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Lesbian Women and Sexual Health

Author: R Dennis Shelby

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-07-16

Total Pages: 142

ISBN-13: 1317718194

Interviewer: Where did you find out how to have safe lesbian sex? Val: I found out in jail. Why do so many lesbian women engage in sexual behavior that puts their health, even their lives, at risk? Many know they're at risk, yet somehow feel safe enough to behave as if there is no reason to practice safe sex. Lesbian Women and Sexual Health: The Social Construction of Risk and Susceptibility examines how lesbian women perceive their level of risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It describes how their perceptions of risk and susceptibility are shaped by factors such as sexual identity, cultural themes, and community knowledge - and how those perceptions impact on the very real HIV/STI risks that lesbian women face. The genesis of Lesbian Women and Sexual Health: The Social Construction of Risk and Susceptibility lies in Kathleen Dolan’s exploratory study of this under-researched area, in which 162 structured interviews and 70 in-depth interviews were conducted with women who self-identify as lesbians. What these women have to say will inform, educate, and probably surprise you. Tables and figures make complex data easy to access and understand. Lesbian women construct and label their identities and actions in complex ways that may lead to risky behavior. In the words of the women surveyed—and in Dr. Dolan’s insightful commentary—this book explores the ways in which lesbian women construct their perceptions of risk and susceptibility to seek answers to questions that include: Do many lesbian women see themselves, to an extent, as immune to HIV contraction? How does their self-constructed sense of risk and susceptibility lead to making dangerous choices? Why, in spite of their professed willingness to engage in protective actions, do many lesbians not actually do so? Why do many lesbian women, and some of the health care professionals who serve them, feel that pap smears are not necessary for women who have sex only with other women—and what are the consequences of this opinion? What is the relationship between drug/alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors in lesbian women? Lesbian Women and Sexual Health: The Social Construction of Risk and Susceptibility is an important resource for women’s/lesbian health advocates, health care professionals, and courses in gay/women’s/medical studies. It addresses gaps in the existing research to enhance our understanding of the physical and mental health status of lesbian women, of risk factors and protective actions regarding HIV and STIs, and of the conditions for which protective actions actually reduce risk. Use it to update your knowledge of this under-studied area at the intersection of physical, emotional, and sexual health.

Lesbian Women and Sexual Health

Author: Kathleen A. Dolan

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 9780789024787

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Interviewer: Where did you find out how to have safe lesbian sex? Val: I found out in jail. Why do so many lesbian women engage in sexual behavior that puts their health, even their lives, at risk? Many know they're at risk, yet somehow feel safe enough to behave as if there is no reason to practice safe sex. Lesbian Women and Sexual Health: The Social Construction of Risk and Susceptibility examines how lesbian women perceive their level of risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It describes how their perceptions of risk and susceptibility are shaped by factors such as sexual identity, cultural themes, and community knowledge--and how those perceptions impact on the very real HIV/STI risks that lesbian women face. The genesis of Lesbian Women and Sexual Health: The Social Construction of Risk and Susceptibility lies in Kathleen Dolan's exploratory study of this under-researched area, in which 162 structured interviews and 70 in-depth interviews were conducted with women who self-identify as lesbians. What these women have to say will inform, educate, and probably surprise you. Tables and figures make complex data easy to access and understand. Lesbian women construct and label their identities and actions in complex ways that may lead to risky behavior. In the words of the women surveyed--and in Dr. Dolan's insightful commentary--this book explores the ways in which lesbian women construct their perceptions of risk and susceptibility to seek answers to questions that include: Do many lesbian women see themselves, to an extent, as immune to HIV contraction? How does their self-constructed sense of risk and susceptibility lead to making dangerous choices? Why, in spite of their professed willingness to engage in protective actions, do many lesbians not actually do so? Why do many lesbian women, and some of the health care professionals who serve them, feel that pap smears are not necessary for women who have sex only with other women--and what are the consequences of this opinion? What is the relationship between drug/alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors in lesbian women? Lesbian Women and Sexual Health: The Social Construction of Risk and Susceptibility is an important resource for women's/lesbian health advocates, health care professionals, and courses in gay/women's/medical studies. It addresses gaps in the existing research to enhance our understanding of the physical and mental health status of lesbian women, of risk factors and protective actions regarding HIV and STIs, and of the conditions for which protective actions actually reduce risk. Use it to update your knowledge of this under-studied area at the intersection of physical, emotional, and sexual health.

