While there is a paucity of scientific research that explores the diversity of lesbian existence, even less research focuses on young Black lesbian women and the way these lesbians negotiate their lesbian community. A small body of research suggests that lesbians tend to divide themselves into social groups based on gender identity and expression (e.g., butches and femmes). The research behind this dissertation qualitatively explored lesbian gender identity development, norms, and gender socialization among Black lesbian gender groups. Fourteen interviews with Black young women of low socioeconomic status were conducted (5 "femme," 4 "stemme," and 5 "stud"). Analyses followed modified analytic induction procedures. Three a priori propositions that were based on past research literature and theory were modified to fit the data. Another proposition originated from the data and subsequent analyses. Overall, analyses revealed that the experiences of identity development, enactment of gender norms, and gender socialization varied across gender. Enactments of stud and femme gender norms were often extreme, with studs exemplifying heteronormative (hyper)masculinity, and femmes exemplifying femininity. Stemmes, however, alternatively endorsed both masculine and feminine norms, but enacted them to a lesser extreme than did studs and femmes. The gender expression of stemmes changed based on context (e.g., mood state and relationships). Results indicated that the stud participants constituted the only lesbian gender group to endorse being socialized by other members of their own gender group. For most of the young women, socialization occurred through a system of reward and punishment rather than overt mentoring. Analyses also revealed an imperative for studs and femmes to adhere strictly to their respective gender. Acting outside of those norms was often met with negative repercussions. By extension of this standard, stemmes were often looked upon with disdain, especially by studs. Although all the participants were embedded within a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, they were still influenced to some extent by the gender norms of the broader society. Femmes and stemmes reflected young Black female gender norms, and studs reflected young Black male gender norms. Overall, results revealed the importance of lesbian gender identity for young sexual minority Black women of low socioeconomic status. With regard to future research, the results elucidated the importance of addressing lesbian gender identity as well as sexual orientation identity, because experiences (e.g., identity development, gender role enactment, and socialization) differed based on gender. In addition, future research may benefit from including longitudinal designs with contextual measures, because lesbian gender may be fluid and dependent on context. More dynamic theories allowing for variation and flux could also be instrumental in understanding the complexity of lesbian gender.
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