AbstractsLanguage, Literature & Linguistics

This thesis looks at the way that people whose gender identities do not fit into a binary male or female framework communicate those identities in internet spaces that they control. The available literature lacks any thorough examination of non-binary gender individuals, whether in terms of their identity or presentation; this absence is also clear in queer theory. By using a virtual ethnographic framework and selecting sites that focus primarily on non-binary gender identities, certain critical themes come up: identity; visibility; and acceptance. Additionally, these major themes are based both on selfdetermination and acknowledgement by others. These themes also represent a challenge to the dominant narratives around gender, in the queer theory sense of challenging categories. This research opens up multiple new avenues for researchers to examine the different ways that non-binary individuals communicate their identity, and clearly shows that communication of gender identity is an ongoing process. Advisors/Committee Members: Kien, Dr. Grant (advisor), Bell, Dr. Katherine (committee member).