Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of discourse and individual identity in defining the group identity of Common Grounds, a student-run coffee shop on the College of Wooster Campus. Using participant observation and a foundation of intersectionality and Social Identity Theory, the study demonstrated that Common Grounds’ identity has shifted over the two decades since its foundation and has gone from an organization with a light religious basis to a strong yet unofficial queer identity, even as its general purpose has remained the same. The strong presence of LGBTQ+ members who both run and visit Common Grounds and the dialogue indicate a naturally formed, new group identity—that in turn may affect the way individuals within my explore their identities.
Advisor
Bostdorff, Denise
Department
Communication Studies
Recommended Citation
Cannon, Jacob, "Discourse and Discovery: A Study of Communication and the Formation of Group Identity Within Common Grounds" (2023). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 10422.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/10422
Disciplines
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication | Interpersonal and Small Group Communication
Publication Date
2023
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2023 Jacob Cannon