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Effects of Gay and Lesbian Parenting Introduction The aspect of gay and lesbian parenting becomes an issue of the day. This problem raises heated debates due to numerous controversies. Modern researchers speak about the differences between children raised in heterosexual families and children raised in homosexual families. Numerous scholars claim that there is difference in relation to gender roles and childrens sexual preferences.
According to popular point of view, children placement with gay men and lesbians entails special challenges and problems that generally do not exist when placing children with heterosexual couples (Brooks 2001). The opponents of gay and lesbian parenting usually argue the following: Gays and lesbians are not able to be good parents compared to heterosexual families; Children are more likely to be abused in homosexual families; Children raised by lesbian parents are raised in the absence of father-figures, fathers or men; Girls from lesbian families were less interested in traditional women clothes, games and women affairs Children expose more liberated behavior in relation to sex, compared to the girls from heterosexual families, etc. Basically, the opponents argue that homosexual parents cannot be full-pledged parents; they are dangerous and shouldnt be allowed having children on the basis of the childs best interests. There is an opinion that information concerning gay and lesbian parenting was omitted in purpose. Some scholars claimed that boys raised in gay families were less active in their sexual behavior that boys of the same age raised in heterosexual families.
At the same time, the boys raised in lesbian families exposed less aggressive and more socially tolerant behavior than the boys from heterosexual families. According to some researches, children raised in homosexual families are more tolerant concerning homosexual relations. However, the percentage of gays and lesbians is not likely to exceed those from heterosexual families. What concerns mentality, these is no differences in emotional behavior and mental development between children raised in homosexual and heterosexual families. No reliable data that children from homosexual families have less intellectual faculties were found.
Children raised in gay and lesbian families usually have high level of self-appraisal; they are successful in studies as well as children raised by heterosexual parents. Yet, the society is still suspicious in relation to gay and lesbians families especially when it goes about parenting. Lets dwell on aspects parenting more thoroughly. Gay and Lesbian Parenting There are many presumptions in social and legal policies that gay and lesbian parenting can be harmful, second-rate or suspect to children (Millbank, 2003). Jenny Millbank in her review dedicated to the research on lesbian and gay families, tried to explore various aspects of homosexual parenting. The author claims that sexuality of a parent still remains an important factor to be taken into account in Family Court decisions to define whether the sexuality of a parent (or the person who desires to adopt a child) is harmful to a child.
According to Millbank (2003), Australian gays and lesbians are not allowed adopting children, except of Western Australia. The intensity of the debate in this topic is not matched by grounded discussion. The society often brings in evidence loose narrations concerning proper families and what is good or bad for children raised by homosexual parents. However, there is little sourcing to actual and sound data on child development in homosexual families.
The main arguments from the side of opponents are frequently made on the basis of the childs best interests (Millbank, 2003). There is an opinion that state limitations concerning homosexual parenting violates the rights of people with non-traditional sexuality. However, state authorities consider that such precautions are not directed at discrimination but relate to the rights of children. The Australian Family Association (AFA) filed a submission to the Senate Inquiry where they stated that gays and lesbians are unstable, physically and emotionally diseased, drug-prone and unhealthy (including, a now infamous claim that homosexuals are fond of sex with animals) (Millbank, 2003). According to AFA, gays and lesbians are dangerous and shouldnt be allowed having children. Is it true?
There is no well-grounded information that children raised in the environment of having both a mother and a father are more likely to have happier, more fulfilled lives (Millbank, 2003). Actually, there is no evidence in American and Australian scientific literature that is able to support this argument. Louise Silverstein and Carl Auerbach consider that much literature on "father absence" represents an essentialist view of fathers and a "dramatic oversimplification of the complex relations between father presence and social problems" (Millbank, 2003). Louise Silverstein and Carl Auerbach conducted a research embraced more than 200 men from different subcultures in America in order to study different parenting styles. The researches concluded that their data on gay fathering couples have convinced them that neither a mother nor a father is essential (Millbank, 2003).
According to them, effective parenting requires at least one responsible, caretaking adult who has a positive emotional connection to children and with whom they have a consistent relationship. Moreover, because of practical and emotional stress concerning parenting the family that comprises of more than one such responsible, caretaking adult is more likely to contribute to positive child outcomes. According to data received, the aspect of sexuality was not a significant variable in predicting positive development. Instead, sense of responsibility toward children and feeling of emotional connection combined with predictability of the caretaking relationship were considered significant variables that predict positive child adjustment. What concerns lesbian families raising children, it is erroneous to claim that these types of families raise children in the absence of father-figures, fathers or men. Many lesbians have children through donor insemination and in many cases biological fathers continue to contact a child or sometimes actively participate in the childs life.
