Randy Ott

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

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Candidate: Randy Ott

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology

Title: White Male College Students: An Examination of Identity Development, Masculinity, and Institutional Connections

Committee:
Dr. Andrea Beach, Chair
Dr. Donna Talbot
Dr. William Arnold
Dr. Bradford Winkler

Date: Friday, November 4, 2011 10:00 a.m. to Noon
2211 Sangren Hall

Abstract:
White, male college (WCM) students have been a central focus of researchers in higher education throughout its existence, but have not been studied as a group whose identity development is a key issue. This study focused on WCM, their masculinity levels, and how their past connections with peers, instructors, or staff influenced their White identity development. A phenomenological research approach was used to learn about the lived experiences of eight WCM. The eight WCM were at least junior status at a medium size, Midwestern, public university.
The results point to multiple conclusions and themes. This study supported and deepened prior research that all groups within the university impact WCM. WCM can make connections with peers, instructors, and or staff, but those connections typically happen within different contexts and start under different circumstances. Participants felt that their peer connections were most important and influential. The masculine characteristics of the participants did not hinder them from connecting with others within the university. Interesting pieces of information tied to how WCM view instructors differently than peers or staff emerged. In addition, this study presented data detailing how students use humor to talk about race with their peers, and how their participants felt their education and current views about race began at home before entering college.
A positive White identity typically brings about stable psychological health, higher quality of life, comfort in multicultural environments, and less prejudice towards differing cultures (Ponterotto, Utsey, & Pederson, 2006). Thus, these findings can have implications for an entire university community.