Education Commons^™

Nourishing And Thwarting Effects Of Contextual Influences Upon Multiple Dimensions Of Identity: Does Gender Matter?, Christy D. Moran

Christy Moran Craft

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate possible gender differences in the nature and role of the contextual influences (events, experiences, and relationships) that shape multiple dimensions of identity during college. Fifteen college alumni used lifelines to document their identity-shaping experiences during college; two interviews were conducted with each of these alumni. Findings suggest the existence of gender differences in the following areas: types of contextual influences that shape identity during college, reactions to those contextual influences, and attributions of salience to various identity dimensions.