Apqsm - T1 - Assignments, Essays, Tutorial Work, Lecture notes etc. PDF

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Assignments, Essays, Tutorial Work, Lecture notes etc....

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Research Question: How do university students conceptualise marriage equality? CODES

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT – Marriage Equality Interview Transcript One

THEMES

Interviewer: Ok, so we’ll get started, could you please tell me a bit about yourself? Participant: About me? Umm... okay, well I’m a university student, studying fine arts... I’m in my second year now so that’s great... Interviewer: that must be nice, you’ve passed the first hurdle! Participant: yeah, it is good, it’s weird... “A second year student” (Laughs) Interviewer: Can I ask to tell me a bit about what interested you in coming along today and taking part? “I am a member of the community” – part of the LGBT community

Actively trying to change the laws around marriage equality

Participant: Umm... well, I guess I have a very active interest in issues surrounding marriage equality, I am a member of the community myself so... yeah. Interviewer: You said you have an active interest in marriage equality, could you tell me a little more about that? Participant: Yeah, definitely. Well I guess you could say I play an active role in advocating for changing the legislation surrounding marriage equality in Western Australia. I’m a member of [organisation] and so we do rallies, we put posters up, organise petitions and other things like that... I’m also a member of the community, and so this issue is of personal significance to me too. Interviewer: Ok, so it sounds like this is an issue which is really important to you?

Would like to get married one day

Participant: Oh definitely, yes. I would like to have the choice and opportunity to get married one day...I think all people should have that right, no matter who they love... Interviewer: Could you tell me a bit about what marriage

Legislation changes

means to you? Committed to one another

Wanting recognition for their love

Participant: I guess marriage, it depends how we talk about it, but essentially, marriage to me means that you make a commitment to another individual. A commitment that you both recognise, and so it is binding for the couple, but also it is legally recognised, and so your community, state, family, friends and politicians, they all recognise it too.

Commitment

Recognition

Interviewer: It sounds like marriage means a few different things to you? Marriage different to everyone “different meanings”

Participant: yeah, I think it means something different to everyone too, marriage is not a simple thing, and it can have lots of different meanings, depending on how you look at it. Interviewer: lots of meanings, it seems like it is quite complex... I also wanted to ask you about your experiences with marriage, perhaps your family’s experiences with marriage?

Parents married young

Participant: Ok, well my mum and dad were married when they were quite young, I think, in their early twenties... although, that wasn’t probably that young then, it was probably marrying age... Interviewer: ...and what era was that in?

Parents had traditional wedding – white dress and suit

Participant: ...that would have been in the early seventies I think. Mum wore a white cheesecloth dress- classic! And dad, he wore a boot leg cut suit. I love looking at the photos... Interviewer: Have you heard them describe their wedding to you? What was it like?

“married in a church” – wants the same thing

Tradition

Participant: Yes, they were married in a church, pretty traditional I think, all the family was there, both sets of parents... and then after the church wedding, back to their house for a reception. Interviewer: You describe your parents wedding as traditional, can you tell me a bit more about that? Idea of marriage

ideas about marriage

Participant: well it was traditional in the sense that it conformed to ideas of what a wedding or marriage should be...

and wedding from parents

there was a priest, grandad gave mum away, she wore a white dress, and so on.... And then I guess their marriage was just an extension of that tradition... they have been married for 30 years now, they’ve had three children, myself, and my two brothers. We took family holidays, mum stayed at home while dad worked... I know it is traditional, but I think it just worked for them.

Creating a family

Interviewer: What do you think changes in a relationship when people get married? Participant: Well, I’m not sure from a personal perspective... Interviewer: hmm... Acknowledgment of what marriage existing Real couple vs other couples “what society thinks of married people” “stamp of approval” fitting into society happiness of others

Participant: but I would think that it is two-fold. So, maybe it feels different for the couple, who were previously not married, but now are... maybe they feel more committed, maybe it feels a bit more real. But then also I guess it’s the acknowledgement from others that the marriage exists, that they are a ‘real’ couple now. I feel like that’s what society thinks of married people. They are more legitimate than couples who are not married.

