Lesbian Research

More Thoughts...

2006-09-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

The first community(s) I was involved with embraced me with open arms. Looking back I see this was because I was 'under the wing' of a woman totally emersed in that community. I was introduced to other lesbians, taken to events, and at the time, spent most of my weekends at the gay bar as well as private parties. I think now, had I of been alone it would have been a lot harder to become involved in a very close knit community of women. I didn't stay long in this city, only 12 months before I moved to Christchurch, one of the main cities in New Zealand. I found this lesbian community(s) very difficult to become involved with. I had expected the same level of friendliness that I had experienced prior, and simply didn't find it. I stayed here only 10 months before moving again, this time to Wellington. It is here, in Wellington, that I found a community of women that I really cherished. For the first 3 or 4 years I lived in the gay bar (Caspers at the time) and got involved with every lesbian event that I could. I became one of the locals...

I was still really young (21) and was simply having a good time. I was promiscuous, flirtatious, and generally out for fun. I was also fairly arrogant:-) I knew I could charm older women and took advantage of this. It never once occurred to me that my behaviour may not have been accepted by the women in this community(s).

More to come...

Community Definitions Thoughts...

2006-08-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

One of the comments on definitions is that they are very theoretical. I couldn't agree more really. I guess when you're in academia it is the natural road to head down. So the next few posts will be from the heart and from the experience of being in and around lesbian community(s) for a few years now:-)

I've always been one of those 'real' lesbians, ya know? I always joke you can't 'come out' if you've never 'been in'! I told my parents (baptist minister I might add...) at the age of 15. I knew much earlier than this that I was only attracted to women, but wasn't sure what that all meant to be honest. I lived in a smallish city where I searched high and low for anything even remotely resembling lesbian. I never found it until I was 19. Then I went wild!! A little baby dyke in a woman coated candy store. This was my first look into lesbian community(s), and it was wonderful. I saw women much older than me and was in awe. I was also oblivious to the innner workings and politics of the community(s) I was in. It was easy to be accepted because I just naturally fitted to mould of a little butch dyke:-) So, I think I was lucky in many respects. My introduction to community life was full and nurturing. Something I definately took for granted at the time.

To be continued...

Community Definitions #3

2006-08-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

This next definition is also one I really like. I think it also has some challenging concepts for women in lesbian communities. It tackles the issue of bahaviour in lesbian communities, something that I have sometimes learnt the hard way...

"Reaching community is both intentional and challenging. The group process requires that an individual give up learned defenses and habitual way of behaving. Through increased responsibility, risk and vulnerability of its members, a group develops into a "safe place" providing an environment of acceptance, appreciation of human diversity, and nurturance of personal growth, healing and self-discovery." Located from www.community4me.com/comm_definitions.html

I like this definition because it is one that I wish lesbian communities would adopt. I have found generally the lesbian communities I've been involved with very safe places to explore my sexual orientation. However, at times I havn't felt fully accepted when I've 'stepped outside' what may be expected of me. Maybe thats just been my own perception, as I'm not always willing to let go of habitual behaviour. Anyway, I like this definition a lot:-)

Community Definitions #2

2006-07-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

The next definition is one that the Focus Group participants for this research liked best. It is taken from the following website: http://www.community4me.com/comm_definitions.html

"The word community... can refer to a specific group of people (a geographical community, a church congregation) or it can describe a quality of relationship based on certain values and principles."

This is to me a very simplistic look at community. It may be that this is enough to describe a lesbian community. I've started to wonder lately if I'm looking for more in a definition than is necessary. However, I have some more definitions to post next week, so I'll keep looking!

Community Definitions #1

2006-07-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start posting some broad definitions of community. From what I have read so far, there seems to be parts of current definitions that would fit really well with what I have experienced in Lesbian communities. Yet none of them cover the whole spectrum for me. Perhaps we need to create our own definition? As an important distinction though, is there a difference between a community and being in community?

Definition 1:
"A community is best defined as a group of people who, regardless of the diversity of their backgrounds, have been able to accept and transcend their differences, enabling them to communicate effectively and openly and to work together towards goals identified as being for their common good" (J Hampton, Preparation & Guidelines for Community Building, 2004)

I like most of this definition. It includes one of the most crucial issues I have found in being in lesbian communities, and that is to accept and transcend differences. Most lesbian communities I have been part of include really diverse women, as well as having diverse backgrounds, women who may only have being lesbian in common.

lesbian community (s)

2006-06-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

As a young woman coming out I was in awe of older and wiser lesbians I saw around me. I found the community (s) I was invloved with exciting, safe, and extremely supportive. At the time I had no idea of all the differrent 'types' of women within the lesbian community (s), and it wasn't until I moved to a larger city that I realised how wide and varied this group of women was. What an eye opener:-)

Identity

2006-06-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

So who can be a lesbian? I know I've often been described as someone who has very black and white views on this subject. I'm really interested to know what other people think on this subject. Are you a lesbian if you occasionally sleep with men, but predominantly with women? Are you a lesbian if you are in a relationship with a man that doesn't involve sex and you seek intimacy from women? In order to look at whether or not there is a lesbian community, I think you have to first seek some ideas of what constitutes being a lesbian...

Lesbian Community

2006-06-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

So what is a lesbian community? Does a 'lesbian community' at a regional level exist? Can anyone be part of it? Thoughts welcome...

IMPORTANT!

2006-06-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome to the blog!

This blog is part of research towards an MA in Anthropology, New Zealand. By posting on this blog you consent to being a participant in this research and agree that information posted may be used in the write up of this research. No names or place names will be used.

At the completion of the MA, a summary of analysis will be posted on this blog for all who have participated to read.

This research has been reviewed and approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Committee.

Lets get chatting!