Lesbian Women and Sexual Health

Author: R Dennis Shelby

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-07-16

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 1317718186

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Lesbian Health

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1999-05-11

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 0309174066

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Women's health, as a field of study, is a developing discipline. Health theories in general have been based on studies of men. However, in recent years, more attention has shifted to women's health, realizing the disparities between men and women in relation to their health. During the last two decades, a similar shift has occurred for a group of womenâ€"lesbian womenâ€"to further identify and specify their health needs. Over the past decade, lesbians have organized to call for attention to the health issues of this community, resulting in several federally funded research initiatives. This book offers a comprehensive view of what is known about lesbian health needs and what questions need further investigation, including: How do we define who is lesbian? Are there unique health issues for lesbians? Are lesbians at higher or lower risk for such health problems as AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer, mental disorders, and substance abuse? How does homophobia affect lesbian health and the funding of research on lesbian health? How do lesbian health needs fit into the health care system and the larger society? What risk and protective factors shape the physical and mental health of lesbians? The book discusses how to determine which questions to ask about sexual orientation, the need to obtain information without violating privacy, the importance of considering racial and ethnic diversity in the study of lesbians, strategies for exchanging information among researchers and disseminating findings to the public, and mechanisms for supporting greater numbers of researchers. Lesbian Health takes a frank look at the political pressures, community attitudes, and professional concerns uniquely affecting the study of lesbian health issues. The book explores many other issues including the potential for transferring findings in this field to other population groups, including other rare populations and women in general.

The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2011-06-24

Total Pages: 366

ISBN-13: 0309210658

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At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals--often referred to under the umbrella acronym LGBT--are becoming more visible in society and more socially acknowledged, clinicians and researchers are faced with incomplete information about their health status. While LGBT populations often are combined as a single entity for research and advocacy purposes, each is a distinct population group with its own specific health needs. Furthermore, the experiences of LGBT individuals are not uniform and are shaped by factors of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location, and age, any of which can have an effect on health-related concerns and needs. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People assesses the state of science on the health status of LGBT populations, identifies research gaps and opportunities, and outlines a research agenda for the National Institute of Health. The report examines the health status of these populations in three life stages: childhood and adolescence, early/middle adulthood, and later adulthood. At each life stage, the committee studied mental health, physical health, risks and protective factors, health services, and contextual influences. To advance understanding of the health needs of all LGBT individuals, the report finds that researchers need more data about the demographics of these populations, improved methods for collecting and analyzing data, and an increased participation of sexual and gender minorities in research. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People is a valuable resource for policymakers, federal agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH), LGBT advocacy groups, clinicians, and service providers.

Lesbian Health

Author: Committee on Lesbian Health Research Priorities

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1999-05-25

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 0309523958

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Women's health, as a field of study, is a developing discipline. Health theories in general have been based on studies of men. However, in recent years, more attention has shifted to women's health, realizing the disparities between men and women in relation to their health. During the last two decades, a similar shift has occurred for a group of women--lesbian women--to further identify and specify their health needs. Over the past decade, lesbians have organized to call for attention to the health issues of this community, resulting in several federally funded research initiatives. This book offers a comprehensive view of what is known about lesbian health needs and what questions need further investigation, including: How do we define who is lesbian? Are there unique health issues for lesbians? Are lesbians at higher or lower risk for such health problems as AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer, mental disorders, and substance abuse? How does homophobia affect lesbian health and the funding of research on lesbian health? How do lesbian health needs fit into the health care system and the larger society? What risk and protective factors shape the physical and mental health of lesbians? The book discusses how to determine which questions to ask about sexual orientation, the need to obtain information without violating privacy, the importance of considering racial and ethnic diversity in the study of lesbians, strategies for exchanging information among researchers and disseminating findings to the public, and mechanisms for supporting greater numbers of researchers. Lesbian Health takes a frank look at the political pressures, community attitudes, and professional concerns uniquely affecting the study of lesbian health issues. The book explores many other issues including the potential for transferring findings in this field to other population groups, including other rare populations and women in general.

Mental Health Issues for Sexual Minority Women

Author: Tonda Hughes

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-01-14

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 1317712889

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Get a full understanding of lesbian mental health concerns! Mental Health Issues for Sexual Minority Women: Redefining Women's Mental Health presents much-needed research on sexual orientation and sexual minority populations missing from most mental health studies. This unique book identifies three areas of concern voiced in a 1999 Institute of Medicine report on lesbian health: whether lesbians are at a higher risk of mental health problems; the need for a better understanding of lesbian orientation and diversity in the lesbian population; and the need to eliminate barriers to mental health care services for lesbians. Mental Health Issues for Sexual Minority Women addresses those concerns with theoretical and empirical work that represents a broad range of disciplines and cultures. Mental Health Issues for Sexual Minority Women covers a unique and diverse range of topics missing from most books on lesbian health. The book includes original research on issues such as: body image and attitudes toward eating and dieting relationship satisfaction and conflicts substance use and sexual victimization risk factors for psychological distress among African-American lesbians and much more! Mental Health Issues for Sexual Minority Women also includes reviews of literature on traumatic victimization, internalized homophobia, and mental health issues for lesbians with physical disabilities. This groundbreaking book is a unique resource for health researchers, clinicians, academics, and students in any health profession, including nursing, medicine, public health, social work, psychology, and sociology.

