Masters Thesis

Me to you: letters from a gay man written from a slouched position

Our knowledge of reality, of what we believe is real, is shaped by our interactions with others. Through these interactions, we create meanings in response to how we view the world and ourselves. Using Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann's theory of Social Construction of Reality, I explore how my interactions with others have shaped how I view myself and the world in which I live. Using a narrative approach and specifically through letters addressed to those who have created my social reality, I show how negative communication messages have shaped my physical body; I slouch. More than a personal narrative, this account attempts to serve as a catalyst for social change. It speaks not just to those who have affected me, but to those who can see themselves in the family members and friends I address in my story. It asks readers to see the reality they have helped to create through a gay person's eyes and hopefully, causes a change in them. I do not assume this is a reflection of all gay people's experiences, but I do show how my story is similar to many others here in the United States, and globally as well. I also suggest companion research, work that examines the opposite of what I write about here; namely, how a straight person's reality is affected when someone they love identifies as being gay.

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