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Homosexual Parents: Does the Parents’ Sexual Orientation Affect the Kids? Society in many instances does not fully support or understand homosexual issues. The homosexual community is a valid part of the social community that has been excluded and marginalized for many years. With the continued ostracism of the homosexual community misconception, myth, and prejudice continue to exist concerning homosexuality. However, recently a new series of laws in the United States have pushed gay issues to the forefront of societal concerns. The implementation of legalized same-sex marriage by the federal government and some states in the United States has caused the public to ask many new questions about the effects of the laws and the related issues. One of the questions raised is whether or not children raised by homosexual parents grow up to be any different than children raised by heterosexual parents. Today’s media have flocked to all sides of the issue. CNN online journalist Jennifer Chrisler makes the claim that there is no difference in the outcome of children whether he/she was raised by heterosexual parents or homosexual parents in her article, Why gay parents are good parents (Chrisler, 2010). In Chrisler’s article, she self-describes herself as being biased due to her sexual orientation: being a lesbian (Chrisler, 2010). Her article additionally provides no strictly empirical support for her claim that there is no difference in the outcome of children raised by homosexual or heterosexual parents. In order to sort out whether her claim is scientifically accurate or not research on this subject must be examined because scientific accredited research in the field of homosexuality and related issues is relatively limited and novel... ... middle of paper ... ...ing sources while the 2008 study has not been as controversial or criticized and used clearer methodology. Based on the 2008 studies few limitations and general acceptance and accreditation by the scientific community I would conclude that there are no significant differences between the outcomes of children of heterosexual or homosexual parents. References Chrisler, J. (2010, June 24). Why gay parents are good parents. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/06/24/chrisler.gay.parents/ Crowl, A., Soyeon, A., & Baker, J. (2008). A meta-analysis of developmental outcomes for children of same-sex and heterosexual parents. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 4(3), 385-407. Regnerus, M. (2012). How different are the adult children of parents who have same-sex relationships? Finding from the New Family Structures Study. Social Science Research, 41(4), 752-770.
In today’s society, family structure has changed dramatically from the traditional nuclear family to the unconventional, such as single parenting or same sex families. Over the years, many individuals questioned whether or not a parent’s sexual orientation affected their child’s sexual preference. There is significant research that has shown that children with lesbian parents do not differ from children with heterosexual parents. Many individuals stated that it is the value of the parent’s relationship with the child and not the parent’s sexual orientation that affects the child’s development. Contrary to the popular belief, children raised by lesbian parents are not more likely to become gay than children who are raised by heterosexual parents. A parent’s sexual orientation has said to have little importance to children other than the family togetherness. In other words, the relationship of the parent and child is far greater important than the sexual orientation of one’s parents. To be a good parent to a child has nothing to do with one’s sexual preference, but how well one takes care of that child emotionally, physically, financially, and mentally. Before the 20th, century children were often seen as miniature versions of adults so there was little consideration to children development in cognitive and physical development. The interest of child development did not peak until the early 20th century. Conscientious parenting happens not only within traditional nuclear families, but also within homosexual families. Both traditional nuclear and homosexual families can have positive and negative effects on children’s cognitive, psychological or behavioral development due to their rearing.
In recent years, same-sex relationships have become more encompassing in US society. State legislation is changing such as accepting gay marriages, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and legal gay adoptions; the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is becoming public. Gay-headed families, like heterosexuals, are diverse and varying in different forms. Whether a created family is from previous heterosexual relationships, artificial insemination, or adoption, it deserves the same legal rights heterosexual families enjoy. Full adoption rights needs to be legalized in all states to provide a stable family life for children because sexual orientation does not determine parenting skills, children placed with homosexual parents have better well-being than those in foster care, and there are thousands of children waiting for good homes.
Abbie E Goldberg is an assistant professor of psychology at Clark University believes that children who are raised by same sex parents do “just fine” in spite of some who continue to believe that gay parents are a danger to their children. Research shows that same sex couples who raise children are not different from those who are what we call “normal” children. There is no increase of psychiatric disorders, and have just as many friends and are not forced.
