ABSTRACT

Drawing on research conducted at 17 Catholic universities in the United States, making it the largest study of its kind, this volume explores effective practice in improving institutional policy relating to issues of sexuality.

The text calls attention to campus cultures of fear, shame, or denial around sexuality and highlights possible points of institutional resistance to changes in policy. Discussing topics such as sexual identity, sexuality education in the curriculum, Title IX, employee termination, and morality clauses, the book shows how staff and faculty are crucial in effecting change across Catholic campuses, providing valuable insight into the “unspoken rules” around sexuality within the shadow culture at Catholic institutions. Moreover, the text illustrates how institutions can maintain fidelity to Church teachings and even embrace notions of human dignity, solidarity, and the common good to achieve sexual inclusivity.

A unique study demonstrating how Catholic teaching can help support inclusive change around issues of sexuality and gender in higher education, it ultimately puts forward a practical framework for effecting change and improving student and staff support structures in Catholic institutions. It will thus appeal to researchers and academics working in the fields of Higher Education Management, Gender and Sexuality in Education, Religion, Gender and Sexuality, and the Sociology of Religion.

chapter Chapter 1|12 pages

Introduction and Setting the Stage

chapter Chapter 2|58 pages

Getting to Know the Culture

Theories and History

chapter Chapter 3|19 pages

General Themes

Catalysts in the Change Process

chapter Chapter 4|27 pages

The Landscape for Change

Key Areas of Change and Reactions

chapter Chapter 5|31 pages

Difficult or Easy?

Themes in Supports and Challenges Faced by Changemakers

chapter Chapter 6|19 pages

Over, Under, Around, or Through?

How Changemakers Navigated the System

chapter Chapter 7|14 pages

Voices of Change

Hopes for the Future and Suggestions for Improvement

chapter Chapter 8|11 pages

A Framework for Change

chapter Chapter 9|22 pages

The Future of Sexuality in Catholic Higher Education