Lesbian motherhood - Negotiating marginal-mainstream identities

The identify of lesbian-mother combines a marginalized identity (lesbian) w ith one of the most revered mainstream identities(mother). With data collec ted through exploratory in-depth interviews from nine lesbian-mothers, the authors use symbolic interaction framework to explore the strategies that l esbian birth mothers and comothers; employ to gain acceptance for their mar ginal-mainstream identities in their family networks Respondents experience d varying levels of resistance from their social networks, with comothers b eing especially vulnerable due to their lack of both biological and legal s ubstantiation. The authors explore the process of identity negotiation in t hree realms of everyday experience: in relationships with extended families , in relations within the nuclear family,, and in lesbian relationships tha t have ended.