Today there are many studies which show that children of same-sex families are healthier and have better care than children of different- sex marriages. These studies are based on the assumption that in every home where love reigns, understanding and respect, a child always will have well educated. In the year 2008 President Barack Obama gave a speech, where support same-sex marriage. However, there is a large majority in society that says that children of same-sex couples are negatively motivated by family architectures in that have grown. Households with different-sex marriages are those that the government continues to recognize as the ideal home for marriage, these...
... comments. “In summary, there is no credible scientific evidence that children whose parents are gay or lesbian are at a disadvantage in emotional, cognitive, or social functioning compared with children whose parents are heterosexual. There do seem to be some differences in their interpersonal skills and emotional expressiveness that may set them apart from some of their peers.” (Perrin 2002).
Patterson, Charlotte J. "Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents." Curent Direction in Psychological Science 15.5 (2006): n. pag. Print.
I’m trying to research all the issues that seem to effect a child’s development. We have seen on the media how they say that having a same sex parents effects the children. They make a big deal that they are not fit raise children. It is a confusing topic that we have to address and rule out.
Misunderstanding and public perception, make many same sex parental units hesitant, and at times fearful, to disclose their family structure to the child’s school system or to live openly amongst their peers. LGBT parents that live in strong predominately gay communities are shown to be more confident and open regarding their lifestyle compared to others in communities where conservative values are expressed. Additionally, Rimalower and Caty cite, “Litovich and Langhout (2004) contend that while these children start school feeling proud of their families, negativity and disapproval lead them to become silent, necessitating that parents prepare their children for heterosexism and homophobia, from peers and teachers
Skeptics claim that existing scientific evidences show that homosexuality is somehow inborn due to the procession of “gay gene” in certain popularity therefore it should be considered as natural since people cannot alter their sexual orientation by birth (Chicago Researchers Look for ‘Gay Gene’). Based on this, same-sex couples should be granted the same right as opposite-sex couples to enjoy a comprehensive family life by having their own kids. However, it is hardly possible to determine whether one’s homosexuality is inborn. There is no official proof or medical authority confirm that homosexuality is hereditary. Taking a look at the psychiatric perspective, lesbian or gay adoptive parents could indeed foster homosexuality in children regardless of genic factors (Encarna, 7). According to Freud’s psychoanalytical theory, children from age three to six are at “Phallic Stage”, in which they develop their sexual orientation and gender role through identification with opposite sex parents. Failing in the identification process will lead to fixation in phallic stage could result in se...
An issue that has, in recent years, begun to increase in arguments, is the acceptability of homosexuality in society. Until recently, homosexuality was considered strictly taboo. If an individual was homosexual, it was considered a secret to be kept from all family, friends, and society. However, it seems that society has begun to accept this lifestyle by allowing same sex couples. The idea of coming out of the closet has moved to the head of homosexual individuals when it used to be the exception.
There indicators of child developmental outcomes were categorized into parent and child relationship quality, children’s cognitive development, children’s gender role behavior, children’s gender identity, children’s sexual preference, and children’s social and emotional development. There analysis showed that children with same-sex parents fared equally to children raised by heterosexual parents when comparing developmental outcomes. Same-sex parents also reported a significantly better relationship with their children than heterosexual parents, which was measured by the parent or child perception of the quality of their relationship. This goes back to the argument that parent sexuality has no impact on the child but rather the relationship between the parent and the child has is the most impactful. In Crowl, Ahn and Baker (2008) meta-analysis study also found that the parent sexual orientation had no effect on gender identity, cognitive development, psychological adjustment, and sexual
Carver, P. R., Perry, D. G., Egan, S. K. (2004). Children who question their heterosexuality. Developmental Psychology, 40, 43-53.
All of the research to date has reached the same unequivocal conclusion about gay parenting: the children of lesbian and gay parents grow up as successfully as the children of heterosexual parents. In fact, not a single study has found the children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged because of their parents' sexual orientation. Other key findings include:
There are individuals that live in fear of showing their true identity to the world because they simply fear that society won’t accept them for having a different sexual orientation. Society advocates that individuals should be able to be proud of who they are, but yet they judge homosexuals for being different. People are taught not to judge others based on their race or religion, so why do they still discriminate against homosexuals? The homosexual subculture is not accepted by society, looked down upon, and misjudged; however, they are human beings and deserve to be treated equally.
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the 1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.