“No Pumps Allowed”: The “Problem” With Gender Expression and the Morehouse College “Appropriate Attire Policy”

Abstract

Within higher education literature, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been lauded for their exceptional ability to provide African American students with culturally engaging academic and social environments. While the aforementioned may be true, much of this literature has presented HBCU students and these institutions as monolithic entities, with little regard to the ways social identities (e.g., gender, gender identity, sexual identities) shape students' undergraduate experiences. This investigation uses critical discourse analysis to explore the media's coverage and reactions to the Morehouse College appropriate attire policy in order to examine how their campus stakeholders problematized gender expression within this HBCU context. Implications for this research provides insights into how HBCU communities can both recognize and respond to the needs of their diverse queer student populations. This study concludes with highlighting new advancements being made on HBCU campuses that illustrate how they are making their campuses more inclusive of queer students.

Losing Herself to Save Herself: Perspectives on Conservatism and Concepts of Self for Black Women Aspiring to the HBCU Presidency

“…Limitations on free speech and self‐expression at HBCUs has been explored by various scholars and media outlets (Harper and Gasman ; Patton and Simmons ; Patton ; Ball ; Williams ; Mobley and Johnson, ). Political issues, differential treatment, and ostracism due to perceived sexual orientations and dress presentation including clothing, accessories, and hair are beginning to be a popular discussion topic (Harper and Gasman ; Patton ; Ball ; Patton ; Mobley and Johnson, ). Some HBCUs have established conservative dress codes that must be followed in order to attend the institution (Harper and Gasman ; Patton ; Ball ; Patton ; Mobley and Johnson ).…”

“…Political issues, differential treatment, and ostracism due to perceived sexual orientations and dress presentation including clothing, accessories, and hair are beginning to be a popular discussion topic (Harper and Gasman ; Patton ; Ball ; Patton ; Mobley and Johnson, ). Some HBCUs have established conservative dress codes that must be followed in order to attend the institution (Harper and Gasman ; Patton ; Ball ; Patton ; Mobley and Johnson ). Though HBCUs are not monolithic, a number of HBCUs participate in a culture of social conservatism (Harper and Gasman ).…”

“…Though this may not be true for all HBCUs, some HBCUs have been reported as having policies and unwelcoming campus cultures affecting students outside of a certain ideal the school wishes to uphold (Harper and Gasman 2008;Ezzell and Schexnider 2010). Limitations on free speech and self-expression at HBCUs has been explored by various scholars and media outlets (Harper and Gasman 2008;Patton and Simmons 2008;Patton 2011;Ball 2013;Williams 2013;Mobley andJohnson, 2015, 2018). Political issues, differential treatment, and ostracism due to perceived sexual orientations and dress presentation including clothing, accessories, and hair are beginning to be a popular discussion topic (Harper and Gasman 2008;Patton 2011;Ball 2013;Patton 2014;Mobley and Johnson, 2018).…”

Queering black greek-lettered fraternities, masculinity and manhood : a queer of color critique of institutionality in higher education.

“…LGBTQ advisory councils and introduced queer studies courses (Mobley & Johnson, 2019). Furthermore, Spelman College and Bennett College (HBCU all-female institutions) officially changed their admissions policies in 2017 to admit transwomen and Morehouse College (HBCU all-male institution) recently announced they would start officially admitting transmen in 2020.…”

“…queer male students contend with the remnants of dominant notions of the ideal black student, or a cisheternormative black (hyper)masculinity, perpetuated by institutional black cultural entities, such as cultural centers at PWIs(Strayhorn, Blakewood, & Devita, 2008;Strayhorn & Tillman-Kelly, 2013), institutional practices at HBCUs(Carter, 2013;Mobley & Johnson, 2019;Patton, 2011Patton, , 2014, and black Greek-lettered organizations (BGLOs)(Dancy, 2011; Means & Jaegar, 2013).…”