The Experience of Stress and Trauma: Black Lesbians in South Africa

Abstract

The qualitative study explored the socio-cultural experiences of Black lesbians in South Africa. Participants were ten Black lesbians living around Johannesburg, Gauteng Region. Their ages ranged between 20 and 37 years. We used a phenomenological approach. The interview technique adopted by the researchers is the one described by Cohen and Manion (1989). For the analysis of the interviews the researchers followed the guidelines of Potter and Hepburn (2005), and for the transcription of the interviews we used the Jefferson Transcription system (Jefferson, 2004). The women reported experiencing stresses and traumas from fear of rape and violence. They perceived lack of support from the community and their family. Furthermore, they felt disempowered from their socio-cultural invisibility within their culture.

Keywords:

• lesbian
• black
• culture
• community
• empowerment