“It Ain't All as Bad as it May Seem”: Young Black Lesbians' Responses to Sexual Prejudice

Abstract

This article explores the ways in which young, Black lesbians manage their sexual minority identity when experiencing sexual prejudice. Fourteen Black lesbians between the ages of 16 and 24 participated in semistructured interviews. Instances of sexual prejudice and the young women's responses were thematically analyzed using open and axial qualitative coding techniques. Results indicated that participants experienced sexual prejudice frequently and even within the lesbian community. Responses to sexual prejudice included: cognitive reframing of heterosexist messages, passing, gaining support from self-created gay families, and fighting back (physically and verbally) in the event of isolated instances of sexual prejudice. Analysis focuses on how gender identity relates to experiences of sexual prejudice and identity management strategies. Findings suggest that there are parallels between the management strategies of these women and young, Black gay and bisexual males and between these women and Black women who are coping with sexism and racism.

Keywords:

• lesbian
• sexual prejudice
• identity management
• heterosexism
• adolescents
• Black

Acknowledgments

Data used in the current study were collected as part of a larger research study led Dr. Robin Lin Miller and Dr. Tina Timm, with financial support from the Families and Communities Together Coalition of Michigan State University.

The authors would like to thank Dr. Robin Lin Miller and the three anonymous reviewers for their feedback on prior drafts of this manuscript.