University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 2001 The voices of older lesbian women: An oral history Anderson, Carolyn A. Anderson, C. A. (2001). The voices of older lesbian women: An oral history (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/20165 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/41001 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY The Voices of Older Lesbian Women: An Oral History Carolyn A. Anderson A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK CALGARY, ALBERTA MARCH, 2001 O Carolyn A. Anderson 2001 National Library Biblioth&que nationale 1*1 ofCanada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Sewices services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaON KlAONS Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada r~hleVoYerdtennco Our Ws NMe dW- The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National L1hu-y of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distriiute or sell reproduire, prgter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la fonne de microfichelfilm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur fonnat electronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent Ctre imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reprodtits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract This oral history project provided a forum for fifteen lesbian women over 47 years of age, to share their experiences of living in Calgary during the 1960's and 1970's. A review of the literature exploring the essentialist versus the social constructionist debate, the social and political context of the time across North America, Canada and Alberta provides a context in which to hear the women's stories. The methodology considers the blending of a social work perspective on qualitative research and the data collection technique of oral history. Significant challenges in conducting lesbian history research related to the history of oppression of this population are identified. The reasons that respondents chose to participate in the project are compelling as we listen to the themes of the women's life experience. A growing awareness of being different, a need to locate information and make contact with like-minded women, and the effects of lesbianism on one's life are presented in an effort to understand the internal process of self-acceptance. Finally, the issues unique to lesbian relationships, the process of coming out and women's experience of the lesbian community are explored. The documentation of history of this marginalized, and here-to-fore invisible population challenges traditional accounts of life in Calgary and provides a broader perspective of the makeup of the city. The implications for social work practice and policy are far ranging, including the development of ap~ropriateand culturally sensitive services for lesbians, the recognition of a need to advocate for this population and the education of frontline workers regarding institutionalized homophobia. Acknowledgements My deepest respect and appreciation goes to the participants in this project. It takes great courage to speak out after years of learning how to be invisible. Without their stories, the lesbian community would have no recorded history, no sense of continuity and no mentors. It has been an honor for me to work with them. Thank you for sharing such rich life experiences. My sincere thanks go to my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Leslie Tutty, for her vision and clarity as this project came together. I would also like to thank the members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Eliane Silverman, Dr. Peggy Rodway and Dr. David Este. Thanks to Dr. Rita Grenville who shared in every single moment of this journey as a fellow doctoral student and colleague. She was a model for me when I started back to school after many years and shared in my excitement in getting to the end. A special thanks to all of my friends who understood my need to disappear in order to complete this dissertation. I trust we will find each other again. My sincere appreciation to my family for just being there. The Sunday dinners and the little care packages that would appear on my step after a few weeks of no contact while writing were a lifeline. Thanks to my two young nephews for remembering they have an aunt. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of my partner, Linda Craig, who came into my life at the beginning of this project and didn't know what she was iv getting into. I am grateful for her support, her encouragement and her wonderful, playful energy. I am blessed. Dedication To my ,orandmother, Mungie, who saw the Dr. in me years before I did. I miss you. TABLE OF CONTENTS .. Approval Pa.~e...............................................................................................................~i ... Abstract .........................................................................................................................m Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................iv Dedication .....................................................................................................................vi. Table of Contentts....................................................................................................... vn CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION............................................................................ L Overview of the Project .............................................................................................. 1 Backmound and a Change in Direction ...................... ... ...................................... 1 Autobiogravhical Connections.................................................................................... 5 The Imvortance of the Proiect..................................................................................... 8 Definitions of Commonly Used Lanaage in the Lesbian Communitv ..................... 9 Organization of the Research .................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER TWO: LESBIANS IN CONTEXT ........................................................... 17 Essentialist vs. Social Constructionist Theorv ......................................................... 17 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................. 24 Oueer Theorv ........................................................................................................ 25 Feminist Standvoint Theorv .................................................................................. 26 Lesbian Experience ................................................................ .... ..................... 29 Social and Political Context for Lesbian Culture .................................................... 34 The Canadian Context .............................................................................................. 52 Lesbian Historv in Alberta ........................................................................................ 60 Calcarv Context ...................................................................................................... 61 Rationale for Collecting Lesbian Oral Historv ......................................................... 63 Chavter Surnmarv ..................................................................................................... 64 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN .................. 66 Research Methodolozv - Blending Qualitative Research and Oral Historv ............. 67 Similarities and Differences Between Oualitative Research and Oral Historv ........ 69 Challenges of Conducting Historical Lesbian Research....................................... 70 The Search for Particivants ....................................................................................... 74 Ethical Considerations .............................................................................................. 75 Conducting the Interviews ........................................................................................ 77 Transcribing the Interviews ......................................................................................78 Analvsis of Oral Historv ........................................................................................... 80 Trustworthiness .........................................................................................................82 Strengths and Considerations of a Oualitative Research Studv Using an Oral Historv Approach ..................................................................................................................