Protective strategies of lesbian clients in health care environments

In this triangulated, feminist narrative study, a multiethnic, socioeconomically diverse sample of 45 lesbians recounted their actions in health care in a total of 332 health care stories. Findings of a multistaged narrative analysis suggest that lesbians experience compounded vulnerability in health care environments. A repertoire of protective strategies intended to meet needs for safety characterized their actions in health care, including: rallying support, screening providers, seeking mirrors of one's experience, maintaining vigilance, controlling information, bringing a witness, challenging mistreatment, and escaping danger. Implications for theory and practice are drawn from these results.