Transcending Oppression through Liberated Identity: Grounded Theory Research Findings with Lesbian Women

Background and Purpose

Historically, behavioral science theories and developmental models have focused on the individual outside of culture, ignoring the unique cultural oppression of lesbian women. The few theories that address lesbianism are seated in “heterosexist paradigms” that fall outside their lived experience (Brown, 1995, p.18). Research and psychological interventions have also focused on the internal daily living problems of lesbian women instead of the oppressive cultural experiences that lesbian women encounter (Kitzinger & Perkins, 1993). Strengths-based and participant-driven methods are needed to correct these historical misapplications of research. The purpose of this study was to address these issues through the generation of theory from the conceptualized data of lesbian cultural experiences.

Methods

The research method used was Glaserian grounded theory, which is driven by the participants through their identification of a main concern and its resolution. Liberated identity emerged from adjusted, conversational, qualitative interviews with 28 diverse lesbian women of varying ages, incomes, geographical locations, ethnicities, and degrees of authenticating as a lesbian. Grounded theory can reveal the way research has historically contributed to ill-conceived theories about lesbians through openness in data collection, allowing theory to emerge, and the impeding of predetermined ideas that may force theory. Because grounded theory is designed to discover life cycle interests and basic social processes (Glaser, 1978; 1998), it follows trends in recent lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) research of within group variation and participant-driven perspectives (Meezan & Martin, 2003).

Results

Liberated identity emerged as the grounded theory and as a basic social process. The main concern identified was transcending oppression. Transcending oppression through liberated identity is a three-stage process: authenticating, reconciling, and integrating. Authenticating is an external verbal, visual, and behavioral act to challenge heterosexist bias. Reconciling is an affective internal process to contrast lesbian identity with heterosexism through checking, submitting, and making identity congruous in oppressive cultural contexts. Integrating is an internal and external stage that requires awareness of cultural oppression, uniting with culture, being in culture, and creating an effective identity within culture. There is fluidity and permeability between these stages.

Implications

Liberated identity as a social work theory contains implications for practice and policy: communal connection, political action, and spirituality. These implications stem from the findings in this study: (a) the individual cannot be separated from cultural context when exploring the consequences of oppression; (b) because oppression exists against different others, creation of equal cultures and community are necessary for justice; (c) a shift from internal pathology to external oppression is necessary to understand the cultural experiences of different others; (d) it is critical to subgroups not to replicate oppression; and (e) justice requires the redefinition of different from inferior to different as good. The liberated identity model can enhance social workers' understanding of how lesbian individuals, families, and communities develop capacity when facing challenges in a culture that oppresses them because of their loving relationships.