Yours, Mine, and Ours: A Preliminary Examination of Constructed Families within the Lesbian Community

• In Event: Homophobia and its Representations: Families, Identity and Identification

Abstract

The increasing complexity of American families requires examination of lesbian constructed families. This paper seeks to understand how lesbian family construction is developed and fostered in the absence of biological or legal ties. Fifteen long-term lesbian couples shared their stories and application of the Social Constructionism theory illuminated messages of intimacy, roles, and future talk, which were coalesced into one overarching theme of “commitment.” Future research need to further examine this increasingly visible contemporary community.

Authors

• Paula Baldwin, George Mason University

• Jonna Kennie, Texas State University

• Lauren A. Lamb, Texas State University, San Marcos