Theoretical You is a collection of autobiographical queer love poems told from the perspective of a single speaker. These love poems speak not only to lovers and exes, but also to lust and sex and desire, to the speaker's father (they do not reciprocate the cruelty he has shown her--they are neither malicious nor vindictive), and perhaps most importantly, to the speaker herself--she recognizes herself as a lesbian, as a human, who deserves to love and be loved. While love is the crux of these poems, the collection is just as much about heartbreak (which is, of course, inevitably tied to love, is the consequence of love), heartbreak others have inflicted on the speaker and heartbreak she has inflicted on herself, having walked out on many of the women she addresses in the collection. The poems work to navigate the challenges of heartbreak by confronting homophobia, familial rejection, gender binaries and the appearance norms tied to them, as well as the grief that comes with simply being unable to stop missing someone. Here is a young woman who still loves every woman she has ever been with, who has so much love to give, who has a father who refuses to accept her, in a world that is often cruel. All of this together creates the complicated situation of being perpetually heartbroken, even when the speaker is happily in a relationship, even though she has learned to love herself. / Master of Fine Arts

A presente dissertação teve como tema as lesbianidades no espaço da web. Assumido o lugar de importância que as mídias e redes sociais têm alcançado na contemporaneidade, optou-se pelo tumblr como lugar de análise. Assim, esta pesquisa foi guiada pela seguinte questão: como se constituem as lesbianidades nos tumblrs selecionados? Para a pesquisa, foram escolhidos quatro tumblrs com interesse nas lesbianidades: love-my-girlfriend, lovee-fuck-you, butchlife e n-surtesorria. Em acordo com a perspectiva pós-estruturalista, a abordagem foi teóricometodológica, compreendendo os estudos foucaultianos, estudos da Cultura Visual e permanecendo na esteira do pensamento de Judith Butler e Beatriz Preciado, principalmente seus escritos sobre gênero, sexo e sexualidade. O enfoque recaiu sobre as imagens compartilhadas nestas páginas. A partir do contato com os tumblrs, foram eleitas três instâncias de análise: corpo, amor e sexo lésbico. Com base nos escritos de Foucault e nos estudos da Cultura Visual, as imagens foram analisadas enquanto produto de discursos e, neste processo, tais imagens produziram modos de ser lésbica, exercendo Pedagogias Culturais. Por vezes as lesbianidades aproximaram-se do ideal heteronormativo – e por vezes afastaram-se –, assim como corresponderam à performatividade de gênero (ou não). Contudo, neste processo, desconstruíram verdades e discursos sobre gênero, sexo e sexualidade nos tumblrs analisados. / The theme of this essay is lesbianisms on the web. Realized the importance that social media has reached in the contemporary world, we chose tumblr as place of analisys. Thus, this essay was guided by the following question: how are constituted the lesbianisms in the selected tumblrs? For this essay, were elected four tumblrs with interest in lesbianisms for analysis: love-my-girlfriend, lovee-fuck-you, butchlife and n-surte-sorria. In accordance with the poststructuralist perspective, the approach was theoretical and methodological, comprising studies of Foucault, Visual Culture studies and remaining in accordance with the ideas of Judith Butler and Beatriz Preciado, mainly their works about gender, sex and sexuality. The emphasis was on the images shared in these pages. By the contact with the tumblrs, were elected three analytical instances: body, love and lesbian sex. Based on the writings of Foucault and of Visual Culture studies, it was realized that the images were produced by discourses and, in this process, they produced ways of being lesbian, effecting Cultural Pedagogies. Sometimes, the lesbianisms approached the heteronormative ideal – and sometimes they diverged –, as well as they corresponded to gender performativity (or not). However, in this process they deconstructed beliefs and discourses on gender, sex and sexuality in the analyzed tumblrs.