Again, Millbank (2003) brings in evidence numerous studies that demonstrate that children of lesbians have contact with their fathers and / or the involvement of male role-models in their lives, (33) and that many lesbians report that they value such relationships and encourage them. The controversies surrounding gay and lesbian parenting mainly originates from the homophobia. The level of homophobia in society generally depends on several social factors. For example, it depends on the general level of social and cultural tolerance in relation to homosexuals. Authoritative and negative attitude to differences in sexuality negatively influenced general social attitude to aspects of homosexual child upbringing. The level of sexual uneasiness also has impact on tolerance.
For example, anti-sexual culture contains more taboos and fears concerning sexuality. The level of sexism and gender chauvinism is also conductive to negative attitude concerning gays and lesbians. The character of traditional ideology, religion and its attitude towards sexuality also influences social behavior of the citizens. The religion, for example, exposes no tolerance concerning homosexuality in general and homosexual parenting in particular. The Catholic Church is based on traditional heterosexual model of family and recognizes no other types of families. The Church considers that gays and lesbians are not able to raise a child who will be a full-pledged member of society.
General level of education and sexual culture also plays negative role. Although education itself cannot deprive people of prejudices, it still facilitates tolerance and understanding. Situational social-political factors also contribute to homosexual aversion. Homophobia, as well as other social fears and forms of group hatred, heightens during the moments of social crises. Besides, there are fears that children raised by homosexual parents are less educated, less social and are more likely to be abused by both parents and society.
What concerns the fears that children are more likely to be abused in homosexual families, there is no sound evident to support this opinion. On contrary, children in out-of-home care often have been physically and emotionally neglected and abused, the effects of which can be ameliorated by immediate and stable placements in foster homes or secure and permanent placements with adoptive families (Brooks 2001). At the same time, the psychology of homosexual parenting is a little bit different from traditional educational approach to child development in heterosexual families. Many gay and lesbian parents voice concerns about raising a child that their children would be teased by society (King 2002). There is a concern that such children will be ostracized, feel embarrassed or unhappy about their mother being physically affectionate with a partner, experience depression or anxiety, to mention a few. Besides, such children can be more negative about their family identity compared to children raised in heterosexual families.
Yet, there is no basis in any of the studies to support these claims. All these claims are explicitly premised on the belief that it is undesirable to grow up gay or lesbian, which many lesbians and gay men and their families find deeply offensive (King 2002). Despite of numerous researches concerning the aspects of gay and lesbian parenting, it is difficult to conduct proper studies of the population of lesbian and gay parents because it is almost impossible to determine what might constitute a reasonably representative sample (King 2002). In such a way, it is difficult to make reasonable conclusions that will support or refute positive outcomes of homosexual parenting. The majority of studies, although conducted nationally, are probably unrepresentative of the entire homosexual population due to various reasons. However, most of studies support the opinion that gay and lesbian families are functioning very well.
Children raised by such families show no difference in psychiatric state, gender identity or gender role, levels of self-esteem, quality of social acceptance, popularity, sociability, or friendships. According to studies dedicated to the attitude of lesbian mothers to their children, lesbians were equally as child oriented and warm and responsive as heterosexual mothers (Millbank, 2003) The gay and lesbian parents are more likely to be classified as authoritative (King 2002) in parenting. They are responsive, warm, but firm with their children. The parents show amazing strengths in spheres of child-rearing, couple relationships, and egalitarianism within their households.
Homosexual parents are generally well-educated and well-paid overall. The potential advantages concerning children embrace greater social and / or emotional maturity in the children, greater openness in parent-child communication, and more positive parenting skills used by the children when they become parents (King 2002). Conclusion In contrast to many traditional families, gays and lesbians become parents consciously. They face various difficulties on the way to parenting because they need to prove that they are able to provide a child with proper environment and parenting facilities.
What concerns donor insemination the process of document preparation and psychological interviewing requires many efforts from the side of future parents. The decision becomes well-thought and the child is long-awaited. Children raised in gay and lesbian families enjoy the same opportunities for personal development and show no problems in mental and psychological development. Moreover, they are more flexible and tolerant in relation to homosexual families than children raised by heterosexual parents.
Although there are assumptions that gay and lesbian parenting can be harmful for children, numerous studies show no sound data to support evidence that aspect of sexuality is a significant variable in predicting positive development. References Brooks, D. , & Goldberg, S. (2001). Gay and Lesbian Adoptive and Foster Care Placements: Can They Meet the Needs of Waiting Children? . Social Work, 46 (2), 147. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from Questia database: web King, B. R. (2002).
I Have "A Mommy, a Daddy, and a Barbara": The Psychology of Parenting as a Lesbian or a Gay Man. The Journal of Sex Research, 39 (4), 335 +. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from Questia database: web Millbank, J. (2003). From Here to Maternity: A Review of the Research on Lesbian and Gay Families. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 38 (4), 541 +. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from Questia database: web
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Research essay sample on Effects Of Gay And Lesbian Parenting
