Effective Support for Lesbians in Rural Communities

The Role of Psychotherapy

Bibliographic Data

ID12459296
AuthorsSarah L Hastings (Radford University, corresponding author), Alysia Hoover-Thompson (Radford University)
Year2011
Volume15
Issue2
Pages197-204
Publication date2011-04-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Lesbian Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1089-4160 • E-ISSN: 1540-3548
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10894160.2011.521104
PMID21491315
OpenAlexW2043489267
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited23

Most research involving lesbians has been conducted using urban or suburban samples. However, the challenges lesbians face in their rural communities differ from those encountered by lesbians in urban areas. Lesbians in rural areas face potential isolation due to the lack of a visible gay community, an overall lack of services and resources, and an often heightened experience of stigma. Rural areas tend to have a more conservative political climate with an emphasis on fundamentalist religious beliefs. Due to such strong heteronormist pressures, lesbians who decide to come out to their rural communities often face justifiable fears surrounding possible discrimination from employers, religious organizations, schools, and even their friends and family members. Therapists who work with lesbians in rural areas should be prepared to help their clients face and successfully deal with many unique challenges

Face (sociological concept · Homosexuality · Isolation (microbiology · Lesbian · Political science · Politics · Rural area · Rural community · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Stigma (botany · Gender Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies

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