It's Like We Speak a Different Language: Support Needs and Preferences of Older LGB Women Who Have Lost a Spouse or Partner

Abstract Needs during and following end-of-life (EOL) experiences are distinctive for sexual and gender minority (SGM) people and, in particular, older lesbian, gay, and bisexual women (LGB) women; however, access to supportive services is limited. This poster presents findings from a qualitative study of older (60+) LGB women who have lost a spouse or partner. This work draws on queer gerontological theory, addressing issues of individual agency, systemic silence, and marginalization by invisibility of older SGM women in order to illuminate specific areas in which policy may be changed and improved. The study analyzed participants’ (n = 16) reflections on their experiences of losing a loved one, including how they sought out and received essential grief support and the type of support they would have preferred and from whom, particularly immediately following their spouse or partner’s death. Thematic analysis revealed three main findings: 1) having a women-identifying support presence at the time of death for both themselves and their spouse or partner; 2) needing LGB women (or women allies) during EOL for support; and 3) preferring grief groups comprised of other LGB women (or women allies) based on their feelings of difference from gay men and heterosexual/non-SGM women and men. Findings reveal the need for a better understanding among healthcare and social work support professionals regarding LGB women’s grief needs and preferences; grief options (e.g. lesbian and non-monosexual (bi+) grief groups); and how to implement policy changes reflecting these needs and preferences.

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We’re Lesbian Pioneers- We Can Manifest Good Death: EOL Experiences of Older LGB Women Who Have Lost a Spouse or Partner

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 610-611

Author(s):

Korijna Valenti ◽

Leah Janssen

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Data ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Good Death ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Loved One ◽

Network Support ◽

Social Network Support ◽

Advance Care ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Hospice Palliative Care

Abstract Preparing for end-of-life (EOL) and identifying support systems are ways older lesbian, gay, and bisexual women (LGB) women can assert agency over EOL. This paper presents qualitative data from a sample of older LGB women 60+ who have lost a spouse or partner. Thematic analysis revealed four main categories of concern: 1) advance care documents and wills; 2) interactions with healthcare professionals; 3) discussions about EOL; and 4) social network support. The work also analyzed participants’ discussions of how they have changed since losing a loved one and how they now view preparation for EOL. Findings reveal the need for better communication between healthcare professionals and LGB women, better understanding of care options (e.g. hospice, palliative care) and deeper EOL conversations among loved ones. This work critically engages queer gerontology, providing an important foundation of how to better understand how older LGB women perceive needs and preferences for their EOL.

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The Nexus of Sexual Orientation and Gender in the Determination of Earnings

ILR Review ◽

10.1177/001979390305600405 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 622-642 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

John M. Blandford

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Marital Status ◽

Wage Differentials ◽

General Social Survey ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Unobserved Effects ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender

This analysis of 1989–96 General Social Survey data reveals how sexual orientation and gender jointly influence earnings outcomes. Gay and bisexual men experienced a 30–32% income disadvantage relative to heterosexual peers, while lesbian and bisexual women enjoyed a wage premium of 17–23%. The disparate earnings effects of sexual orientation across genders suggest that workplace discrimination may be only one factor accounting for measured wage differentials associated with sexual orientation. These findings qualify pioneering work on the subject that indicated that wage differentials were attributable largely to employer bias. A further analysis that distinguishes the separate effects of gender, marital status, and sexual orientation suggests that differentials long attributed to marital status may in part reflect previously unobserved effects of sexual orientation.

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We Speak a Different Language: End-of-Life and Bereavement Experiences of Older Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Women Who Have Lost a Spouse or Partner

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/10497323211002823 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104973232110028

Author(s):

Korijna G. Valenti ◽

Leah M. Janssen ◽

Susan Enguidanos ◽

Kate de Medeiros

Keyword(s):

End Of Life ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Support Needs ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Compassionate Care ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Grief Support ◽

Care Practices ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Purposive Sample

We examine the end-of-life (EOL) experiences, communications, and grief support during and after their loved one’s death of older lesbian, gay, and bisexual women (LGB) ages 60 to 85 who have lost a spouse or partner. Queer gerontology was used as a theoretical framework, and descriptive qualitative analytical methods were used to discern themes. Through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 16 participants, we identified two main themes: Gathering the Women and Compassionate Care. Although older LGB women may have some similar support needs as non-LGB adults, other needs are distinct but often unmet. While our participants’ interactions with health care professionals were overtly positive, there was often a lack of communication about grief resources, including lesbian and women-specific grief groups. Overall researchers, policymakers, and practitioners should be mindful of the importance of fully integrating and including populations into their care practices to avoid creating systems of superficial tolerance.

