Bara få vara sig själv - Att erfara lesbiskhet

Abstract

The study examines five young people identity formations by how they construct a lesbian identity based on the existing cultural and social ideas about lesbianism in society today. The study is based on interviews and the transcriptions are my material. The material is analyzed by queer theory to examine the interviewees' experiences of what shapes a lesbian identity. The material has been processed to find four common themes to analyze. The study concludes that the lesbian identity is seen as essentialist, but those interviewed have a constructivist awareness which leads to an ambivalence of a lesbian identity. The interviewees give examples of how heteronormativity is expressed in the formation of identity making. This, by the way they see it as a necessity to act separatist to develop a lesbian identity and a feeling of not coping their lesbian subject position in social contexts when either silenced or made invisible as lesbians.