Few researchers have studied how lesbians choose health and mental health care providers. Using a series of studies, the Lesbian Health Care Project of Western New York gathered region-specific information concerning lesbians' preferences and decision making. This article reports on community focus groups in which 33 working class, middle class, African American, young, and older lesbians, as well as lesbians who frequent bars, reported that decision making was based on their past experiences and their hopes for high quality care. They encountered a continuum of provider reactions that helped shape their decisions. The continuum and consisted of five categories: homophobia, heterosexism, tolerance, lesbian sensitivity, and lesbian affirmation. Each category is discussed and examples are provided.
Housing insecurity is a major barrier to leaving domestic violence; it may force abused women to live in inadequate conditions or to return to their abusers. Immigrant women face additional barriers. Longitudinal interviews with 37 abused immigrant women living in three Canadian cities investigated key causes of housing insecurity. Results show a need to target systemic factors, a diversity of issues foregrounded along pathways into and out of homelessness, and complex indicators of risk. Advocacy is key to exiting abuse and obtaining secure housing, and cultural competency in services is needed to adequately support immigrant women experiencing domestic violence.
Feminist theories explain the structure and dynamics of women's experiences within sociopolitical and interpersonal sexual hierarchies. To enhance flexibility and responsiveness in applying the theories, social workers should be conversant in various branches of feminism. This paper reviews five branches of feminist theory and applies each one to social work practice, using group work examples.The practice examples are drawn from the author's study of women's groups in which facilitators described the goals and processes used to practice feminism or womanism in their groups. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: Website: ]
This article describes a research project conducted by the Lesbian Health Care Project of Western New York (LHCP). This is a report of a Community survey of 106 Western New York lesbian and bisexual women: the survey was the first of a four-stage project. This research helps fill a gap in our knowledge about what service users consider to be lesbian-sensitive and what they consider most important in choosing a physical or mental health care provider. Results suggest that a provider of high quality, lesbian-sensitive services is someone who: 1) above all else, is a competent practitioner: 2) is available in emergencies: 3) is economically accessible: 4) has a positive attitude toward a woman's female partner and the lesbian community: and 5) is sensitive to several social issues of concern to lesbians. Practitioners are encouraged to discuss these issues and to articulate to their lesbian clients a positive regard for lesbian communities and their wealth of resources.
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