Rural Lesbians: Navigating Unique Terrain

Abstract

This dissertation is a qualitative study of women who consider themselves to be both rural and non-heterosexual which examines the perceived effects of living in a rural environment surrounded by rural people. Since rural areas are noted in the literature as lacking resources for diverse populations and lacking resources in general for all persons, this project was focused upon the perceived costs of living a rural life and strategies that the women employ to navigate their home environments.

The behaviors that emerged in reaction to the women's perceptions of rural areas and rural people are perhaps best understood as coping strategies which allow them to deal with their marginalized status in the communities where they live. It is also important to note that these strategies are not individual responses but processes that arise when one group is less powerful than another. Furthermore, it is possible as evidenced in the data, that these strategies can perpetuate the inequality as well as creating situations where social change can occur.

Data for this project is the result of 26 face to face interviews conducted over about a year and a half in a southeastern state. The study is the result of data gathered through open-ended questions utilizing an interview guide of orienting questions (Lofland and Lofland 1995) and interviewing by comment (Snow et. Al. 1982). The data was analyzed in inductive fashion as themes and patterns emerged through the coding process.