Time period and lesbian identity events: a comparison of Norwegian lesbians across 1986 and 2005.
The purpose of the present work was to investigate the assumption that the lives of lesbians are easier today. When exploring the hypothesis that identity events (e.g., coming out to parents) among lesbian women have changed over time and happen earlier in life today, we expected to find several time period effects. Two national samples obtained through mailed questionnaires were compared, 1986 (n = 123) and 2005 (n = 236), age range 20-49. Time period effects were found, including informants reporting identifying as lesbian earlier in life. Time period effects, however, were not found regarding relational identity events such as informing others about one's identity status. The findings did not reveal any conclusive evidence that it is easier to establish a lesbian lifestyle today.
Giertsen
Merethe
M
Department of Social Work Studies, Finnmark University College, Alta, Norway. meretheg@hifm.no
Anderssen
Norman
N
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012933:Social Identification; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors