“Perpetually Self-Reflective”: Lesbian Daughters of Mothers With Severe Mental Illness
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Abstract
Twelve lesbians from various locales throughout the United States were interviewed regarding their experiences as sexual minorities and daughters of mothers with severe mental illness (SMI). Using resiliency and intersectionality as theoretical frameworks, and consensual qualitative research as methodology, we identified six domains: (a) childhood responses to mother's SMI, (b) childhood/adolescent coping with mother's SMI, (c) responses of others, (d) managing in adulthood, (e) coming out to self and others, and (f) relating sexual orientation to mother's SMI. Results show that all participants navigated adulthood by being “perpetually self-reflective.” For many, dealing with their mothers’ SMI gave them coping skills that made coming out much less challenging. For some, their mothers’ SMI made it more difficult to come out to others. Participants discussed the complexly interwoven relation between these sources of marginalization, consistent with intersectionality theory. © 2015, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.
Publication Title
The Counseling Psychologist
Volume
43
Issue
7
First Page
1059
Last Page
1083
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1177/0011000015602316
ISSN
00110000
E-ISSN
15523861
Citation Information
Carroll, & Tuason, M. T. G. (2015). Perpetually Self-Reflective: Lesbian Daughters of Mothers With Severe Mental Illness. The Counseling Psychologist, 43(7), 1059–1083. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000015602316