What is the lived experience of women who have been through a break-up in a same-sex relationship?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the lived experience of female same-sex break-ups. The approach was qualitative, semi-structured interviews to gather information were used, and interpretative phenomenological approach was used. The sample consisted of five women who identified as lesbians who had been through a same-sex break-up in a committed relationship. Findings indicated that lesbians deal with particular difficulties as a result of their relationship dissolution, such as the low perception of alternatives to their relationship, the need to be out on the scene after the dissolution and having to meet their ex-partner often due to the limited size of the LGBT community. Participants also reported positive post-dissolutional growth and ideally want to remain friends with their ex-partners.