101. Young lesbians and mental health: The closet is a depressing place to be
- Author
-
Mooney-Somers, Julie and Ussher, JM
- Subjects
social isolation ,behavior and behavior mechanisms ,lesbian sexuality ,social sciences ,young lesbians ,coping strategies ,lesbian identity ,reproductive and urinary physiology ,mental health - Abstract
In this chapter we examine mental health issues in young lesbians, drawing on a recent interview study conducted with a group of Lesbian Avengers. Some of the difficulties that these young women experienced included rejection and hostility from family and friends, social isolation, and being positioned as lecherous because of being lesbian. However, we argue that mental health problems were not the inevitable result, as a number of strategies of resistance and coping were adopted. These include the positive adoption of a lesbian identity, support from other lesbians, and defiance of negative representations of lesbian sexuality.
- Published
- 2000