Lesbian-identified Women Research Articles

Introduction

Introduction

Examining Differences in Alcohol and Smoking Behaviors between Parenting and Nonparenting Lesbian Women

Background The transition to parenthood is a significant life event that has implications for health behaviors and health. Few studies have examined alcohol use and smoking by parenthood status (nonparent vs. parent) among women who identify as lesbian. Methods This study used data from two longitudinal studies, the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women Study (n = 135) and the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (n = 116), to compare problem drinking and cigarette smoking trajectories among lesbian-identified women by parenthood status. We used mixed models to investigate differences in problem drinking and cigarette smoking in three waves of data in each study. Results Lesbian parents reported significantly less problem drinking, but not cigarette smoking, than nonparent lesbian women. When considering the interaction between parental status and time, problem drinking was significantly higher among nonparents than parents at each time interval. Conclusions Parenthood was associated with positive changes in drinking among lesbian women; however, more research is needed to understand how to support smoking cessation among parenting lesbian women.

Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation Among Sexual Minority Women.

Identify disparities in breastfeeding initiation and continuation among sexual minority women (SMW) and determine if known risk factors explain any observed disparities. We used data from the 2006 to 2017 National Survey of Family Growth female pregnancy questionnaire. We measured sexual orientation using self-reported sexual identity and histories of same-sex sexual experiences reported by women (heterosexual-WSM [women who only reported sex with men]; heterosexual-WSW [women who reported sex with women]; bisexual, and lesbian. In total, we had 18,696 births that occurred within the last 10 years and used logistic and multinomial regression models to assess sexual orientation disparities in breastfeeding initiation and duration that clustered on women to account for potential multiple births to a woman. Compared to heterosexual-WSM, infants born to lesbian-identified women had decreased odds of ever being breastfed (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.30, 0.99) and a decreased relative risk of being breastfed more than 6 months (RRR 0.46, 95% CI 0.22, 0.97). Infants of heterosexual-WSW had an increased odds of ever breastfeeding (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12, 1.74) and increased relative risk of breastfeeding more than 6 months (RRR 1.32, 95% CI 1.02, 1.69). Our results show that infants born to lesbian-identified women were less likely to be breastfed than those born to their heterosexual counterparts, even after adjusting for several factors associated with breastfeeding behaviors. We found no differences in breastfeeding between bisexual women and heterosexual-WSM. Understanding and addressing the barriers sexual minority women face for breastfeeding is critical for ensuring maternal and child health equity.

Adult offspring of lesbian parents: How do they relate to their sperm donors?

To study how adult offspring in planned lesbian-parent families relate to their unknown or known donors. Qualitative analyses of the sixth wave of online surveys from a longitudinal study of adult offspring in planned lesbian families, enrolled at conception. Community-based United States national study. The 76 participants were 25-year-old donor insemination (DI) offspring whose lesbian parent(s) enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study when these offspring were conceived. None. Offspring were asked about donor type, feelings about permanently unknown donor, satisfaction with and role of known donor, whether relationship with known donor was ongoing, and age of meeting open-identity donor. This cohort (n = 76) of DI offspring with lesbian parents was among the first generation to reach adulthood. Thirty participants had permanently unknown donors and most participants felt comfortable about not knowing them. Sixteen participants had open-identity donors they had not met. Thirty had currently known donors-met in childhood (n = 22) or after open-identity donor disclosure (n = 8)-of whom two thirds had ongoing relationships with donors, half considered their donors as acquaintances, and nearly half had good feelings about their relationship, although a minority expressed conflicted feelings. This study of adult DI offspring from planned lesbian families shows that those who knew their donors mainly felt positively about these relationships. Qualitative analyses offered insight into offspring-donor relationships, whose numbers are increasing due to historical and demographic trends.

Lesbians’ Use of Popular Social Media Sites is Associated with Perceived Drinking Norms & Interest in Receiving Personalized Normative Feedback on Alcohol Use

ABSTRACT Alcohol-related problems disproportionately impact sexual minority women. Recent research suggests that lesbian-identified women overestimate peer drinking norms and therefore, personalized normative feedback (PNF) may be an appropriate and efficacious intervention strategy for reducing alcohol-related risks in this population. To inform the development and packaging of such interventions, this study examines lesbians’ use of the popular social media sites Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter in relation to alcohol consumption, perceptions of peer drinking norms, confidence in normative perceptions, and interest in receiving alcohol PNF. Findings suggest that the lesbians who are most likely to benefit from a PNF alcohol intervention may also be the most readily reached via social media sites. Alcohol interventions that both recruit and deliver PNF via widely used social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram represent a promising and cost-effective strategy to reduce heavy drinking among lesbians.

