Annotated Bibliography

Hudson 5

Bailee Hudson

Professor Marshall

SYG-2000-06M

03 March 2014

Concept Mapping: Same Sex Marriage

“Today, gay marriage is taking on an air of inevitability” (Detroit News, “Middle Ground Emergencies for Gay Couples,” p.A9). As of January 6, 2014, gay marriage has been pronounced legal in seventeen states in the United States (CA, CT, DE, HI, IA, IL, MA, MD, ME, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NY, EI, VI, and WA) (ProCon.org). It is my belief that the legalization process will only continue, causing the remaining states to eventually coincide with the seventeen states that have already legalized it. Unfortunately in those remaining, many strongly oppose same-sex marriage, which is what is causing the delay in the entire country legalizing. Although this is true as of now, I believe that those who are opposing will be persuaded into changing their contemporary opinions, and the whole country will be as one with the same gay marriage laws.

There are many pros and cons associated with same-sex marriage, and the Macro Conflict/Feminist theory connects to this. According to ProCon.org, the divorce rate of Massachusetts, which became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004, declined 21% between 2003 and 2008. Although I believe that there is no wrong-doing in marrying someone of the same sex, many disagree and think same-sex couples should not be allowed to publicly celebrate their commitment like heterosexual couples do. These couples, no matter what age, receive constant harassment and bullying from those who disagree with the idea of legalization of gay marriage.

Many of those who are in opposition, believe that these couples do not fit the “gender-typical roles” (Steven Rhoads, Taking Sex Differences Seriously). For example, they believe that the parenting of children under a same-sex couple is “inadequate”, and the children will yearn for their biological parents. Although, this may be true in some situations, it is an over-generalized statement and cannot be used to prove anything against the parents raising the child. They also believe that children need their mother for emotional support/comfort, and their dad for safety and guidance to prevent delinquency as the child grows older. This as well, may be true in certain scenarios, but not all. As I have personally seen, same-sex couples and single parents can equally satisfy and provide a child’s needs just as a heterosexual couple would.

Many people believe that same-sex marriage would diminish the expectation of paternal commitment of the son of the couple. “Homosexual civil marriage would make it even easier than it already is for men to justify their abandonment of their children. Our society, which supports lesbian couples raising children, believes that children do not need a father. So, they might tell themselves, I do not need to marry or stay married to the mother of my children” (Quarterly Journal of Economics). Another argument people have about children that are being raised by a same-sex couple is that the children are more likely to experience gender and sexual disorders; girls may be more masculine and boys may be less masculine (American Sociological Review). Although evidence has suggested this, it is not something that always occurs; it is just a theory and it depends on the situation and the child themselves.

As I faintly exclaimed before, I am hopeful that same-sex marriage will become legalized across the country and throughout the world even though there are many people and arguments striking against it. I believe that every person, no matter what age or gender, in this world should be happy and loved unconditionally by the one they choose to be with. I do not think anyone should get in the way and prevent that from happening. With the Matthew Shepard Act, Employment Nondiscrimination Act, and the withdrawal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (DoSomething.org), you would think that would eliminate the harassment and public insults towards these couples; but unfortunately, people are still being bullied for their own feelings and decisions.

Same-sex couples and marriage equality has become a high priority in America due to the unfair treatment and parity of these individuals. It has risen a strikingly continuous argument amongst many locations in the country; for example, a gay rights activist was detained at the Sochi Olympics for waiving a rainbow colored sign that said, “Gay is OK”. The topic of gay marriage equality is not avoidable and should stop being fought against. Gays are humans just as straight people are; they have just as much right to be a part of this world that others do. I can only imagine what these innocent couples must go through; and, the people’s ignorance and stupidity against their rights, are what is holding back the entire country to legalize what would give everyone an equal shot at happiness. I hope for the best for the rights of these individuals; and, I hope that everyone realizes that the hurtful statements against these people’s rights are unnecessary and that the states’ governments will join the seventeen states, and make gay marriage legal.

Works Cited

Carl, John. Think Sociology 2nd Edition. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.

J. Stacey, T. J. Biblarz. “(How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?”. American

Sociological Review 66: 2 (2001) 159. JSTOR. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.

ProCon.org. "Gay Marriage ProCon.org" ProCon.org. 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.

<http://gaymarriage.procon.org/>.

Rhoads, Steven. Taking Sex Differences Seriously. Washington, D.C.: Encounter Books, 2004.

Print.

George A. Akerlof, Janet L. Yellen, and Michael L. Katz, "An Analysis of Out-of-Wedlock

Childbearing in the United States." Quarterly Journal of Economics CXI (2003): 277-317

Family Research Council. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.

“11 Facts about Gay Rights”. DoSomething.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

<http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-gay-rights>.

“Gay activist claims she was detained at Sochi Olympics” FoxNews.com, Fair &n Balanced. 17 Feb. 2014. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.

Same-Sex Marriage

Arguments

Harrassment

Legalization

Children hunger for their biological parents

Parenting by same-sex couples is inadequate

Children need mothers

Children need fathers

Questioning the parents reasoning

Physical/Emotional safety and comfort

Prevent delequency and provide protection

Bullying/Harrassment of children involved

Children more likely to have gender/sexual disorders

Boys may be less masculine

Public harrassment of the couple themselves

Girls may be more masculine

Gender-typical roles

17 Legal states

Massachusetts was the first state

Divorce rate declined