Beyond her touch : the experience of intimacy for women in lesbian relationships : a qualitative study

Abstract

This study explores the experience of intimacy for lesbian women in a long-term relationship. This is a qualitative study adopting an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach to an under-researched area. Three Maltese lesbian couples were interviewed through an individual and a couple’s interview. A social constructionist framework, attachment-emotions theory and a feminist perspective supported the systemic interpretation of the findings. The analysis led to five superordinate themes that highlight how Maltese lesbian couples experience intimacy. The emergent themes outlined that lesbians experience a journey of self-discovery that influences their experience of intimacy. The participants explained intimacy as an experience of felt emotional safety, a space which allows them to be true to themselves and feel validated through mutual responsiveness. They also presented several challenges that were outlined and linked to the Maltese heterosexual context. Resilient characteristics were revealed as the couples worked to protect their relationship and found comfort in understanding multiple truths. The couples’ intimate relationship acted as a source of containment for these difficulties and as a lived attachment in itself. The resulting outcomes gave rise to recommendations for future research and implications for practice. The importance of awareness on lesbian intimacy was highlighted for both the general public and professionals within the therapeutic field.