Lesbian Invisibility Research Articles

Review article: Gender and sexuality in Ireland

Recent years have witnessed a very welcome flourishing of historical and political research on the questions of gender and sexuality in Irish history and Irish society. In particular, the shameful lack (until the publication in 1978 of MacCurtain and Ó Corráin’s pioneering collection of essays) of historical studies of women’s changing roles within, and contributions to, Irish society is now being remedied. No longer can it be said that Irish women are entirely ‘hidden from history’ (to borrow the title of Sheila Rowbotham’s famous 1973 book), although some lacunae in the literature are still noticeable — for example, the problem of lesbian invisibility remains. That said, the present selection of works is impressive in the range of issues, themes and theoretical perspectives it covers. Given that gender and sexuality have featured prominently on the political agenda of the Republic of Ireland since at least the early 1980s, these publications are both timely and much needed.The first title reviewed here, Mary O’Dowd and Sabine Wichert’s Chattel, servant or citizen, is not specifically concerned with Ireland but has a much broader scope. Based on the proceedings of the twenty-first Irish Conference of Historians, it includes essays examining women’s status in Italy, Britain, France, Canada, Poland and the U.S.A., as well as several comparative essays. Among the essays with a specifically Irish theme are three in particular which deserve to be singled out.Donnchadh Ó Corráin’s essay on ‘Women and the law in early Ireland’ makes use of Latin and vernacular legal tracts, contemporary genealogies and (to a lesser extent) vernacular literature to explore themes which include marriage, rights and responsibilities in relation to children, rights of inheritance, and sexual violence against women. Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha singles out the Law of Adomnán of A.D. 697 as a landmark in the written history of women in Ireland. Named after the abbot of Iona and scholar, it is ‘the earliest surviving law concerned primarily with [women’s] welfare, and very probably the first law with this focus to have been enacted in the country’.

‘Straight Problems’: The Sacralization of Homophobia, Women's Sexuality, Lesbian Invisibility and the British Church

‘Straight Problems’: The Sacralization of Homophobia, Women's Sexuality, Lesbian Invisibility and the British Church

Lesbians as an invisible minority in the health services arena.

Ten self-identified lesbians were interviewed about their health care experiences. Analysis of the data from a grounded theory approach revealed four issues: health care providers' assumption of heterosexuality, reactions to coming out, lesbians' expectations of health care, and health-care-seeking behavior. It is the invisibility of lesbians in society that lends to the continued negative experiences lesbians relate. As health care professionals, we must assess our present practices and seek ways to improve the quality of care we offer to lesbians. Some recommendations for improving care to the lesbian community are made.

Man Royals and Sodomites: Some Thoughts on the Invisibility of Afro-Caribbean Lesbians

Man Royals and Sodomites: Some Thoughts on the Invisibility of Afro-Caribbean Lesbians

Social Work, Traditional Health Care Systems and Lesbian Invisibility

Lesbians encounter many problems in obtaining adequate health care from traditional health care systems that are organized on heterosexual assumptions. This article discusses the special health care needs of lesbians and the implications for social workers when serving lesbians in relation to illness and health care. The author's survey of social work courses in health care reveals that they are seriously deficient in content relating to lesbians and gays.