This bestselling pioneering anthology brings together a diverse group of twenty-six feminist writers, therapists and academics. Their work represents a beginning effort to capture the experience of contemporary American lesbians. Writing about their own lives as well as the lives of the women they have observed and counseled, the authors explore four topics central to building a lesbian identity, relationships, community, and therapy.
Some of the essays convoluted and offensive. Others were inspiring, introspective and enlightening. They were all provoking. It's definitely a snapshot of what lesbians and lesbian therapists specifically, were seeing in 70s-80s USA. I'm glad I read it.
This collection of essays were written 25-30 or more years ago, but what's amazing (and sad) is they still apply! Heavy on psychoanalytic theories and offers suggestions for working with (and being) a lesbian in therapy, issues lesbians face individually and in couple therapy while facing inner and outer homophobia and coming to terms with history and political affiliations. Includes case studies, conversations and essays covering everything from sex, bisexuality, creating families, interracial relationships, psychological outcome stemming from incest and physical abuse against young lesbians and more.
a great reference book for college papers and the like but not much else. did have lots of great info and i used it for four years of GLTB studies so i feel like i learned a lot a got my money's worth. if you are not an GLBT studies student or activist, i would not recommend this book. if you have to do a paper on this topic then just check it out at the library.