Related projects

I Will Survive! Study

The Study: The I Will Survive! Study [IWSS] is a grounded theory investigation of the experiences of LGBTQ youth with offline and online media and technology, and the impact of these experiences on their resilience and identity development. A pilot investigation which Project #Queery is building upon, IWSS took the form of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 19 LGBTQ young adults in Toronto, Canada. Participants were a diverse population of avid offline and online media consumers, with a wealth of relevant experiences and insights. Many publications and presentations have resulted from this work.

Summary of Results: IWSS found that while offline media offered escapism and some limited representation of LGBTQ identities, online media was the crucial developmental environment for LGBTQ youth. The Internet offered the highly engaged participants with crucial spaces for identity development and resilience-building activities, and generated critical opportunities to build communities and access resources relevant to their identities.

Publications

Craig, S. L., & McInroy, L. B., McCready, L. T., Di Cesare, D. M., & Pettaway, L. D. (2015). Connecting without fear: Clinical implications of the consumption of information and communication technologies by sexual minority youth and young adults. Clinical Social Work Journal, 43(2), 159-168.
Craig, S. L., McInroy, L. B., McCready, L. T. & Alaggia, R. (2015). Media: A catalyst for resilience in sexual minority youth. Journal of LGBT Youth, 12(3), 254-275.

McInroy, L. B., & Craig, S. L. (2015). Transgender representation in offline and online media: LGBTQ youth perspectives. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 25(6), 606-617.

Craig, S. L., & McInroy, L. (2014). You can form a part of yourself online: The influence of new media on identity development and coming out for LGBTQ youth. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 18(1), 95-109.

Craig, S. L., McInroy, L., Alaggia, R., & McCready, L. T. (2014). “Like picking up a seed, but you haven’t planted it”: Queer youth analyze the It Gets Better Project. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 5(1), 204-219.