For, By, and About Lesbians: A Qualitative Analysis of the Lesbian Connection Discussion Forum 1974-2004 A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Education of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Terry McVannel Erwin August 2007 © 2007 Terry McVannel Erwin All Rights Reserved This dissertation titled For, By, and About Lesbians: A Qualitative Analysis of the Lesbian Connection Discussion Forum 1974-2004 by TERRY MCVANNEL ERWIN has been approved for the Department of Counseling and Higher Education and the College of Education by ____________________________________________ Tracy C. Leinbaugh Associate Professor of Counseling and Higher Education ____________________________________________ Renée A. Middleton Dean, College of Education ABSTRACT ERWIN, TERRY MCVANNEL, PH.D. August 2007. Counselor Education For, By, and About Lesbians: A Qualitative Analysis of the Lesbian Connection Discussion Forum 1974-2004 (652 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Tracy C. Leinbaugh This study analyzed 170 issues of Lesbian Connection (LC) over a period of 30 years between October 1974 and November/December 2004 to determine what issues appeared to be of importance to subscribers participating in the discussion forum. The study sought to determine whether those issues were related to sociopolitical activities within and outside the cultural discourse of the time; whether those issues had changed over time; and the meanings, contradictions, and effects of those changes. The analysis was comprised of 4,633 items and letters that fell into eleven categories. These categories, listed from most discussed category to least discussed category over the 30 years of analysis were: Health and Mental Health; Discrimination and Fear; Relationships and Sexuality; Defining Lesbian; Growing Pains; Isolation; Separatism; Networking; Minority Lesbians; Children, Families, and Parenting; and Religion and Spirituality. The findings suggest that lesbians are clearly impacted by the sociopolitical environment from both within and outside the cultural discourse of the time. Yet, sociopolitical issues that one might assume are important to lesbians such as HIV/AIDS or marital rights were relatively unimportant; none of these issues were among the 25 most discussed items. While some issues were fluid and changing, others were stagnant and caused much division in the lesbian community over time. Issues often arose when new generations of lesbians began to challenge the ideologies of older lesbians. This constant push-pull environment created a number of lesbian subcultures, making it difficult for lesbians to form a united community. This study illustrated one way of using a “counterpoint analysis.” While recognizing the essentialism of standpoint theory and the vagueness of queer theory in understanding Lesbian, findings were analyzed from both perspectives. The content and narrative analyses assumed an essential lesbian knowledge, while the semiotic analysis called into question the existence of Lesbian, lesbian community or the lesbian experience. Counseling implications and research recommendations are discussed as they relate to the ten most discussed topics. Approved:_______________________________________________________________ Tracy C. Leinbaugh Associate Professor of Counseling and Higher Education DEDICATION Dedicated to Martha Erwin McVannel, my partner, role model, and best friend who has always been the wind beneath my wings. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation would have never come to fruition without the help of numerous individuals. Dr. Tracy Leinbaugh, my Committee Chair went above and beyond the call of duty. She was my cheerleader, confidant, and unwavering friend. Moreover, when I feared cancer would put an end to all of my dreams, she remained strong and positive, repeating over and over like a drum marching me into battle—“Beat it! Beat it! Beat it!” Thank you to the other members of my dissertation committee. To Dr. Tom Davis who taught me the importance of “win-win.” To Dr. Dana Levitt who always pushed me to be the best that I can be. And to Dr. Ronald Hunt who gave me the gift of my lesbian herstory. I am convinced that no finer committee of individuals has ever been assembled. (Okay, maybe I’m biased!) Thank you to those instructors who taught me to love research. To Dr. Gordon Brooks who taught me to enjoy the challenge of statistics (and his exams!). And to Dr. Michael Papa who taught me that research can be cradled in a deep conviction and can give birth to powerful changes in the world. Thank you to all those amazing librarians who fed my unending desire for knowledge. To Wanda Weinberg who taught me the nuts and bolts of library research. To the ILIAD team at Ohio University—Teresa Winning, Suzanne Mingus and Brian Jimison—who saw to it that I received a copy of every single issue of Lesbian Connection. To (Detective) Donna Malaschak at Edison College who would leap tall buildings in a single bound to locate materials that I thought would be impossible to find. And to the librarians at the North Fort Myers Library. Thank you to those thousands of sisters and friends who participated in this research. To the Ambitious Amazons. You are my heroines! To the contributors to the Lesbian Connection discussion forum who shared their darkest valleys, their deepest despair, and their greatest moments of joy with all of us. To those women at the Resort on Carefree Boulevard retirement community—especially Sandy Hall. And to the subscribers to Lesbian Connection who read these findings, offered feedback and recommendations, and cheered me on. There’s no better validation than receiving an e- mail from a subscriber who “can’t wait” to read the next installment of my findings! Thank you to my friends and family who often ran beside me in this marathon and offered words of encouragement when I thought I might give up. How many times did I say, “I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew!” And how many times did you say, “You can do this! You can do this!” To my brother Michael JoAlan Erwin, who has always believed in me. To my former “sissy-in-law” Angela Erwin, who voluntarily edited nearly every word of this dissertation. To my cousin (sister) Crystal Figiel, who has been my steadfast anchor. To my daughters Kris Hrinko and Chris Umfleet who keep me centered. To my granddaughters Katie Hrinko and Jordann Umfleet who remind me what is truly important in life. To my grandmother Reba Rooper, my aunties Janet Hill, Ruth Erwin, and Helen Ellis, and my uncle (father) Leonard Erwin who loved me and believed in me when the rest of my family turned me away. Thank you to my students who have always taught me more than I could ever teach them. To Mary Matheny-Mize who cradled me in her loving arms from afar when I learned I had cancer. And to Jamie West-Fox who is my role model. I want to be just like her when I grow up! Thank you to those instructors who have shared their infinite knowledge with me. To Dr. Mary Beth Krouse whose Feminist Theory class opened my eyes in ways I never expected and whose guidance and suggestions were with me throughout the writing of this research. Thank you to Dr. Donald A. Green and his wife. With the Donald A. Green Memorial Award, I was able to purchase a copy machine that allowed me to reproduce more than 4,500 items and discussions in the comfort of my own home. Thank you to the Ohio University College of Education Graduate Study Educational Research Fund that provided the financing for advertisements published in Lesbian Connection inviting subscribers to provide feedback on my research findings. Thank you to Dr. Jimmy Orr and his team who gave me my life back. Once you’ve traveled through the dark valley of cancer, every day shines brighter. There’s a reason why we call this moment the “present;” it is truly a gift. Thank you to my four-legged babies, Bridgette and Chloe who knew when mommy had been sitting too long listening to a cacophony of voices from the past and would demand a potty-break when they knew I needed it more than they did. And most of all to Martha Erwin McVannel for whom there are no words to express my gratitude and love. You are my pinnacle of strength and my knightress in shining armor! 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................4 DEDICATION.................................................................................................................... 6 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. 7 LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................ 19 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION...................................................................................... 25 Background of the Study ...................................................................................... 25 Statement of the Problem...................................................................................... 30 Significance of the Study...................................................................................... 34 Research Question ................................................................................................ 34 Delimitations and Limitations..............................................................................