2008-2009 University Scholar Profile
Mika Turim-Nygren
Mentor: Padgett
Powell
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
"I applied to the University Scholars program because it seemed like a fantastic opportunity to do the kind of intensive research I hope to continue doing in grad school and beyond. I chose an unconventional avenue of research, a sociologically-based creative writing project, influenced by my love for creative non-fiction. I hope to learn not just more about my field of research (current gay and lesbian experiences, and the evolution of gay civil rights), but also about new ways of writing. The idea of literary documentaries fascinates me. I hope to gain the research and interview skills to propel me through similar research projects in the future. I know that the experience I am gaining now, working with my mentor and with others in my department, will be invaluable in accomplishing my future goals."
Courses of Study
Major
English with Creative Writing
Minor
French and Jewish Studies
Research Interests
Creative writing, especially experimental fiction; 20th-century French literature, the ethical complications and questions examined in Jewish Studies, and feminist and queer theory issues
Awards
- Anderson Scholar
- National Merit Scholar
- Florida Bright Futures scholar
- Alexander Grass Award winner
Volunteer Service / Organizations
- Phi Beta Kappa
- TEA Literary Magazine copy editor
Hobbies/Activities
Competitive swing dancer, ink drawing, watercolor painting, photography, traveling, reading and writing
Research Description
Gay and Lesbian Experiences in the Current Social and Political Climate
My research explores the personal experiences of gay and lesbian individuals in the current social and political climate. Attitudes towards homosexuality in the United States are rapidly shifting, and my research attempts to document this rapid change. My project will comprise two components: objective and subjective. For the objective portion of the research, I am studying the history of the gay liberation movement and the evolution of gay civil rights in this country. This part of the research will ground me in the background of gay experiences in the U.S., and equip me to ask relevant questions about the present. For the subjective portion of my research, I am interviewing around 30 individuals who self-identify as gay or lesbian, both college students and older adults, to collect their stories and personal experiences.
I am recruiting interviewees from among personal acquaintances and through organized homosexual or LGBT groups, from cities throughout the state of Florida. These participants have the choice of whether to remain anonymous or not in the final paper. As the aim of my paper is to present their experiences in a creative writing format, what I am most interested in is hearing interviewees' stories in their own words. My interviews explore sexual orientation and identity, encounters with prejudice, and hopes for the future. My final paper will meld these two avenues of research, interspersing personal stories with historical background. The project will explore the current atmosphere of change surrounding homosexuality and try to place that current experience within its historical context. The ultimate aim of the research is also to promote tolerance and solidarity among individuals of diverse sexual orientation. My hopes are that stories presented in a creative format will have a greater impact that a purely sociological or statistical study.
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