[UUPoly-L] FWD: Request for Volunteers (Research Study on Mixed Sexual Orientation Marriages)

["Steve Caldwell" <stevecaldwell@bellsouth.net>]

Hello,

The following text is a request from Michelle Wolkomir, a sociology
professor in my community.  She is asking for volunteers for a research
study.  See below for details:

===============================================
REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS

I am writing to ask for your help in completing an interview study of
people's experiences in mixed orientation marriages.  In what follows, I
explain why I want to conduct this study and how the interviews would work.

As you are likely aware, our society is enmeshed in many debates about
marriage and the family.  We worry about the discord and divorce that
characterizes many heterosexual marriages, and we argue about whether
same-sex marriages or civil unions should be allowed for same-sex couples.
Much of this disagreement stems from conflicting ideas about the connections
between gender and sexuality and how a family "should" be.  These debates
also  assume that marriage is an either/or (either heterosexual or
homosexual) relationship.  Few people discuss, or are even aware of, the
experiences and difficulties of those who are, or who were, in mixed
orientation marriages.  As a result, little is done to support people who
are (or who have been) in these marriages, and their experiences,
experiences that could teach us much about marital relationships, are too
often ignored.  

I would very much like to help make people's experiences in mixed
orientation marriages--whether or not they are successful--more visible,
understood, and supported in our culture.  I am also interested in
discovering what mixed orientation marriages reveal about our societal ideas
about gender, sexuality and marriage.  To do so, I am conducting an
interview study of people's experiences in mixed orientation marriages.
Interviews will focus on the biographies of participants, their
relationships, and the associated struggles and rewards.  All interviews
will be strictly confidential, and all identifying information will be
omitted or changed.  Each interview will likely take between 1-2 hours and
will be conducted at a convenient time and place for the participant.  At
the conclusion of the study, I can send all participants a report that
summarizes responses but omits identifying information.

Simply put, I cannot do this research without your help.  If you are
interested in being interviewed, or would like to discuss this study further
before making a decision, please contact me either by phone or email at the
numbers or addresses below.  

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Michelle Wolkomir
Associate Professor of Sociology
Co-Director Gender Studies Program
Centenary College of Louisiana
318-869-0441 (home)
318-869-5054 (work)
Email: mwolkomi@centenary.edu
Email: wolkomir@aol.com

===============================================

Thanks,
Steve
=======================
Steve Caldwell
Home:  stevecaldwell@bellsouth.net
Work:  steve.caldwell@barksdale.af.mil
URL -- http://members.aol.com/uuwebman
Blog -- http://liberalfaith.blogspot.com

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