Peer-reviewed article
Retrospective accounts of femme lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s contextual safety in childhood and adolescence in Australia
Celeste Ormond-Fahey, Eden Thain ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looks at how femme lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Australia remember their safety in childhood and adolescence. Researchers interviewed 10 participants more than once and analysed the interviews using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants described pervasive masculine entitlement and media sexualisation of queer femininity as key sources of harm. They often responded to sexual threats by feigning or fawning, which could put them at risk in other ways. Participants asked families and schools to reduce risk through community education.
Key points
- Contextual Safety is defined as the relationships, discourses and interpersonal behaviours of others that afford risk, harm or safety.
- Pervasive masculine entitlement and the media's sexualisation of LBQ femininity were key contributors to harm.
- Participants often self-sabotaged in response to sexual threats through feigning and fawning.
- Stereotype incompatibility and confusion led to behaviours that validated either a queer identity or a feigned cis-het identity, both equally risky.
- Participants urged families and schools to minimise risk through community education.
Limitations
The study is based on retrospective accounts from only 10 Australian participants, so it cannot show how common these experiences are or how young people experience them now. It does not test whether any intervention reduces harm.
Abstract
Lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women are under increasing threat. The combined nature of patriarchal misogyny, femmephobia and queerphobia contributes to high levels of sexual violence and harassment. Current literature focuses on biomedical health – STIs and pregnancy – and interventions targeting youth behaviour. Sociocultural factors are often treated as secondary. Here, we focus on Contextual Safety (CS) – the relationships, discourses, and interpersonal behaviours of others that afford risk, harm, or safety. Through a critical feminist lens, we explored LBQ femme-women’s retrospective accounts of CS. A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of repeated interviews with 10 femme- and LBQ-identified Australians provided insight into experiences and what can be done to protect young people. Pervasive masculine entitlement, with the media’s sexualisation of LBQ femininity, were key contributors to harm. Left with little choice, subject to feminine devaluation, participants often self-sabotaged in response to sexual threats through feigning and fawning. Participants’ experiences displayed stereotype incompatibility and confusion, leading to behaviours which validate either queer identity or a feigned cis-het identity in equally risky ways. Participants urged families and schools to minimise risk through community education. We must continue to push against the status quo to afford more safety in sexual exploration.