Lesbians of Color

Broaden your understanding of lesbians of color, their perspectives, and their needs from a human services point of view. Lesbians of Color: Social and Human Services helps you understand the ways in which lesbians of color perceive important issues related to their oppression and discrimination by the dominant social service community. The authorspersonalized accounts graphically depict the deep-seated impacts of societys racism, sexism, and homophobia. This insightful book suggests effective ways of changing detrimental practices and agency policies that perpetuate oppression and discrimination, and it enhances your interactions with lesbians of color. Chapters build on feminist standpoint theory, a theory of inquiry enlightened by authorsfirsthand knowledge that helps you move from an intellectual to an empathic grasp of the points made by each author. The use of standpoint theory gives you a different way of gaining insight and understanding of the experiences of lesbians of color. It acts as a springboard for valuing and celebrating the experiences and perspectives of lesbians of color so you can, in turn, provide more sensitive and effective services to members of this population. Among the topics explored in Lesbians of Color are:specific ways white practitioners should behave to demonstrate their sensitivity and respect for lesbians of colorinsight as to how need perceptions and problem diagnosis varies when the practitioner listens to and understands lesbians of colorspecific identity issues that affect the emotional well-being of adopted lesbiansvisibility and activism as contributors to the mental health of lesbians of colorhow visibility and activism are essential in creating positive changes in policies and practices for lesbians of colorThis volume is useful for professionals involved in direct service practice with lesbian clients and for administrators of social service agencies. The book is also a helpful guide for educators in professional preparation programs who must introduce students to issues related to lesbians of color.