Resilience among rural lesbian youth.
Rural lesbian youth are encumbered with a number of obstacles in their development of a positive self-identify and self-worth. Youth may experience implied physical threats, abuse, and mental health concerns as they attempt to define themselves within a context that emphasizes the role of women as heterosexual caretakers of the community. A number of factors can serve to diminish or enhance the young rural lesbian's ability to cope with barriers and obstacles that she may face, including having a supportive family network, a larger network of friends, supportive mentors and teachers, and access to gay-straight alliances. The intent of this article is to examine the challenges that rural lesbian youth face in developing a positive self-identity including tools to enhance resilience.
Cohn
Tracy J
TJ
Counseling Psychology, Radford University, Box 6946, Radford, VA 24142, USA. cohn.tracy@gmail.com
Hastings
Sarah L
SL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011287:Prejudice; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012933:Social Identification; D012934:Social Isolation