Parenthood is a valued ideology for people in the United States. However, there are barriers that decrease the possibility of parenthood for sexual minority individuals, one of which may be a lack of inclusive sexual education as youth are unprepared to make informed decisions about future parenthood. There are also ongoing disparities such that sexual minority youth (SMY) report receiving less sexual education than their cisgender heterosexual peers. Research suggests that inclusive sexual education may inform how people think about future parenthood, but this work has not yet been conducted in the context of sexual minority adults’ perceptions of future parenthood. The current study, a secondary data analysis of 433 sexual minority childfree adults’ perceptions of parenthood, aimed to rectify this gap by analyzing open-ended responses of sexual minority adults’ recollections of sexual education from parents and quantitative associations with future parenthood. We hypothesize that perceptions of future parenthood (i.e., desires and intentions) will be associated with empowering and heteronormative themes. We also hypothesize that sexual education from parents for SMY will be associated with the stigmatization of sexual behavior and these intended themes will be associated with perceptions of future parenthood. Thematic analysis of responses is ongoing, with planned quantitative analyses investigating associations between future parenthood and developed themes following completion of the thematic analysis. Understanding SMY’s experiences with sexual education will provide information to parents on how to better educate their children about empowering sexual practices and planned family formation.

French, being a gendered language, presents unique linguistic challenges to the efforts of LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Activists are calling for accommodating pronouns and other grammatical functions. This research project provides background on the nature of French gendered language, the linguistics surrounding language change, as well as the cultural factors attributed to the gender-neutral language conversation. This qualitative literature review will provide various perspectives on the creation, evolution, and implementation of gender inclusivity in the French language, such as from l’Académie Française, as well as an examination of the ways the French language is adapting to changes in societal perceptions of gender identity. This review will also examine the gaps within this linguistic field and present further recommendations for this societal evolution for French speakers.

Gaps in the literature concerned a lesser focus on the citizen’s perspective during a police encounter as well as the neighborhood factor when analyzing stereotype threat. The disproportionate number of Black Americans who are victims of police brutality has been an ongoing issue throughout the country. Past and ongoing research seeks answers as to why police encounters with citizens of color result in many negative experiences including cases of brutality, arrest, and death. The disproportionate targeting of Black Americans has resulted in mass incarceration where Black Americans are majorly overrepresented compared to their white counterparts (Initiative, 2022). Research results have yielded responses pointing to officers’ stereotype threat built around race and perceiving black as being dangerous. The following research conducted works to understand how the preconceived notion of what a low versus high-risk neighborhood is affects police and Black American encounters. A qualitative study surveying formerly incarcerated individuals gets a first-hand account of a police encounter. This paper argues that the location in which a police and citizen encounter took place influences both the officer and citizen’s stereotype threat and the following actions and outcome of an interaction. Keywords: Black Americans, police brutality, encounter, stereotype threat, incarcerated

This research project explores the intersection between misogyny and the incel (involuntary celibate) subculture. With online communities rapidly growing and becoming a source of expression for large groups of individuals, can these communities perpetuate or encourage violence against others? Although most social media platforms can be highly mediated, platforms like Reddit offer a degree of anonymity that gives users a sense of protection, allowing them to comfortably engage in conversation with other individuals. Incels (involuntary celibates) are a subculture of men who blame women for their inability to form romantic relationships. Incels hold deep misogynistic beliefs that are most commonly expressed through online forums. Using qualitative content analysis, themes and patterns that emerge from online content will be examined. Expressions of misogyny and other negative and hurtful attitudes toward women will be the focus. The analysis will identify themes relating to toxic masculinity, misogyny, acts of violence, mental health issues, and attitudes toward women. The ways incels form and maintain their identities and the role of online communities in shaping their beliefs will also be examined. The study's results will contribute to the overall understanding of the incel subculture and provide insight into the broader issue of misogyny and its impact on society. Individuals interested in understanding the complex dynamics of online communities, such as policymakers and mental health professionals, will find the findings relevant.