Sexual Stigma in Young Adult Femme Lesbian Women
DOI:
Abstract Views:
355 times
PDF - Full Text Downloads:
243 times
Abstract
This study examines the unique and subjective experience of sexual stigma among sexual minority women. In Indonesia, lesbian women as a homosexual group experience more stigma and discrimination, affecting multiple aspects of life, including psychosocial, economic, legal, and health. The aim of this study is to obtain an in-depth understanding on sexual stigma experience of young adult femme lesbian women, manifested in three forms: (1) enacted sexual stigma; (2) felt sexual stigma; and (3) internalized sexual stigma. The qualitative study method with descriptive phenomenology approach utilizing in-depth interview was conducted to three participants who self-referred as femme lesbian women, with the age range of 19-30 years old. Study results found that the study participants experienced sexual stigma early on their development of sexual identity. Internalized sexual stigma was formed when the study participants were negatively exposed to enacted sexual stigma and felt sexual stigma. The impact of sexual stigma was reflected through drawbacks in the development of sexual identity, expression of social relations, and romantic relationships with lesbian women partners, as well as negative emotional well-being.
Downloads
References
Baiocco, R., Laghi, F., Di Pomponio, I., & Nigito, C. S. (2012). Self-disclosure to the best friend: Friendship quality and internalized sexual stigma in Italian lesbian and gay adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 35(2), 381-387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.08.002
Blackwood, E., & Wieringa, S. E. (2007). Globalization, sexuality, and silences: Women’s sexualities and masculinities in an Asian context. In S. E. Wieringa, E. Blackwood, & A. Bhaiya (Eds.), Women’s sexualities and masculinities in a globalizing Asia (pp. 1-20). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230604124_1
Blair, K. L., & Hoskin, R. A. (2015). Experiences of femme identity: Coming out, invisibility, and femmephobia. Psychology & Sexuality, 6(3), 229-244. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2014.921860
Blair, K. L., & Hoskin, R. A. (2016). Contemporary understandings of femme identities and related experiences of discrimination. Psychology & Sexuality, 7(2), 101-115. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2015.1053824
Butler, J. (2006). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Gender-Trouble-Feminism-and-the-Subversion-of-Identity/Butler/p/book/9780415389556
Carroll, J. L. (2016). Sexuality now: Embracing diversity (5th ed.). Cengage Learning. https://www.cengage.com/c/sexuality-now-embracing-diversity-5e-carroll/9781305253377/
Coleman, E. (1981-1982). Developmental stages of the coming out process. Journal of Homosexuality, 7(2-3), 31-43. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v07n02_06
Henry, H. M. (2020). Internalized sexual stigma as an internal minority stress: The Egyptian gay experience. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 24(2), 174-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/19359705.2019.1706681
Herek, G. M. (1996). Heterosexism and homophobia. In R. P. Cabaj, & T. S. Stein (Eds.), Textbook of homosexuality and mental health (pp. 101-113). American Psychiatric Association. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-97801-007
Herek, G. M. (1999). AIDS and stigma. American Behavioral Scientist, 42(7), 1106-1116. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764299042007004
Herek, G. M. (2009). Sexual stigma and sexual prejudice in the United States: A conceptual framework. In D. A. Hope (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on lesbian, gay & bisexual identities (Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, vol. 54, pp. 65-111). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09556-1_4
Herek, G. M., Gillis, J. R., & Cogan, J. C. (2009). Internalized stigma among sexual minority adults: Insights from a social psychological perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(1), 32-43. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014672
Levitt, H. M., & Hiestand, K. R. (2005). Gender within lesbian sexuality: Butch and femme perspectives. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 18(1), 39-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720530590523062
Levitt, H. M., Puckett, J. A., Ippolito, M. R., & Horne, S. G. (2012). Sexual minority women's gender identity and expression: Challenges and supports. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 16(2), 153-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/10894160.2011.605009
Lewis, R. J., Derlega, V. J., Griffin, J. L., & Krowinski, A. C. (2003). Stressors for gay men and lesbians: Life stress, gay-related stress, stigma consciousness, and depressive symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 22(6), 716-729. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.22.6.716.22932
Nurdiyanto, F. A., & Setiyawati, D. (2017). Why people hesitate to help: A relationship between stigma and help-giving attitude. ANIMA Indonesian Psychological Journal, 32(4), 227-234. https://doi.org/10.24123/aipj.v32i4.853
O’Connell, L. M., Atlas, J. G., Saunders, A. L., & Philbrick, R. (2010). Perceptions of rural school staff regarding sexual minority students. Journal of LGBT Youth, 7(4), 293-309. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2010.518534
O’Connell, M., & Feliz, S. (2011). Same-sex couple household statistics from the 2010 census [Working Paper Number SEHSD-WP2011-26]. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/2011/demo/SEHSD-WP2011-26.html
O’Connor, H., & Madge, C. (2017). Online interviewing. In N. G. Fielding, R. M. Lee, & G. Blank (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of online research methods (pp. 416-434). SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473957992
Permanadeli, R. (2015). Dadi wong wadon: Representasi sosial perempuan Jawa di era modern [Being women: Social representation of Javanese women in the modern era]. Pustaka Ifada.
