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'I am who I am'? Navigating norms and the importance of authenticity in lesbian and bisexual women's accounts of their appearance practices

Clarke, Victoria; Spence, Katherine

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Authors

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Dr Victoria Clarke Victoria.Clarke@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Qualitative & Critical Psychology

Katherine Spence



Abstract

This article explores how lesbian and bisexual women negotiate pressures to look like an authentic lesbian and an authentic individual in their accounts of their clothing and appearance practices. Thirty women responded to a 'paper-and-pen' qualitative survey about lesbian and bisexual women's dress and appearance. Two main themes were generated from the data: 'norms and conformity' and 'freedom and authenticity'. Conformity to appearance mandates raised questions about individual authenticity; the women negotiated this dilemma either by presenting their conformity as active and strategic, a means to an end (subverting normative assumptions of heterosexuality, being recognised by other non-heterosexual women) or as an almost unconscious expression of their inner dyke. For feminine and other non-conforming women, their lack of conformity raised questions about their authenticity as a non-heterosexual woman (and their feminist credentials), and some of these women negotiated this dilemma by presenting their femininity as a subversion of heteronormative assumptions by showing that any woman can be a lesbian. We conclude this article by highlighting the potential for over-reading sexuality in accounts of sexuality and appearance practices. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Citation

Clarke, V., & Spence, K. (2013). 'I am who I am'? Navigating norms and the importance of authenticity in lesbian and bisexual women's accounts of their appearance practices. Psychology and Sexuality, 4(1), 25-33. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2013.748240

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2013
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Psychology and Sexuality
Print ISSN 1941-9899
Electronic ISSN 1941-9902
Publisher Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 4
Issue 1
Pages 25-33
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2013.748240
Keywords appearance, authenticity, bisexual women, butch, clothing, dress, femme, lesbians, thematic analysis, body image
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/941166
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2013.748240

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