Redefining the Self by Laura Markowe

Redefining the Self

Coming Out As Lesbian

Laura Markowe

What experiences do women have when they come to identify themselves as lesbian? What happens when they consider telling family and friends about their sexual identity? This book examines these questions on the basis of interviews with individuals and other source materials. Coming out can only be understood, the author stresses, against the backdrop of a firmly heterosexist society. The dominant heterosexual culture tends to freeze gender divisions in such a way as to polarize sexual identities. The author focuses more upon the isolated lesbian, rather than upon political lesbianism. Coming out is seen to be a complex and emotional process, but one that is potentially highly rewarding. Lesbians, Markowe shows, have to struggle with both their ‘invisibility’ in the predominantly heterosexual culture, but also with perceptions of threat and abnormality. Coming out to family and heterosexual friends involves risks and benefits. Case studies of lesbian women are discussed in the context of the threat to, and reconstruction of, identity which the coming-out process presumes. This book will be of interest to second year undergraduates and above working in the fields of women’s studies, social psychology and the psychology or sociology of gender.

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Details

ISBN 9780745611297
Genre LGBT Studies/Social Sciences
Publication Date 15-Jan-91
Publisher Polity
Format Trade Paperback
No. of Pages 256
Language English
Rating NotRated
BookID 10567

Author: LFWBooks