“The Wisdom of Age”: Perspectives on Aging and Growth among Lesbian Older Adults

ABSTRACTOlder lesbian-identified women are a health disparate yet resilient population about whom knowledge is limited and emerging. Among the areas in need of research are older lesbians’ experiences of later life and stress-related growth. This article presents the findings from a qualitative study that investigated older lesbians’ experiences of adversity and adaptation as they age. In-depth, exploratory interviews were conducted with 12 lesbian-identified women who were between the ages of 65–80. This study applied grounded theory methodology to identify respondents sources of stress and fear, their strengths and coping strategies and how those relate to each other and to their growth in later life. We advance a model of adaptive change that shows how spirituality, social support, and resistance to cultural norms help older lesbian adults cope with loss, illness, and discrimination and develop wisdom in later life. Knowledgeable practitioners can help older lesbian women identify and maintain sources of social support, explore spirituality, and facilitate continuous growth through the end of life. Social workers can advocate for services that are welcoming and affirmative so as to reduce fears of isolation and dependence associated with health decline.

Rejection of Breast Reconstruction Among Lesbian Breast Cancer Patients.

After having breast cancer (BC) and being treated by mastectomy, patients typically struggle with decisions about reconstruction. It is unclear how lesbian-identified women think about breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to explore lesbian BC survivors' attitudes toward breast reconstruction. This study represents the first published study to analyze data from a lesbian-specific BC forum to evaluate such attitudes. We conducted an inductive thematic analysis of breast reconstruction discussions among individuals who posted to a lesbian-specific online support forum found on breastcancer.org , the largest online support venue for BC survivors. Two hundred fifty-five users posted to the lesbian-specific forum; 53 of these users discussed breast reconstruction and were included in the present analysis. We analyzed a total of 168 posts. Our analysis revealed five important themes related to breast reconstruction attitudes as follows: (1) rejecting being defined by their body image, (2) privileging sensation over appearance, (3) believing that being breastless is protective, (4) perceiving their social context as supportive of nonreconstruction, and (5) feeling pressured by social norms to undergo reconstructive surgery. Among postings in the lesbian-specific online support forum, attitudes related to the rejection of breast reconstruction were pervasive. Provider communication should be evaluated for heterosexist biases, such as the implication that breast reconstruction should be a part of a normal course of treatment. In addition, providers must acknowledge that breast reconstruction is value laden and the range of viable treatment and construction options, including the decision not to reconstruct, should be presented in a nonbiased neutral way.

Poorer mental health in UK bisexual women than lesbians: evidence from the UK 2007 Stonewall Women's Health Survey.

Bisexual- and lesbian-identified women have significantly worse mental health than heterosexual women. Less evidence exists about mental health differences between lesbian and bisexual women. Self-completion survey with community-based, opportunistic sampling recruited 937 bisexual-identified and 4769 lesbian-identified women. Associations between sexual identity and mental health indicators were assessed by logistic regression, controlling for age, income, student status and employment. As a group, bisexual women were younger, poorer, and more likely to be trans-identified, minority ethnic identified and to use marijuana, compared with lesbians. Bisexuals were more likely than lesbians to report eating problems (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.64, P < 0.001), self-harm (AOR = 1.37, P = 0.001), depressed feelings (AOR = 1.26, P = 0.022) and anxiety (AOR = 1.20, P = 0.037). Fewer bisexual women attended lesbian or bisexual social events, were 'out', or had experienced any sexuality-related discrimination, compared with lesbians. More bisexual women reported poor mental health or psychological distress than did lesbians. Bisexual women may be more likely to experience social stress due to the 'double discrimination' of homophobia and biphobia. This stress, experienced mainly as internalized and felt stigma, could result in greater risk for poor mental health compared with lesbians. Addressing both biphobia and homophobia within UK society has important preventative mental health implications.

