School of Geography - Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 1 of 1
-
ItemAll these things to think about : previously heterosexual women reflect on lesbian identity( 1999)Lesbian identity as a focus for empirical social research has received little attention in recent years, despite extensive investigation into gay male communities and experience as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. As a consequence of this lack of attention, knowledge regarding women's experience of lesbian identity is based largely on a small number of US centric and rapidly aging studies, which remain somewhat marginal in the overall body of literature on the topic of homosexuality. More oft-cited and well known are the various models of homosexual identity development which assume an early occurring or innate and relatively fixed sexuality, in addition to a linear developmental process of 'coming out'. Such models fail to address the reality of women's experiences of sexuality as more dynamic. Taking a small step towards reinvigorating an interest in the study of the diversity of lesbian experience and identity, this thesis investigates via qualitative methods the sexual stories of a small group of Australian 'elective' lesbians. In addition to analysing the content of in-depth interviews with these women, the thesis also considers some of the methodological issues arising from the research. The women interviewed for this thesis were previously heterosexual, and their sexuality has demonstrated some degree of choice and fluidity over the life course. Contrary to essentialist discourses, sexuality for this group has been experienced as subject to change in adult life. Despite this, women negotiate their sexuality in a world in which fashionable notions of sexual flexibility, fluidity and choice co exist alongside myriad negative stereotypes, prejudices and abuses of those who openly dare to be 'other than heterosexual'. My interest was in how change in sexual identity was experienced in view of the above, and also in the meanings of sexuality in terms of the social and political frameworks which women brought to their stories. 'Lesbian' was still a meaningful term for all five women researched. Lesbian identity came about via a weighing up of options and priorities, which included desire for women, emotional preference, politics and social identification. Although 'coming out' as a discourse of self revelation was less relevant to these women, as was a transition to lesbianism as a fixed developmental process, becoming a lesbian and maintaining that identity was a process at times fraught with psychological and social difficulties. A process of 'changing teams' needed to be negotiated (moving from a heterosexual to a lesbian identity), which was both a social and a highly personal process. Stigma still played a large role in marring experience of lesbian identity, as did the pervasiveness of heterosexual privileges attached to such life style choices as parenting and permanent partnering. This research has demonstrated that women's sexual subjectivity is more complex and evolving than the rather reductionist label 'lesbian' has suggested in essentialist discourses. Individual women constructed their stories in a manner which interwove a range of personal as well as more overtly political and social agendas. At the same time, sexual fluidity proved to be more of a threat to security in lesbian identity, rather than an unproblematic experience free from social constraints. When one's sexual and emotional repertoire meant being able to 'do' and 'be' heterosexual the questioning as to a future path in life when basic (or at least deeply felt) needs are not being met took women down difficult psychological and social roads.