Patterson and the Lecture Videos discuss myths and barriers to same sex parents raising children.

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Home>English homework help> Patterson and the Lecture Videos discuss myths and barriers to same sex parents raising children.

Articles Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Children of GLBTQ Parents Same Sex Families topic.

  • 8 - 10 million children are being raised by same sex parents
  • Raised by same sex couple following the divorce of opposite sex parents
  • Artificial insemination
  • In vitro fertilization, surrogacy
  • Adoption through foster care
  • Watch weblink Bakersfield Gay Couple Adopts Foster Children

History of the Research

  • Began with children of divorce who were being raised by their homosexual parent
  • Focused on younger children
  • Small sample sizes, nonrepresentative
  • No differences hypothesis, canʼt refute null findings

Issues

  • Negatively affect gender identity and sexual orientation
  • Negative psychological effects – Self concept, anxiety, depression
  • Teasing and rejections by peers
  • Higher rates of sexual abuse
  • 50+ studies to date spanning 25 years

Research

  • Negatively affect gender identity and sexual orientation
  • Assumption: Children need to be able to identify with a parent of the same sex; children need a role model of

sex

the same

• Research shows that children are not confused about their gender identity

Children of Lesbian Parents

  • Male children are androgynous; score high on instrumental characteristics and on expressive characteristics
  • Lesbian mothers tend not to divide household tasks along gender lines
  • Regardless of gender composition of family, children are exposed to both genders through social networks

Research

  • Children may experiment more with homosexuality
  • Report more homo-erotic thoughts
  • In young adulthood, comparable rates
    • f heterosexuality to children raised by hetero parents

Issue

GLB parenting will have negative

psychological effects on children

– Self concept, anxiety, depression

  • Assumption: Homosexuals are psychologically abnormal or unstable
  • Lesbians will be distant with their children

Characteristics of Homosexual Parents

  • No higher rates of psychological disorders
  • Lesbians on average show slightly more involvement with their children

than

biological hetero fathers (no difference with biological hetero mothers)

  • Show higher school involvement too
  • Watch weblink Same Sex Parenting

Characteristics of Homosexual Parents

  • Parents who adopt tend to have better incomes, more education than hetero parents
  • Watch weblink Two Dads Bringing Home Babies

Issue

Children of GLB parents will suffer from

teasing and rejections by peers and will suffer psychologically • Assumption: Based on current values, attitudes, and misinformation, children will face social rejection

Research

  • Children do worry about that
  • May hide the fact that they have two moms or dads
  • Does not take precedence over preferring a family with opposite sex parents
  • Are more tolerant and accepting of diversity
  • Homosexual parents are very sensitive to that; work with their children on how to handle it
  • Usually have large social network
  • Watch weblink In My Shoes

Issue

  • Higher rates of sexual abuse in children
    • f GLB than hetero parents
  • Assumption: Homosexuality is somehow related to pedophilia
  • Pedophilia - sexual attraction to children

Research

  • Vast majority of sexually abusing parents are heterosexual males
  • Homosexuals are attracted to adults of the same sex who are also homosexual, not children

Parenting Characteristics

The following dimensions of parenting do not account for differences between children of hetero and homosexual parents

• Number of parents • Gender of parents • Sexual orientation • Marital status • Biogenetic relationship

What matters…

  • Studies consistently show no differences in child adjustment on multiple dimensions between homo and heterosexual parents
  • What seems to matter the most is
  • Quality of the parent-child relationship
  • Do children feel close to their parents?
  • How much

warmth, responsiveness, and

involvement do parents have in the lives of their children?

Statesʼ Laws

• Florida bans same sex adoption; allowed first same sex adoption by gay foster parents in

2008

  • CA, MA, NJ, NM, NY, OH, VT, WA, WI, DC have permitted same sex adoption (PA, IL,
    1. CN permit it)
  • First adopted by single person, then other parent applies for parent co-adoption
  • In CA 16,000 children live with homosexual parent
  • Watch weblink ACLU Fights Gay Adoption Ban in Florida

Adoption and Foster Parenting

• 65,500 adopted children living with a homosexual parent

– 4% of all adopted children

  • 14,000 living with homosexual parent
  • 500,000 children in foster care

Policy Statements foster

  • American Psychological Society
  • http://www.apa.org/pi/parent.html
  • American Psychiatric Association
  • American Association of Pediatrics
  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • American Medical Association

American Bar Association

  • 1) Supports joint adoptions and second parent adoptions
  • 2) sexual orientation shall not bar adoption
  • 3) Child custody can not be restricted or barred based on sexual orientation

Children of Transgender Parents

  • Not a lot of research done on these children
  • Watch weblink Children of Transgender Parents
  • Weblink in learing module for Colage http://www.colage.org
  • Resources for children of transgender parents

Future Focus in Research

  • Longitudinal studies
  • What are the positive effects of GLB parenting?
  • More research on gay fathers

Qualities of Resilient People

  • Socially skilled
  • Seek social support
  • Adaptable
  • Intelligent
  • Intrinsic motivation
  • Optimistic
  • Autonomous (self-sufficiency)
  • Talented (e.g., music or sports)

How do we foster resilience?

  • Community organizations
  • Learn social skills, cooperation and leadership higher self-esteem, responsibility and involvement in the community
  • Be explicit defining resiliency
  • Strengths-based approach
  • Assess the child
  • Stay child focused

Knowing Oneʼs Strengths

  • Child can identify areas of strength
  • Child can work on improving other areas
  • I have (resources), I am (personal strengths), I can (abilities).

A Sense of Humor

  • Playfulness
  • Actively developing humor through activities, e.g., humor walk
  • Improves listening skills, communication, shared experiences

– Equal status – Common goals – Authorities expect cooperation • Intergroup contact Reducing Prejudice

  • Long-term contact
  • Seeing othersʼ traits as changeable
  • Point out similarities

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