This study explores library and information science (LIS) program websites from a recruitment and marketing standpoint and sheds light on the availability of diversity - related content. LIS and higher education literature suggests that the Internet and program websites are crucial when it comes to prospective students’ graduate school selection. Using Berelson’s (1952) quantitative content analysis technique, the researchers examined faculty profiles, diversity statements, diversity-related courses, funding opportunities, achievements, and student organizations on program websites. The data indicates that, collectively, LIS programs are successful in sharing information on funding as well as highlighting faculty scholarship related to diversity. Greater emphasis could be placed on crafting and displaying diversity statements; designing, offering, and listing diversity - related courses beyond survey courses; consistently showcasing diversity-related achievements and events; and encouraging and supporting diversity-related student groups. This research has implications for fostering more strategic diversity-related initiatives.
In this paper, we use the topic of breast cancer as an example of health crisis erasure in both informational and institutional contexts, particularly within the transgender and gender-nonconforming population. Breast cancer health information conforms and defaults to conventional cultural associations with femininity, as is the case with pregnancy and other “single-sex” conditions (Surkan, 2015). Many health information and research practices normalize sexualities, pathologize non-normative gender (Drescher et al., 2012; Fish, 2008; Müller, 2018), and fail to recognize gender-nonconforming categories (Frohard‐Dourlent et al., 2017). Because breast cancer health information is sexually normalized, an information boundary exists for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly among transgender and gender-nonconforming adults who are at greater risk of discrimination in healthcare settings (Casey et al., 2019). Transgender and gender-nonconforming people experience unique marginalization and risk with respect to breast cancer. We call upon and propose library and information research, education, and practice opportunities inclusive of the health information needs of transgender and gender-nonconforming populations.
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