There is an increasing interest in understanding how individuals can develop greater resilience to cope with challenges associated with discrimination and oppression, especially within the context of minority groups such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) communities. One proposed mechanism for this is through creative re-enchantment, which involves finding meaningful ways to reclaim and redefine one's identity and purpose despite experiencing negative experiences. This approach may offer insights into how LGBT people can reconstruct their sense of self in response to structural marginalization and create opportunities for growth and empowerment.
The concept of psychological resilience has been defined as the capacity to adapt successfully to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. It involves maintaining functioning, health, and wellbeing under stress or threat. In contrast, creative re-enchantment refers to the process of restoring lost connections between oneself and others, including community members, nature, and spirituality.
Research suggests that LGBT individuals experience higher rates of mental health issues due to the social stigma they face, such as discrimination and violence. Structural marginalization refers to systemic barriers faced by a group based on factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, class, disability, etc., leading to exclusion from power structures and resources. While some studies have examined the relationship between resilience and coping with trauma, few have explored creative re-enchantment specifically in relation to LGBT populations.
Some examples of creative re-enchantment strategies for LGBT individuals include:
1. Celebrating pride and visibility events
2. Forming supportive relationships and communities
3. Engaging in activism and advocacy
4. Practicing mindfulness and meditation
5. Reframing negative experiences as opportunities for growth
6. Embracing identity and expressing individuality through art, fashion, music, etc.
By engaging in these activities, LGBT people can reclaim their sense of self and purpose while also challenging dominant societal norms and attitudes towards them. This may help reduce internalized oppression and increase self-esteem, empowerment, and overall quality of life.
This approach emphasizes the importance of recognizing that resilience is not just about surviving but thriving despite adversity. By incorporating creativity and positivity into one's response to structural marginalization, LGBT people can experience greater agency and wellbeing, thus reducing the impact of external forces on their lives.
How do we conceptualize psychological resilience not simply as coping but as creative re‑enchantment of life for LGBT people facing structural marginalization?
Psychological resilience is a construct that has been studied extensively across diverse populations. It refers to an individual's ability to bounce back from adversity and challenges with strengthened confidence, positivity, optimism, and motivation to live a meaningful life despite negative experiences (Smith et al. , 2019). The LGBT community faces structural marginalization due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression.