PMID: 12753814May 20, 2003Paper

Nuances and shifts in lesbian women's constructions of STI and HIV vulnerability

Social Science & Medicine
Kathleen A Dolan, Phillip W Davis

Abstract

This study examines the subjective side of vulnerability as a social construct rooted in interpersonal relationships and community membership. Analysis is based on a survey of an especially diverse sample of 162 lesbian women, 67 of whom also participated in depth interviews. Another 24 of the original sample also participated in transcribed focus groups. One third were African American, Latina, and Asian, and two thirds were white. This sample reported an overall infection rate of 23%. Three subjective stances, or risk frames, are identified: essentially invulnerable, socially inoculated, and fundamentally vulnerable. Some women describe shifts in their interpretations of their own vulnerability, moving from one stance to another in response to obtaining information, becoming infected, having friends or acquaintances who become infected, and becoming involved with new partners. It is suggested that these shifts comprise a subjective "vulnerability career". The significance of lesbian women's constructions of vulnerability is examined, and the implications of this study for a better understanding of their risk for STIs are discussed.

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Citations

Dec 15, 2007·AIDS and Behavior·Jennifer J HarmanKristina Wilson
May 1, 2013·Culture, Health & Sexuality·Zethu MatebeniIan Southey-Swartz
Nov 25, 2003·AIDS Education and Prevention : Official Publication of the International Society for AIDS Education·Lisa L LindleyNing Lu
Apr 27, 2016·International Journal of Sexual Health : Official Journal of the World Association for Sexual Health·Margo MullinaxMichael Reece
Feb 6, 2017·Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America·Kesha Baptiste-RobertsLorece V Edwards
Nov 15, 2017·Journal of Health Psychology·Ruby Grant, Meredith Nash
Jun 24, 2017·Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·Christie A SantosIndia J Ornelas
Oct 1, 2020·Ciência & saúde coletiva·Juliane AndradeMarli Teresinha Cassamassimo Duarte

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