Proceedings of the World Conference on Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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“I’ve Come to Tolerate it”: The Evolution of African International Students’ Perspectives on Homosexuality After Enrolling in U.S. Research Universities
Bismark Bimpong
ABSTRACT:
International students bring a multitude of benefits to U.S. society. They offer unique perspectives and experiences stemming from diverse cultural, religious, and societal backgrounds. This study explores the perceptions of AIS in research universities in the U.S regarding the practice of homosexuality. Using a qualitative purposive sampling method and a thematic analysis, the authors selected 13 participants from various African countries studying at different research universities in the U.S. The study offers valuable insights into how African international students navigate a new cultural environment, specifically in relation to their perspectives on homosexuality. The findings revealed that many AIS initially held negative views on homosexuality due to strong cultural and religious influences from their home countries. However, over time spent in the U.S., their perspective evolved. A major contribution made is the importance of research universities considering offering specialized services to cater for the needs of LGBTQ+ international students.
keywords: homosexuality, LGBTQ+, African international students (AIS), United States (U.S.)