Integrated Physics Identities of Women of Color and LGBQ+ Women Physicists at MSIs

Historically, the research on identity in Physic Education Research (PER) has been conducted at Predominately White Institutions on predominately White students. Investigations on underrepresented students, traditionally defined as White women and racial/ethnic minorities, have often studied the two populations separately, largely ignoring the unique intersection experienced by women of color. The experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) women in physics have also not been explored in PER.\\ \\This presentation will focus on a singular theme shared between women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women who embody the intersection of these identities, found from an overarching project examining their identity development. We will be presenting themes from these women’s narratives about their experiences attending conferences like the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, and how it helped them develop their identities as researchers and physicists. After applying a critical lens and the concept of intersectionality to these narratives, the research team found that these spaces can exist in the margins of traditional physics culture and allow the attendees to develop mentor and peer relationships with each other that they will not have otherwise.