Managing the Conversation: How Sexual Minority Women Reveal Sexual Orientation

Abstract

Lesbian and bisexual women (LBW) are hesitant to reveal their sexual orientation in health care encounters for fear of discrimination and stigmatization, thus compromising their health care. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to construct a theoretical framework that depicts the process by which LBW reveal their sexual orientation to health care providers. Narratives obtained from interviews with 13 LBW were used to develop the theoretical framework. The central phenomenon, Managing the Conversation, includes having the conversation with oneself, not starting the conversation, starting the conversation, having the conversation started, and having the conversation with health care providers.