<p> The study examined how Black lesbian women perceive risks to their sexual health and how community discourse shapes these perceptions. Data from interviews with 28 Black lesbian women in Southern California were qualitatively analyzed and 10 were used in this study. It was expected that their sexual health risk perceptions would be shaped by discourse they heard from their peers in their communities. Results showed that participants define sexual health in terms of both psychological and physical aspects. Also, results showed that beliefs in physiological likelihood, generational experiences, and gender expression differences in attitudes toward casual sex shape how participants perceive risks to their sexual health. Results showed that community discourse did not directly shape risk perceptions, rather participants expressed processes of contradiction, negotiation, and disidentification in this relationship. The importance of these findings on resources for this community is also discussed. </p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1527354 |
| Date | 08 April 2014 |
| Creators | Alcala, Matthew |
| Publisher | California State University, Long Beach |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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