Pradipto, Y. D., & Setiadi, B. N. (2018). The role of internalized stigma and perceived discrimination regarding the self-esteem of people living with HIV/AIDS in Jakarta. ANIMA Indonesian Psychological Journal, 33(4), 241-249. https://doi.org/10.24123/aipj.v33i4.1797
Puckett, J. A., & Levitt, H. M. (2015). Internalized stigma within sexual and gender minorities: Change strategies and clinical implications. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 9(4), 329-349. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538605.2015.1112336
Rai, S. S., Irwanto, Peters, R. M. H., Syurina, E. V., Putri, A. I., Mikhakhanova, A., Naniche, D., & Zweekhorst, M. B. M. (2020). Qualitative exploration of experiences and consequences of health-related stigma among Indonesians with HIV, leprosy, schizophrenia and diabetes. (2020). Kesmas: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional (National Public Health Journal), 15(1), 7-16. https://doi.org/10.21109/kesmas.v15i1.3306
Rokhmah, D. (2017). The meaning of tattoo and lesbian couples: A phenomenology study. Advanced Science Letters, 23(4), 3334-3338. https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2017.9131
Rodriguez, D. G. (2022). Research on the impact of COVID-19 on LGBT+ individuals in Indonesia, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). https://www.wfd.org/what-we-do/resources/impact-covid-19-lgbt-individuals-indonesia-nigeria-and-sri-lanka
Rodriguez, D. G., & Murtagh, B. (2022). Situating anti-LGBT moral panics in Indonesia: Homophobia, criminalization, acceptance, and religiosity. Indonesia and the Malay World, 50(146), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639811.2022.2038871
Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., & Hunter, J. (2004). Ethnic/racial differences in the coming-out process of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: A comparison of sexual identity development over time. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 10(3), 215-228. https://doi.org/10.1037/1099-9809.10.3.215
Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., Hunter, J., & Levy-Warren, A. (2009). The coming-out process of young lesbian and bisexual women: Are there butch/femme differences in sexual identity development? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38(1), 34-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9221-0
Rubin, G. S. (1984). Thinking sex: Notes for a radical theory of the politics of sexuality. In C. S. Vance (Eds.), Pleasure and danger: Exploring female sexuality (pp. 267-319). Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Rubin, G. S. (2006). Thinking sex: Notes for a radical theory of the politics of sexuality. In R. Parker, & P. Aggleton (Eds.), Culture, society and sexuality (1st ed., pp. 143-178). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203966105 | https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203966105-21/thinking-sex-notes-radical-theory-politics-sexuality-gayle-rubin
Sarahsita, R. S. H., & Hidajat, L. L. (2017). Dinamika internalized sexual stigma pada lesbian maskulin yang belum mengalami proses coming out (Studi kasus pada dua lesbian maskulin di Jakarta) [The dynamics of internalized sexual stigma on masculine lesbians who have not experienced coming out (A case study on two masculine lesbians in Jakarta)]. Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi MANASA, 6(1), 23-27. https://mx2.atmajaya.ac.id/index.php/Manasa/article/view/170
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Oesterle, S., Hill, K. G., Hawkins, J. D., & Pashak, T. J. (2015). The dimensions of successful young adult development: A conceptual and measurement framework. Applied Developmental Science, 20(3), 150-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2015.1082429
Schlesinger, R. A. (2019). Sexual minority women’s experiences of living & coping with internalized heterosexism [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/etd/r/1501/10?clear=10&p10_accession_num=akron1563961851179285
Sipes, J. B. A., Roberts, L. D., & Mullan, B. (2019). Voice-only Skype for use in researching sensitive topics: A research note. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 19(1), 204-220. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2019.1577518
Sundler, A. J., Lindberg, E., Nilsson, C., & Palmér, L. (2019). Qualitative thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. Nursing Open, 6(3), 733-739. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.275
Szymanski, D. M., & Chung, Y. B. (2002). Internalized homophobia in lesbians. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 7(1), 115-125. https://doi.org/10.1300/J155v07n01_08
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), & United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2014). Hidup sebagai LGBT di Asia: Laporan nasional Indonesia - Tinjauan dan analisa partisipatif tentang lingkungan hukum dan sosial bagi orang dan masyarakat madani lesbian, gay, biseksual dan transgender (LBGT) [Living as LGBT in Asia: National report of Indonesia - Participative review and analysis of the law and social environment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) civil community)]. United States Agency for International Development (USAID). https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2496/Being_LGBT_in_Asia_Indonesia_Country_Report_Bahasa_language.pdf | https://rumahcemara.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hidup-sebagai-LGBT-di-Asia.pdf
Walker, L. (2012). The future of femme: Notes on femininity, aging and gender theory. Sexualities, 15(7), 795-814. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460711417482
Wieringa, S. E., Blackwood, E., & Bhaiya, A. (2007). Women’s sexualities and masculinities in a globalizing Asia. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230604124
Yin, R. K. (2011). Qualitative research from start to finish (1st ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Qualitative-Research-from-Start-to-Finish/Robert-Yin/9781462517978
Zhang, J. (2022). Femme/butch/androgyne identity and preferences for femininity across face, voice, and personality traits in Chinese lesbian and bisexual women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(7), 3485-3495. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-022-02334-3
Zheng, L., & Zheng, Y. (2016). Gender nonconformity and butch–femme identity among lesbians in China. The Journal of Sex Research, 53(2), 186-193. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2015.1058890
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Articles published in ANIMA are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. You are free to copy, transform, or redistribute articles for any lawful, non-commercial purpose in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to ANIMA and the original Author(s), link to the license, indicate if changes were made, and redistribute any derivative work under the same license.
Copyright on articles is retained by the respective Author(s), without restrictions. A non-exclusive license is granted to ANIMA to publish the article and identify itself as its original publisher, along with the commercial right to include the article in a hardcopy issue for sale to libraries and individuals.
By publishing in ANIMA, Author(s) grant any third party the right to use their article to the extent provided by the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.