Lesbian Health 101

Author: Suzanne L. Dibble

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 600

ISBN-13:

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This is the first comprehensive textbook on lesbian health, reflecting the exponential increase in research on lesbian health over the past 10 years. I highly recommend this textbook to all clinicians and students who provide health care for women, and to inquisitive patients. --Susan Love, MD, President of the Susan Love Breast Cancer Foundation This book presents new and little-known, current and well-researched material that is essential to combat myths and misinformation about lesbian health. The intended audience is literally starved for this book. Health care providers and lesbian health care advocates may be aware of some of the information in this book, but none of us have the comprehensive understanding and knowledge base that this book provides. It should be available in every curriculum where health care disparities are addressed, and where LGBT health is taught. --Peggy Chinn, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, University of Connecticut Each time a lesbian thinks about weight, retirement, children, a hospital stay, filling out a form, or any other health related activity, she has to insist on a paradigm shift to simply be recognized. This book will push that shift along a little faster and give lesbians the leverage we need to live healthily in this century. --Jewelle Gomez, Author and activist This book presents new and little-known, current and well-researched material that is essential to combat myths and misinformation about lesbian health. The intended audience is literally starved for this book. Health care providers and lesbian health care advocates may be aware of some of the information in this book, but none of us have the comprehensive understanding and knowledge base that this book provides. It should be available in every curriculum where health care disparities are addressed, and where LGBT health is taught. --Peggy Chinn, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, University of Connecticut Each time a lesbian thinks about weight, retirement, children, a hospital stay, filling out a form, or any other health related activity, she has to insist on a paradigm shift to simply be recognized. This book will push that shift along a little faster and give lesbians the leverage we need to live healthily in this century. --Jewelle Gomez, Author and activist

Gateways to Improving Lesbian Health and Health Care

Author: Christy M Ponticelli

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-12-12

Total Pages: 103

ISBN-13: 1000526283

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An interdisciplinary book that creates a space for traditionally oppressed voices to speak, Gateways to Improving Lesbian Health and Health Care explores the health care experiences of lesbians of different ages, colors, and places. By presenting the particular difficulties lesbians have in accessing excellent, or even adequate, health care, this book is meant to convince lesbians who have been isolated that their health issues and interactions with health care professionals are not just personal troubles, but larger public issues. It is also designed to show health care providers how they can sensitize their care and meet the needs of lesbian clients through the provision of safe and respectful environments. As Gateways to Improving Lesbian Health and Health Care addresses the intersection of race, class, and sexuality and how it affects the health care lesbians receive, you learn about lesbians’strategies for coming out to professionals, patient-professional interaction, and the construction of lesbianism as a social problem within the health care arena. You will also learn about: the need to view sexualities as local histories and narratives the invisibility of aging lesbians in health and policy arenas domestic violence in lesbian relationships surviving a series of social identity exclusions the difficulties of finding information on heterosexist or lesbian-friendly health care providers in unfriendly communities personal accounts of prejudices lesbians have encountered when seeking health care struggling with alcoholism Lesbian health care consumers, health care educators and providers, social service workers, and those in women's studies programs need to know how health care services often fail lesbians in need. With its practical suggestions for improving health care delivery to lesbians, Gateways to Improving Lesbian Health and Health Care is essential reading for ensuring quality care to lesbians of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and locations.

Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Mental Health

Author: Robin M Mathy

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-07-16

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 1317717988

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Examine the psychosocial factors that affect lesbian and bisexual women’s mental health This essential guide presents up-to-date, evidence-based information that can be implemented to improve mental health services for lesbian and bisexual women in a variety of settings. It examines the systemic factors that play a role in their psychological and emotional well-being, and presents new research on protective factors that play an important role when lesbian/bisexual women face depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Mental Health reviews the past literature on mental health and sexual orientationciting biased and inadequate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment approaches currently in use in the care of lesbian and bisexual women. This essential guide for clinicians and researchers presents new empirical research on lesbian/bisexual women’s mental health. It explores specific challenges that face various lesbian and bisexual female populations, with research on: dysthymia depression and anxietyincluding a chapter on depressive distress among African-American women the way that community size and religiosity impact lesbian/bisexual women’s psychosexual development the relationship between shame and a client’s attachment style the mental health implications of same-sex marriage mental health in Taiwan’s T-Po lesbian communitywith a focus on community members’ sexual orientation, gender roles, and gender identity the interconnectedness of sexual fantasies, psychological adjustment, and close relationship functioning in lesbian/bisexual women body image and eating issues As the diversity of this population becomes progressively more evident, so does the necessity for deeper exploration of the mental health problems facing lesbians and bisexuals. Whether you are a student, an educator, or an experienced clinician, Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Mental Health is an essential resource for relevant and meaningful information that focuses much-needed attention on the mental health of lesbian and bisexual women.