LGBTQ?

[grimmiae]

I was just wondering if anyone has any perspective on mentioning that you identify with a minority sexual orientation somewhere in your application /SoP?, obviously sexual orientation is something that is not as clear cut as ethnic background. Not really sure how I feel about mentioning this, but I do feel as though my orientation does give me a different perspective on a number of issues...Any thoughts?

[runonsentence]

I would treat it exactly as you would treat mentioning an ethnic background or nationality. That is, I would suggest you only mention personal information of any kind if you can establish a direct connection to your research, and if you think it's so important that leaving it out wouldn't fully communicate what kind of work you plan to do and what kind of applicant you are.

[grimmiae]

well, to some degree it does. My research focus is on inter-group relations, stereotyping and prejudice (implicit measures mainly). But, a part of me thinks that maybe it biases me in interpretation? I am not sure if that is "direct" enough. Because it does affect how I see research, but in the social sciences, stressing a neutral/detached viewpoint is obviously quite critical as well. But-then again we all have our biases no matter who we are, or where we are from.

[runonsentence]

well, to some degree it does. My research focus is on inter-group relations, stereotyping and prejudice (implicit measures mainly). But, a part of me thinks that maybe it biases me in interpretation? I am not sure if that is "direct" enough. Because it does affect how I see research, but in the social sciences, stressing a neutral/detached viewpoint is obviously quite critical as well. But-then again we all have our biases no matter who we are, or where we are from.

From the quick description you give, it right now mostly sounds like your orientation has inspired you to pursue these research interests. (Maybe that's not true, perhaps they have a bigger impact on your research, but that's the sense I'm getting so far, something to keep in mind as you think about articulating this.)

That, to me, would be more of a judgement call; your best course of action might be to ask someone to read a draft of your SoP and advise you as to how disclosing it comes off to them. That is, ask your reader if it seems like an important detail that builds a picture of you as a candidate, or if it feels like extraneous personal information. (Depending on the statement you write and how you disclose the fact that you identify as LGBTQ, this could go either way.) I do understand the desire to truly represent your identity to someone, and that sexual identity isn't as easily marked by name as, say, gender, ethnicity, or nationality. But my personal opinion is to keep the SoP as much about your scholarly identity as possible.

As to what "direct" impact might look like: for example, if you chose to disclose your sexual identity so that you could explain how you incorporate first-hand observations, or how you approach topic Y from a different viewpoint than most others in the field and use it to gravitate towards fringe researchers A, B, and C, that to me would seem highly relevant and a "direct" impact on your research.

Edited August 7, 2011 by runonsentence

[hungryhungryhipster]

Even though I'm sure you've considered this, it's worthwhile pointing out that you are opening yourself up to some degree of prejudice by making such a disclosure. Now, I would hope that all of the NSERC and university-level reviewers would be above such actions, but even the best of people may be influenced by such a disclosure, whether they realise it or not. It just contributes to their overall impression of you, and there's no way to know whether that contribution will be positive or negative.

Personally, I wouldn't mention it, but then again I'm not the world's most trusting guy, especially when tens of thousands of dollars are on the line.

Edit: Never mind about the money part, I was thinking of NSERC applications (or in your case, SSHRC), as that's what I've been working on for months now haha.

Edited August 13, 2011 by hall1k

[grimmiae]

I think it is pointless to mention it now that I have mulled it over considerably. Either way I feel as though I am tokenizing myself in a way that feels silly. It has in a slight way guided me towards my research interests, but I don't think that is highly important to an adcomm.