly aware that a lot was at stake for them because of their desire'" (665-698). Not only are these women identifying as lesbians, but they are actually admitting to having sexual desires.... period!! A no-no in our culture. Women are not suppose to have sexual desires for the opposite sex, much less the same sex. Gray comments that "several young women [she] met were willing to talk about their experiences but were unwilling to document them or consent to have them included in this research for fear of 'blowing their cover' as more that a few young people put it" (682-698).
Here is what is sad. I still feel this way when I am at home in the Blue Ridge mountains. I struggled long and hard on whether or not to "facebook friend" people I knew in HS because I knew I would be outted. I would be blowing my cover and possibly subjecting my family to.... well, I'm not sure what they might be subjected too. Maybe it was just an excuse for me, but in the end, I decided that if these HS friends wanted to "reconnect" with me, they would just have to learn who I really am. Let 'em "unfriend" me if they can't deal with it!!
This concludes the first chapter where Gray has set up the theories that she uses in her case studies and the methods she incorporates. I look forward to the rest of Gray's text and seeing how rural youth see themselves as members of an LGBT community.
In light of these statements, then, I would like to look at one particular statement she makes later in this chapter. Gray notes, sadly, that there were in her study only "small numbers of young women and youth of color of different gender available and/or able to participate . . . ." (665-682). The lack of racial diversity, she believes, "superficially reflects the ethnic makeup and distribution typical of rural communities in these regions" (665-682). The regions she mentions here are the rural areas of Kentucky and it's bordering states: what is known as the Central Appalachian Region (or my stomping grounds).
So why, out of 34 participants, did only 11 identity as women? The answer to this is pretty obvious to me but still interesting. As Gray states, "the rural young women [she] met were 'highly aware that a lot was at stake for them because of their desire'" (665-698). Not only are these women identifying as lesbians, but they are actually admitting to having sexual desires.... period!! A no-no in our culture. Women are not suppose to have sexual desires for the opposite sex, much less the same sex. Gray comments that "several young women [she] met were willing to talk about their experiences but were unwilling to document them or consent to have them included in this research for fear of 'blowing their cover' as more that a few young people put it" (682-698).
Here is what is sad. I still feel this way when I am at home in the Blue Ridge mountains. I struggled long and hard on whether or not to "facebook friend" people I knew in HS because I knew I would be outted. I would be blowing my cover and possibly subjecting my family to.... well, I'm not sure what they might be subjected too. Maybe it was just an excuse for me, but in the end, I decided that if these HS friends wanted to "reconnect" with me, they would just have to learn who I really am. Let 'em "unfriend" me if they can't deal with it!!
This concludes the first chapter where Gray has set up the theories that she uses in her case studies and the methods she incorporates. I look forward to the rest of Gray's text and seeing how rural youth see themselves as members of an LGBT community.
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