Acknowledgement of relationship

Society’s perception of marriage

Interviewer: More legitimate? Participant: Yeah, like, marriage gives them a stamp of approval. They fit in, and everyone is happy. Whereas people who aren’t in male-female relationships, well, they are second best really, too different from the norm.

Social norms

Interviewer: What are your experiences with marriage celebrations? traditional wedding – celebrating their love declaration of love

Participant: celebrations? Well the funny thing is I actually haven’t been to a traditional wedding myself... none of my friends are getting married yet. I did attend a friend’s commitment ceremony. She and her partner had a ceremony to celebrate their relationship, and declare their love for one another and stuff. That was really lovely. Interviewer: A commitment ceremony?

unable to get married

Participant: Yeah, well, I guess it’s something that some people do... usually when they want to get married but can’t...

Declaration and celebrating their love

for a lot of same-sex couples, until fairly recently, a commitment ceremony looked like it was the only option... Interviewer: when you say it looked like it was the only option...?

Normal relationship vs other relationship

Participant: ...well, it was only until fairly recently that the whole marriage equality debate really took off, before that, I don’t think there was any hope for couples who don’t ‘fit’ with what a ‘normal’ relationship looks like. I think there is more hope now, even though it is not legal, I think people feel like it will be soon.

Normal vs. others

Interviewer: What would you say a typical marriage looks like in Australia? “wife and husband” opposite sex being married

Participant: I guess a wife, a husband, you know, two people of the opposite sex getting married. The wife might be expected to look after the kids, and house, and the husband is usually expected to go out and work, earn money Interviewer: Hmm... and so extending on that point, could you describe to me what a typical family in Australia looks like?

idea of a typical family – mother, father

Participant: Well I guess the typical family is still the nuclear family... a wife, mother, husband, father... although, maybe not so actually, a lot of people get divorced these days, I think that Australia still thinks that the nuclear family is traditional, but it’s probably not... Interviewer: hmm... so it’s like there is a mismatch between what people think is usual, and what is actually usual at the moment.... Participant: yeah, definitely, people don’t really think about it I think. Interviewer: So for some people, this is just not something that crosses the mind? Participant: No, I don’t think people tend to concern themselves with issues outside of their own day-to-day life. Interviewer: Ok... Let’s see, now I know you have mentioned ‘the community’ previously, but I am wondering if you could

Typical family

tell me a bit about your understanding of the LGBTIQ community? Participant: Yeah, sure, well... hmm... LGBTIQ is an acronym used to refer to diversity in identity, sexuality, and so on... there are lots of different ways that people refer to the community, but I think for me it really means diversity.

Identity

Diversity

Interviewer: ...and when you say diversity...? “society thinks is normal” – idea of being normal

Participant: Like, just, ‘not the norm’, people who sit outside of the spectrum of what society thinks is normal... and the community is bonded together, by this shared diversity. Interviewer: ...and how do you see the LGTIQ community represented at Curtin? Participant: Oh, it’s everywhere! The pride flag quadrangle, the queer guild, the ally program... it’s everywhere, I think that helps to move the community away from the fringes of society, and out into the open. Interviewer: what does the term marriage equality mean to you?

Everyone being allowed opportunity for marriage

Participant: “marriage equality”, it’s a rights issue. Basically, marriage equality is a campaign around allowing all individuals to get married, despite their gender or identity. It’s the view that all people should be able to get married. It’s an issue of equality, like, the civil rights movement in the US... you know? Interviewer: So there are parallels for you between the marriage equality campaign, and other movements, such as the civil rights movement?

Feelings of “disbelief, and disgust”

Participant: yeah, definitely... I think in years to come we will look back on these times in the same way that we now look back on the civil rights movement- with disbelief, and disgust, that we could ever have thought that way about people, just for being who they are. Interviewer: What sorts of things do you think influence how people feel about marriage equality?

