Generative Ritual Among Nonmetropolitan Lesbians and Gay Men: Promoting Social Inclusion |
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Authors: | Ramona Faith Oswald Brian P Masciadrelli |
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Institution: | 1. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign;2. State University of New York at Fredonia *;3. Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice, W377 Thompson Hall, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY 14063. |
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Abstract: | Generativity is typically studied as a normative adult inclination expressed through social roles (D.P. McAdams & E. de St. Aubin, 1992). We extend this research by examining generativity through the lenses of social marginality and ritual. Toward this end, we utilize in‐depth interview and observational data about family rituals from 49 downstate Illinois residents who participated in a larger survey of nonmetropolitan lesbian and gay life. We first examine their ritual intentions and the locations where they are enacted. Then we identify what makes the rituals generative and identify their facilitating and moderating conditions. The findings suggest a distinction between normative and queer generativity. Our final product is a substantive grounded theory of generativity among sexual minorities that extends current theory. |
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Keywords: | adult development and aging community family rituals gay grounded theory lesbian midlife |
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