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Sexual and gender minorities among students in Italy: population estimate and risk behaviours

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.559 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

M Fonzo ◽

T Baldovin ◽

C Bertoncello ◽

G Cappella ◽

V Baldo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Gender Minorities ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender

Abstract Background Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) are at higher risk for stigma, discrimination and, ultimately, development of risky health behaviours than heterosexual counterparts. Latest demographic data on SGM population in Italy date back to 2011 census. The prevalence of risk behaviours among SGM university students has not been previously estimated in Italy. We aimed at estimating the population of SGM university students and assessing the prevalence of risk behaviours. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving a sample of 18-25 years old students. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous, self-administrated questionnaire on sexual identity/orientation, smoking, use of condom and sexual partners in the last 24 months. χ2 tests were performed. Results We collected 9,988 questionnaires (response rate 91.3%); 1.41% did not disclose sexual orientation. Transgender individuals were 0.12%. Among cisgenders males, 95.39% identified as hetero-, 2.52% as homo- and 2.02% as bisexual; 94.50% of females as hetero-, 1.28% as homo- and 4.21% as bisexual. While among men the proportion of smokers was 30.7% without significant differences among subgroups (p=.219), this proportion was 26.1%, 40,5% and 51.6% among hetero-, homo- and bisexual women (p<.001); 62.4% of all males declared to use the condom without significant differences (p=.089), but 19.0% of homo- and 43.4% of bi- females did compared with 55.5% of heterosexual (p<.001); 18,7% of hetero-, 49.4% of homo- and 32.4% of bisexual men declared to have had three or more partners (p<.001); among hetero- women the proportion was 11.1%, while 12.5% and 26.3% among homo- and bisexuals. Conclusions SGMs were 5.26% of university students. Compared with hetero- counterparts, homo- and bisexual women showed a higher prevalence of all risk behaviours investigated. In contrast, homo- and bisexual men showed a similar behaviours compared with heterosexual men, except for a significantly higher number of partners. Key messages Sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) account for 5.26% of the investigated university student population; 4.54% of cisgender men and 5.49% of cisgender women are homo- or bisexual; trans are 0.12%. SGMs show unhealthier behaviours compared with heterosexual counterparts; in particular, bisexual women show higher prevalence of smoking and non-use of the condom.

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Oversampling as a methodological strategy for the study of self-reported health among lesbian, gay and bisexual populations

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494817717407 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 637-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Norman Anderssen ◽

Kirsti Malterud

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Population Based ◽

Group Differences ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Lesbian Women ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Heterosexual Women ◽

Reported Health ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender

Aims: Epidemiological research on lesbian, gay and bisexual populations raises concerns regarding self-selection and group sizes. The aim of this research was to present strategies used to overcome these challenges in a national population-based web survey of self-reported sexual orientation and living conditions—exemplified with a case of daily tobacco smoking. Methods: The sample was extracted from pre-established national web panels. Utilizing an oversampling strategy, we established a sample including 315 gay men, 217 bisexual men, 789 heterosexual men, 197 lesbian women, 405 bisexual women and 979 heterosexual women. We compared daily smoking, representing three levels of differentiation of sexual orientation for each gender. Results: The aggregation of all non-heterosexuals into one group yielded a higher odds ratio (OR) for non-heterosexuals being a daily smoker. The aggregation of lesbian and bisexual women indicated higher OR between this group and heterosexual women. The full differentiation yielded no differences between groups except for bisexual compared with heterosexual women. Conclusions: The analyses demonstrated the advantage of differentiation of sexual orientation and gender, in this case bisexual women were the main source of group differences. We recommend an oversampling procedure, making it possible to avoid self-recruitment and to increase the transferability of findings.

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From Stonewall to millennium : Lesbian representation in three representative Late 20th-century plays by American women.

10.32469/10355/46844 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Vanessa Marie Campagna

Keyword(s):

Queer Theory ◽

20Th Century ◽

Political Campaigns ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Late 20Th Century ◽

American Women ◽

Lgbt History ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Lgbt People ◽

And Gender

From Stonewall to Millennium: Lesbian Representation in Three Late 20th-Century Plays by American Women explores the relationship between the lived experiences of LGBT people (especially lesbians and bisexual women) and staged depictions thereof. In the dissertation's three analytical chapters, I offer close, critical readings of three representative plays by American women, one from each of the final three decades of the 20th century: Last 07 at Bluefish Cove by Jane Chambers, And Baby Makes Seven by Paula Vogel, and Stop Kiss by Diana Son. Motivated by the New Historicist perspective that that the significance of literary texts "can be fully grasped only in relation to the other expressive possibilities with which it interacts," I illuminate deeper meanings within the plays by investigating the social/political climates in which they were written and debuted. Exploring past modes of living and staging LGBT identities and experiences is valuable because it helps contextualize the current historical moment, which is marked by aggressive social/political campaigns aimed at LGBT empowerment and enfranchisement. This project will be of interest to artists and scholars in the varied, but often intersecting, fields of Theatre, Performance Studies, Communication, Women's and Gender Studies, and Queer Theory, as well as those outside of the academy who take interest in LGBT history, American history, and the arts.