Identity

Equality and unfairness of marriage

Participant: I think it is experience mostly. Like, I know that where people have a personal experience with being Gay, or being part of the community, or knowing someone who is in the community, they can really see the value of marriage equality. How unfair it is... and how people in the LGBTIQ community are no different to anyone else, and should have the same rights.

Value of marriage

Interviewer: So personal experience is quite important? Supported amongst younger generation

Participant: yeah, definitely, and also I think it is a more commonly supported thing within the younger generations. You know, people in my generation, you don’t hear many of them saying they don’t want it. In fact, mostly, it’s just the politicians who say that. Interviewer: hmm... that’s interesting, it sounds like politicians maybe hold a different view to others in the community...? Participant: yeah, definitely, like, they are all older, from a different time, of course they don’t support it, they don’t really understand it! Interviewer: What do you think is the dominant Australian view towards marriage equality?

Most people support marriage equality in Australia

Participant: well, like I said, I think most people probably agree with it, or don’t have a real problem with it. I think most people in Australia would support marriage equality. And that’s what seems so crazy about it, how it can go on as it is... Interviewer: So, it is interesting that despite man people supporting marriage equality, it is not legal for people of the same-sex to get married... Participant: Yeah, it’s like this weird mis-match, and I hate to think what other countries think of Australia, like... people from the UK, the US – some parts – we are just archaic. I do see that it will change soon. Interviewer: How would you say understanding of marriage equality have changed overtime?

Unable to

Participant: Well, like I was saying before, I think there would have been a time that it didn’t even cross people’s minds...

Support of marriage equality

get married, where they should

Active role to make change

you know, to think that people of the same-sex couldn’t get married, and that they should. Like, for many people who are older than me, they would have grown up, come out, in a time when this wasn’t a priority- there were other more important things to worry about, like, not going to jail for ‘homosexual acts’ and stuff... I guess my view has changed in terms of as I have grown up, and understood more about the issues, equality and thought more about what I would like my life to be like, it has come onto my radar personally, and I have taken an active role, as active as I can, to make it happen and create some change. Interviewer: ... and when you talk about change, what do you see the future of marriage equality as?

Marriage equality becoming recognized

Participant: Well, I think it is a particularly exciting time to be involved with these issues... from the perspective that I am likely to see tangible and remarkable change in terms of marriage equality. In a few years’ time- maximum- marriage equality will be realised. In that sense, those of us fighting for it now, we are likely we get to have affected, and see the change as a direct result of our actions. And all of those people who were against it, they will just fade into history. Those negative views won’t matter anymore. Interviewer: This leads nicely into one of last questions for today, if marriage equality laws were to be passed tomorrow, what would that look like?

Having the right to marry whoever

“what’s next mentality”

Participant: what would it look like? Umm... I don’t think things would be any different for many, aside from a huge chunk of the community having equal access to the right to marry. It really only concerns people who are affected, and I think sometimes that those who are against it have really wacky ideas about what will happen. You know, slippery slope arguments, the ‘what’s next?’ mentality... I mean, aside from all of the parties, weddings and celebrations, I just think life will go on, and pretty soon after, we will wonder why the hell we didn’t do it sooner! Interviewer: ... didn’t pass marriage equality laws sooner? Participant: ... sorry, yeah, pass the laws... Interviewer: Ok. Well we’ve spoken about a range of things today... you’ve talked about your family experiences with

Mentality of marriage equality

marriage, your involvement in issues on marriage equality, your views toward it...is there anything you would like to add before we come to an end? Important for equality and rights

Participant: Umm... no, nothing in particular, I guess just that this is a really important issue, for rights and equality. We have moved so far past what’s typical, normal or ‘expected’, people should be able to be who they want to be, love who they want to, and get married if they wish. Simple (laughs). Interviewer: Ok, thanks for your time today, I so appreciate it... I might just turn this off......