Lesbian Epiphanies

by Karol L. Jensen

Exploring identity development and gender orientation, Lesbian Women Coming Out in Later Life contains firsthand information about the experiences and difficulties of women who discover and reveal their newfound lesbian sexuality in later life. Psychologists, social workers, counselors, and professors will find that Lesbian Epiphanies is the first book to extensively quote from interviews of lesbians and bisexuals who had entered into heterosexual marriages. From the analysis of these 24 interviews, the psychological, erotic, and social processes of women who come out as lesbians or bisexuals after a heterosexual marriage are clearly explained so you can better assist your clients throughout this coming-out process. Discussing the personal and societal standards which clouded early self-awareness for these women, Lesbian Epiphanies lifts the veil of confusion to clearly illuminate the issues at hand to assist you in understanding and helping your clients. From the case studies in this important book, you will learn how some women came to realize their same gender attractions and the barriers they faced, including negative attitudes toward lesbian women and the lack of strong role models. Helpful and informative, Lesbian Epiphanies explores the development of sexual identity in women in the Unites States today and provides you with essential information to help you improve your services to lesbian and bisexual clients

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT, Queer, Nonfiction

238 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 1999

Reviews

[eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading queer history recently always leaves me with a bittersweet feeling, of feeling less alone in the stories of people who have lived decades or half a century ago, yet confronted with the weight of realisation that the times and environment I currently live in have not moved far from where it was in 1950s / 1960s America. It was surprising to learn that much of American culture and traditions were built on Puritan values from Christianity - despite what policymakers in Asia like to distinguish as “western values”. Turns out Western values came from a very conservative place, and the patriarchy has always been a weight on all women.

This was a very well researched piece of qualitative research to explore why women come out as lesbian and bisexual in later life, especially after heterosexual marriage. Through the anecdotes of 24 such (white) women ranging from ages 20s to 50s (book was published in 1999) and organised by the author into key themes, this book is an exploration of how women form their personal and gender identities and eventually become awakened to their gender/sexual orientations.

The key themes included - lack of accurate and informative sex education and internalised shame about sex women were conditioned to feel, the unquestioned traditional institution of marriage to a man that women were expected to fulfil, the oppression of sexism and heterosexist society that impeded them from achieving self-realisation and forming an independent identity, the process of conscious repression or complete psychological denial that prevented them from “knowing” their same gender attentions - and lastly, the lack of positive lesbian/bisexual role models as these women were either invisible or vilified in media and popular culture.

This is a piece of academic writing that was slightly dry in the middle but sped up towards the final few chapters. I am giving this rating with the consideration that it is a piece of academic which I expect to be more dense than typical nonfiction writing. The frequent excerpts of real quotes with the research subjects are very insightful, and overall I enjoyed the balance between a personal, narrative/qualitative approach substantiated by all the theoretical concepts and ideas that were available to a limited extent back then. I believe this thesis definitely added value to the missing gaps in studies about female identity and development, as well as queer and feminist theory.

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was perusing the HQ section at my academic library,  I came across this book, so I knew I needed to take a look at it and see if I could find any answers in there.  I definitely got some answers, but not THE answer, dangit.  But, unfortunately, books can't read my mind.  Either way, this book had a lot of insight.  Granted, the focus group was rather small (I think around 35 women?), but this book is still the first that I'd seen.  I mean, a research book about specifically lesbians and women who like women? And in the nineties, nonetheless?  I'd imagine that this was something of a breakthrough at the time, and it's incredible that this kind of research was even published when so much focus is on...well, anything but lesbians.  

Using quotations from the interviews she conducted with these women, Jensen highlights various experiences, allowing for analysis of the similarities and differences.  She finds that most women do suffer from compulsory heterosexuality, that most women do feel as though there's something off but don't know what it is, despite having had happy relationships with men.  Others suffered from childhood traumas and homophobia.  Some discovered their love for women through friends, representation, and other lesbians.  

Yet once these women come to terms with who they are, there's usually some sort of rift in their lives--especially if they're still married, and definitely if their family is homophobic--but overall, it appears that they feel lighter and happier now that they know who they truly are, and now that they no longer have to hide it from themselves.  

Overall, I found this book groundbreaking for its time and ultimately helpful for understanding the difficulties that must be overcome to come out to one's self.  

Review cross-listed here!

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this... It's a dissertation, essentially, interspersed with somewhat personal accounts. The problem is, it's too dry, but somehow not dry enough. The accounts are woven into the statistics in such a way that it actually disrupts the reading experience rather than enhancing it. The personal accounts are from the author's subject--from her study and, well, they are just plain boring. It's a dissertation that desperately needed something, anything, to save it. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

[Evens Zhang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting