Alcoholism in lesbians: developmental, symbolic interactionist, and critical perspectives.

Alcoholism is a significant health concern for lesbian women, with an incidence rate perhaps three times that of the general population. The relationships among the development of alcoholism in women, the experience of stigmatization, and the complex facets of lesbian identity and lesbian community are explored. This exploration provides for a more comprehensive and critical analysis of alcoholism in lesbians. As a phenomenon of women's health, alcoholism is examined using the perspectives of developmental theory, symbolic interactionism, and critical theory. The author offers insights and implications for health care, research, and theory building.