ABSTRACT
Black lesbians are an important population for studying family dynamics in same-sex relationships because historically they developed a sexual minority culture outside of lesbian-feminism. While white women largely came to understand their sexuality in the context of consciousness-raising meetings in the women’s movement or gender studies classes on college campuses, racial segregation limited Black women’s involvements in these groups. Economic independence, even through a succession of short-term jobs, allows her a measure of control over her own circumstances. Regardless of the financial stability of the women she dates, Karen says she always keeps a job so that she will be able to care for herself and have the resources to leave unhealthy relationships when she is ready to move on. For the working-class lesbians raising families, economic independence provides a financial and psychological barrier against a step backward into poverty.