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“Girl-on-girl culture”

Journal of Language and Sexuality ◽

10.1075/jls.18013.bai ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 195-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aimee Bailey

Keyword(s):

Critical Discourse Analysis ◽

Corpus Linguistics ◽

Online Community ◽

The United States ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Queer Women ◽

Girl Culture ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender ◽

The One

Abstract This article investigates the construction of sex advice for queer women as it features on the world’s most popular lesbian website, Autostraddle. Based in the United States, the website is a “progressively feminist” online community for lesbian, bisexual and other queer women. Using multimodal critical discourse analysis and corpus linguistics, this article explores how representations of sexual and gender identity facilitate the construction of homonormativity on the website. It argues that these representations involve a tension between exclusivity and inclusivity. On the one hand, Autostraddle wants to construct an exclusive markedly lesbian subjectivity and a subcultural model of lesbian sex, which is lacking in mainstream culture. On the other hand, it aims to be inclusive of transgender and bisexual women, and to deconstruct the idea of sexual homogeneity. Findings show that Autostraddle discursively negotiates these competing goals to construct a distinctly “queer female” normativity centred on young cisgender feminine lesbians.

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Assistência de enfermagem às mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais

Revista de Enfermagem UFPE on line ◽

10.5205/1981-8963-v13i1a237896p79-85-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 79

Author(s):

Kalline Trajano Feitoza Cabral ◽

Ivoneide Lucena Pereira ◽

Luana Rodrigues De Almeida ◽

Waléria Bastos de Andrade Gomes Nogueira ◽

Francisca Vilena Da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nursing Care ◽

Family Health ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Gender Minorities ◽

Analysis Technique ◽

Las Mujeres ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender ◽

Nursing Professionals ◽

Care Nursing

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze, from the perspective of lesbian and bisexual women, Nursing care in Family Health Units. Method: this is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, carried out by means of interviews with five lesbian and bisexual women. The study adopted, for information analysis, the Content Analysis technique, in the modality of Thematic Analysis. Results: lesbian and bisexual women face difficulties during nursing consultation, such as lack of reception, prejudice and nonspecific information about prevention of diseases. Conclusion: women were not welcomed, cared for and assisted regarding their health needs and specificities. The lack of assistance of nursing professionals is worrisome in relation to issues of specificities of lesbians and bisexuals. Descriptors: Female Homosexuality; Primary Health Care; Nursing Care; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Prejudice; User Embracement.RESUMOObjetivo: analisar, sob a ótica de mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais, a assistência de Enfermagem em Unidades de Saúde da Família. Método: trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, exploratório e descritivo, realizado por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com cinco mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais. Adotou-se, para a análise das informações, a técnica de Análise de Conteúdo, na Modalidade Análise Temática. Resultados: constataram-se as dificuldades enfrentadas pelas mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais durante a consulta de Enfermagem tais como a falta de acolhimento, o preconceito e as informações inespecíficas sobre a prevenção de doenças. Conclusão: evidenciou-se que as mulheres não foram acolhidas, cuidadas e assistidas quanto às suas necessidades de saúde e especificidades. Conclui-se que é preocupante a falta de assistência dos profissionais de Enfermagem em relação às questões das especificidades das mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais. Descritores: Homossexualidade Feminina; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Cuidados de Enfermagem; Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero; Preconceito; Acolhimento. RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar, desde la perspectiva de las mujeres lesbianas y bisexuales, los cuidados de Enfermería en las Unidades de Salud de la Familia. Método: este es un estudio cualitativo, exploratorio y descriptivo, realizado por medio de entrevistas con cinco mujeres lesbianas y bisexuales. Se utilizó, para el análisis de la información, la técnica de análisis de contenido, en la modalidad de Análisis Temático. Resultados: se observó que las mujeres lesbianas y bisexuales enfrentan dificultades durante la consulta de enfermería, tales como la falta de recepción, el prejuicio y la inespecificidad información sobre la prevención de enfermedades. Conclusión: es evidente que las mujeres no fueron bien acogidas, atendidas y asistidas con respecto a sus necesidades de salud y especificidades. Se concluye que es preocupante la falta de asistencia de los profesionales de enfermería en relación con las cuestiones de las especificidades de las lesbianas y bisexuales. Descriptores: Homosexualidade Femenina; Atención Primaria de Salud; Atención de Enfermaría; Minorías Sexuales y de Género; Prejuicio; Acogimiento.

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The Wage Effects of Sexual Orientation Discrimination

ILR Review ◽

10.1177/001979399504800408 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 726-739 ◽

Cited By ~ 180

Author(s):

M. V. Lee Badgett

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Gender Discrimination ◽

General Social Survey ◽

Orientation Discrimination ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Race And Gender ◽

Sexual Orientation Discrimination ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender ◽

Male Workers

This study is the first to apply the econometric tools developed in the study of race and gender discrimination to the newer question of sexual orientation discrimination. Analyzing pooled 1989–91 data from a national random sample, the General Social Survey, the author finds that gay and bisexual male workers earned from 11% to 27% less than heterosexual male workers with the same experience, education, occupation, marital status, and region of residence. There is also evidence that lesbian and bisexual women earned less than heterosexual women, but this result is not consistently statistically significant across all variable definitions and specifications.

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