A presente dissertação teve como tema as lesbianidades no espaço da web. Assumido o lugar de importância que as mídias e redes sociais têm alcançado na contemporaneidade, optou-se pelo tumblr como lugar de análise. Assim, esta pesquisa foi guiada pela seguinte questão: como se constituem as lesbianidades nos tumblrs selecionados? Para a pesquisa, foram escolhidos quatro tumblrs com interesse nas lesbianidades: love-my-girlfriend, lovee-fuck-you, butchlife e n-surtesorria. Em acordo com a perspectiva pós-estruturalista, a abordagem foi teóricometodológica, compreendendo os estudos foucaultianos, estudos da Cultura Visual e permanecendo na esteira do pensamento de Judith Butler e Beatriz Preciado, principalmente seus escritos sobre gênero, sexo e sexualidade. O enfoque recaiu sobre as imagens compartilhadas nestas páginas. A partir do contato com os tumblrs, foram eleitas três instâncias de análise: corpo, amor e sexo lésbico. Com base nos escritos de Foucault e nos estudos da Cultura Visual, as imagens foram analisadas enquanto produto de discursos e, neste processo, tais imagens produziram modos de ser lésbica, exercendo Pedagogias Culturais. Por vezes as lesbianidades aproximaram-se do ideal heteronormativo – e por vezes afastaram-se –, assim como corresponderam à performatividade de gênero (ou não). Contudo, neste processo, desconstruíram verdades e discursos sobre gênero, sexo e sexualidade nos tumblrs analisados. / The theme of this essay is lesbianisms on the web. Realized the importance that social media has reached in the contemporary world, we chose tumblr as place of analisys. Thus, this essay was guided by the following question: how are constituted the lesbianisms in the selected tumblrs? For this essay, were elected four tumblrs with interest in lesbianisms for analysis: love-my-girlfriend, lovee-fuck-you, butchlife and n-surte-sorria. In accordance with the poststructuralist perspective, the approach was theoretical and methodological, comprising studies of Foucault, Visual Culture studies and remaining in accordance with the ideas of Judith Butler and Beatriz Preciado, mainly their works about gender, sex and sexuality. The emphasis was on the images shared in these pages. By the contact with the tumblrs, were elected three analytical instances: body, love and lesbian sex. Based on the writings of Foucault and of Visual Culture studies, it was realized that the images were produced by discourses and, in this process, they produced ways of being lesbian, effecting Cultural Pedagogies. Sometimes, the lesbianisms approached the heteronormative ideal – and sometimes they diverged –, as well as they corresponded to gender performativity (or not). However, in this process they deconstructed beliefs and discourses on gender, sex and sexuality in the analyzed tumblrs.

A presente dissertação teve como tema as lesbianidades no espaço da web. Assumido o lugar de importância que as mídias e redes sociais têm alcançado na contemporaneidade, optou-se pelo tumblr como lugar de análise. Assim, esta pesquisa foi guiada pela seguinte questão: como se constituem as lesbianidades nos tumblrs selecionados? Para a pesquisa, foram escolhidos quatro tumblrs com interesse nas lesbianidades: love-my-girlfriend, lovee-fuck-you, butchlife e n-surtesorria. Em acordo com a perspectiva pós-estruturalista, a abordagem foi teóricometodológica, compreendendo os estudos foucaultianos, estudos da Cultura Visual e permanecendo na esteira do pensamento de Judith Butler e Beatriz Preciado, principalmente seus escritos sobre gênero, sexo e sexualidade. O enfoque recaiu sobre as imagens compartilhadas nestas páginas. A partir do contato com os tumblrs, foram eleitas três instâncias de análise: corpo, amor e sexo lésbico. Com base nos escritos de Foucault e nos estudos da Cultura Visual, as imagens foram analisadas enquanto produto de discursos e, neste processo, tais imagens produziram modos de ser lésbica, exercendo Pedagogias Culturais. Por vezes as lesbianidades aproximaram-se do ideal heteronormativo – e por vezes afastaram-se –, assim como corresponderam à performatividade de gênero (ou não). Contudo, neste processo, desconstruíram verdades e discursos sobre gênero, sexo e sexualidade nos tumblrs analisados. / The theme of this essay is lesbianisms on the web. Realized the importance that social media has reached in the contemporary world, we chose tumblr as place of analisys. Thus, this essay was guided by the following question: how are constituted the lesbianisms in the selected tumblrs? For this essay, were elected four tumblrs with interest in lesbianisms for analysis: love-my-girlfriend, lovee-fuck-you, butchlife and n-surte-sorria. In accordance with the poststructuralist perspective, the approach was theoretical and methodological, comprising studies of Foucault, Visual Culture studies and remaining in accordance with the ideas of Judith Butler and Beatriz Preciado, mainly their works about gender, sex and sexuality. The emphasis was on the images shared in these pages. By the contact with the tumblrs, were elected three analytical instances: body, love and lesbian sex. Based on the writings of Foucault and of Visual Culture studies, it was realized that the images were produced by discourses and, in this process, they produced ways of being lesbian, effecting Cultural Pedagogies. Sometimes, the lesbianisms approached the heteronormative ideal – and sometimes they diverged –, as well as they corresponded to gender performativity (or not). However, in this process they deconstructed beliefs and discourses on gender, sex and sexuality in the analyzed tumblrs.

Lesbian intimate partner violence (IPV) is an understudied social and psychological problem in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative, comparative study was to understand any barriers of help-seeking behaviors for victims of lesbian IPV. The literature on lesbian IPV has not included the perspectives of both service provider and support person on why these barriers persist. Normative resource theory and the barriers model informed the study. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 8 providers and 5 support persons. Interviews were then transcribed and coded. The 7 themes that emerged among these 13 participants were an unawareness on how to get help, inability on the part of the victim to recognize abuse, lack of acknowledgement of abuse in the community, inadequate specialized training and policies to work with the lesbian community, no assurance of safety at the shelter, fear of disclosure of sexual orientation, and no confidence with system or service agency. All of these themes were identified as contributing factors that deterred lesbian IPV victims from seeking help. Although the findings are representative of a small sample, these findings can initiate positive social change by informing interventions which can bridge the gap between the lesbian IPV victim and the support services she needs.