Butch Bottom–Femme Top? An Exploration of Lesbian Stereotypes

Lesbian gender labels (i.e., butch, soft butch, butch/femme, femme, and high femme) have set the stage for assumptions about lesbian attractions to sexual behaviors. This study explored the intersection of lesbian gender labels and attraction to sexual behaviors in 214 lesbian-identified women. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 69 with 48% being women of color. Contrary to stereotypes about sexual behavior in the lesbian community, very few differences emerged in regard to lesbian gender label. Overall, results do not support stereotypes about lesbian gender labels and suggest that behaviors in the lesbian community are fluid across labels.

Sex during menstruation: Race, sexual identity, and women’s accounts of pleasure and disgust

While much research has addressed negativity surrounding women’s menstruation, surprisingly little research has interrogated the relationship between menstruation and sexuality. This study used inductive thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 40 women across a range of age, race and sexual orientation backgrounds to examine women’s experiences with sex during menstruation. Results showed that, while 25 women described negative reactions — and two described neutral reactions — 13 women described positive reactions to menstrual sex. Negative responses cohered around four themes: women’s discomfort and physical labor to clean ‘messes’, overt partner discomfort, negative self-perception and emotional labor to manage partner’s disgust. Positive responses cohered around two themes: physical and emotional pleasure from sex while menstruating, and rebellion against anti-menstrual attitudes. Notable race and sexual identity differences appeared, as white women and bisexual or lesbian-identified women described positive feelings about menstrual sex more than women of color or heterosexual women. Bisexual women with male partners described more positive reactions to menstrual sex than did heterosexual women with male partners, implying that heterosexual identity related to negative menstrual sex attitudes more than heterosexual behavior. Those with positive menstrual sex attitudes also enjoyed masturbation more than others. Implications for sexual identity and racial identity informing body practices, partner choice affecting women’s body affirmation, and women’s resistance against common cultural ideas about women’s bodies as ‘disgusting’ were addressed.

The Politics of Sexual Identity: Sexual Attraction and Behavior among Lesbian and Bisexual Women

In the lesbian community, one which based upon a shared sexual minority identity, recent attempts to add the category to the prevailing dichotomous conceptualization of sexuality have led to various popular conceptualizations of sexuality. Lesbian-identified women disagree among themselves and with bisexual-identified women over whether bisexuality exists, and if so, what it is. As a result, individuals develop lesbian and bisexual identities based on differing conceptions of sexuality, thereby undermining the basis for affiliation among women with a shared sexual identity. This paper, based upon data from 365 lesbian- and bisexual-identified women who were questioned about their sexual identity histories, behaviors, and feelings of sexual attraction, demonstrates that while there are aggregate differences between the experiences of lesbian and bisexual women, there is also a wide range of sexual experience common to both groups. The paper argues that the tension which characterizes relations between lesbian- and bisexual-identified women is not the result of failure to recognize these similarities in experience. Instead, historical circumstances have led to a situation in which bisexuality poses a personal and political threat to lesbians and lesbian politics; the similarity between lesbians' and bisexuals' experiences aggravates rather than mitigates this threat. The existential question Who am I? has proved troubling to generations because it is paradoxical. The question ostensibly asks for a description of one's essence, a quality discovered only through the evidence of personal experience. Social constructionist theory points out, however, that individuals interpret their personal experiences through the framework provided by the social world. From the viewpoint of the individual, identity is discovered by introspection. But from the viewpoint of the social constructionist, identity is a construct reflecting the conceptual structure of the surrounding social world. While the production of identity is a social-psychological process, the consequences of identity are both social and political. This is especially true when identity reflects membership in a disadvantaged or stigmatized group such as a racial, gender, or sexual minority. Members of these minorities form sociopolitical communities based upon shared identity. Feelings of belonging and solidarity arise within minority communities, based upon the belief that members share a common experience which leads to shared interests and values. Eventually, minority communities become politicized and build social change movements that are also based upon the belief that shared identity reflects shared experiences and interests. The belief in common experience underlying the formation of minority communities hinges on the assumption that all individuals have interpreted their experiences through the same conceptual structure. If different individuals interpreted their experiences through different conceptual structures, shared identity would not reflect shared experience. Communities based upon shared identity would include individuals with a wide range of experiences, and the experiences of community members would overlap the experiences of nonmembers. The original purpose of establishing a minority community-bringing together individuals with similar experiences and interests-would be undermined.