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M.A. / This study posits that although the South African government has shown an unprecedented commitment to acknowledging and upholding the human rights of lesbians and gay men, negative attitudes exist towards lesbians and gay men in university communities. A survey of 880 heterosexual students (356 men and 524 women) in a university community was conducted using the Attitudes Towards Lesbian and Gay Male Scale (ATLG). The results indicate that heterosexual students have negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men, that religiosity has an influence on attitudes, that contact with lesbians or gay men reduces negative attitudes, and no differences exist between race groups with regards to attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. Furthermore, South African students at the University of Johannesburg have different attitudes towards lesbians and gay men compared to students at a university in the United States of America. South African heterosexual male students at the University of Johannesburg have more negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men than students than heterosexual male students at a university in America, whilst South African heterosexual female students have more positive attitudes towards lesbians and gay men than their American counterparts. The results are discussed against the background of previous studies, and suggestions for future research are made. / Prof. G.P. de Bruin Dr. I. van der Merwe

Thesis advisor: Leslie Salzinger / Over a period of eight months, I conducted an ethnographic comparative study in a northeastern metropolitan area, identifying and exploring a variety of non-normative social spaces regarding both gender and sexuality. I focus this research on comparing two different non-normative communities of gender and sexuality, the queer and the lesbian communities. By concentrating on spaces populated by those who identify as queer, I witness and discuss the process of identity formation. Negotiation of both tangible and theoretical spaces contributes to the operationalization of queer as a category of identity. Using social space bound by identity as a unifying factor, I share observations of time spent in lesbian community, where intricacies of queerness, both as critique and as category of identity, were illuminated. The meaning of the theoretical construct of queer as explained in the literature and the experience of queer as an identity within community have areas of disconnect to which I draw attention in this paper. I interpret community space as giving power and visibility to the experience of those who live outside of, or between, gender norms in an experience that is unrecognized within mainstream heteronormative culture. I found this space creates a voice for a more encompassing and liberating embodiment of gender than that found in mainstream western society with its adherence / Thesis (MA) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Sociology.

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / Although research has shown that alcohol abuse in the Western Cape is amongst the highest in South Africa, lesbian-identified women have largely been ignored in this area of research. International literature has identified alcohol abuse amongst lesbian-identified women as a significant problem, with alcohol consumption rates considerably higher than their heterosexual counterparts. This interpretative phenomenological analysis explored lesbian-identified women’s lived experiences (n = 25) with alcohol abuse through in-depth semi-structured interviews, in order to gain insight into their motivations for abusing alcohol and the impact this had on their lives and relationships. The core theme that emerged from the analysis of participants’ narratives was that alcohol abuse was related to coping with emotional distress and pain. The emotional distress participants experienced was due to their sexual minority status and encompassed aspects related to internalised homophobia, escaping pain, rejection, discrimination based on sexual orientation, mental health issues, patriarchy, heteronormativity, and homophobia. Results substantiate the need for the development of prevention, intervention, and support strategies, aimed specifically at sexual minority groups, in order to facilitate effective coping with sexual minority stress, mental health issues, and other distresses related to alcohol abuse.

Conflicting literature exists for the relationship between first disclosure, outness, sexual minority identity, and mental health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. That is, while the relationship between LGB identity and mental health has been relatively consistently positive in the literature, the relationship between outness and mental health is more mixed. In addition, the way these constructs differ among race, sex, and sexual orientation are rarely examined. The present study examined the complex relationship between first disclosure, outness, identity, and mental health among 192 lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals collected from an online sample. The study explored differences on these variables by biological sex, race, age, and sexual orientation. The major findings revealed that bisexual males have less developed sexual minority identities and view their identities less positively than do lesbian, gay, and bisexual female individuals. In addition, bisexual individuals overall are less out and come out later for the first time in comparison to lesbian and gay individuals. In terms of race, Caucasians have a stronger and more positive view of their sexual identity in comparison to individuals of color. It was also found that individuals in later stages of sexual identity development experienced a more positive view of their sexual identity. In terms of mental health, it was revealed that a stronger sexual identity was related to better mental health. Greater degree of outness was found to overall have a moderately positive impact on mental health, though age of first disclosure of sexual minority status was, overall, not associated to measures of identity or mental health. When examined more closely, outness had a more complex, dual impact on mental health. Specifically, outness was found to have both positive and negative consequences for mental health, with identity development accounting for the positive aspects of outness. Directions for future research and implications for clinicians are also discussed.