Influence of Families of Gay or Lesbian Parents on the Development of Children - Essay Example

Running head: GAY OR LESBIAN PARENT'S INFLUENCE ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT. Gay or Lesbian Parent's Influence on Child Development Kristine USA November 26, 2005 Abstract The article Gay or Lesbian Parent's Influence on Child Development first gives a brief introduction with some statistics issued by NAIC followed by consequences and psychoanalysis of the subject. Then the article deals at length about various consequences and psychological ideas from various writers in different books followed by references. Gay or Lesbian Parent's Influence on Child Development Studies show that a systematic approach of comparing heterosexual adults to lesbian and gay adults was first carried out by Evelyn Hooker in 1957 whereas a comparative research of children having lesbian and gay or heterosexual parentage has gained momentum in early 1972 with a study by Martin and Lyon followed by Osman and the research is still on (Charlotte J. Patterson, University of Virginia, American Psychological Association, 2005) "In 1976, there were an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 gay and lesbian biological parents; as of 1990, an estimated 6 to 14 million children have a gay or lesbian parent. And, between 8 and 10 million children are being raised in gay and lesbian households. The US Department of Health and Human Services, Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS), estimated in 1999 there were approximately 547,000 children in foster care in the United States, of which 117,000 are legally free and therefore eligible for adoption. But, in 1997, there were qualified adoptive families (including single parents) available for only twenty percent of these children. It is also estimated that approximately ten percent of the U.S. population-or 25 million individuals-are homosexual."(NAIC - National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, April 2000). But the social workers have their own reservations; they may contemplate about the raising of these children The child's thinking; about his/her own self, and their parents, when they compare themselves with children of heterosexual parentage, Will they be embarrassed because they have two mothers or two fathers, or because their single mother dates women or their unmarried father has a boyfriend Will their friends tease them Will they also be homosexual like their parents as compared to children raised by heterosexual parents Lastly what effect will it have on the adulthood of a child raised by homosexual parents relative to heterosexual parents (NAIC - National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, April 2000). In the same article by NAIC "Courts have expressed concern that children raised by gay and lesbian parents may have difficulties with their personal and psychological development, self-esteem, and social and peer relationships. Because of this concern, researchers have focused on children's development in gay and lesbian families. Thus the studies conclude that children of gay or lesbian parents are no different than their counterparts raised by heterosexual parents. In "Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents," a 1992 article in Child Development, Charlotte Patterson states, "Despite dire predictions about children based on well-known theories of psychosocial development, and despite the accumulation of a substantial body of research investigating these issues, not a single study has found children of gay or lesbian parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents." (NAIC - National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, April 2000). An event that occurs in the life of one family member affects others in the family as well. Study of the parent-child relationship reminds us of the intimate interconnections between the lives of parents and adult children, throughout the entire duration of their relationship. They are consociates, with contingent life career. Children count on a period of strength - almost invulnerability - in their parents up to old age, whereas parents also build strong developmental expectations regarding children. A sense of security and accomplishment in the second half of adulthood depends on the knowledge that offspring have turned out "okay" in their adult life. Indeed, the knowledge that children have been successfully launched into adulthood gives parents the freedom to attend to their own developmental concerns. Because of the complex interconnections of lives in the family, critical life events create "countertransitions". Hence a parent's retirement also has meanings and implications for a child. Thus the coming out process in a child may potentially initiate a parallel process for the parent (Karl Pillemer, Kathleen McCartney, Parent-Child Relations Throughout Life, 1991, P- 64). The traditional nuclear family is still the ideal. Where its break down is inevitable, a close substitute, with maternal and paternal influences, is the only alternative. Evolution and the nature have shown that the natural development of the young is aided by both these influences. Research published in the University of Illinois Law Review in 1997 found that children raised in homosexual households are significantly more likely to be gay themselves (International Debate Education Association, 2004, P-110). While exceptions occur, the norm in nature is that both mother and father nurture offspring. To legally allow adoptions by gay couples is to encourage what is an unnatural upbringing (International Debate Education Association, 2004, P-110). A child's primary role models are his or her parents. Bringing a heterosexual child in a gay household gives the child a distorted view of a minority sexuality, just as a girl brought up by two men would fail to benefit from female influence (International Debate Education Association, 2004, P-110). Homophobic language and behavior is still common in society. Placing a child to young to have an opinion of his own in the care of a gay couple exposes him to his prejudice and subjects him to ridicule or violence. Whatever ideal we might have, the psychological and physical welfare of the child must come first (International Debate Education Association, 2004, P-111). An assumption was made that growing up with gay or lesbian parents would have negative impact on child's development in general and their psychosexual development in particular including problems with gender identity, gender role behaviors and especially sexual orientation. Moreover, these children were at risk of isolation or rejection from peers, as well as broad range of other emotional or behavioral problems. But the data collected overwhelmingly and consistently indicated that children raised by homosexual parents are at no greater risk for these problems than are children growing up in more "traditional" households. In reviews of research conducted related to the adjustment of children living with homosexual parents. C.J.Patterson (1992, 1997) concluded that these children do not exhibit significant problems in their psychosexual development. They are happy with the sex to which they belong; they have no wish to be members of opposite sex; and their interests in and preferences for activities are no different from those of other children. Further, children brought up by homosexuals do not identify themselves as homosexuals. These children have normal relationship both with their peers and with adults of both sexes. Finally Patterson found no evidence to indicate that children with homosexual parents are more vulnerable to being sexually abused, either by their parents or their parent's acquaintances then are children with heterosexual parents. The quality of relationships within the family is more important then sexual orientation of parents in influencing children's development. If parents are open about their sexual orientation, the mental health of both children and parents is improved (Carolyn S Schroeder, Betty Gordon, Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Problems: A Clinician's Guide, 2002, P- 24 to 25). "A small body of recent literature on gay youth suggests disclosure of sexual orientation to family results in conflict and distress in family during an adolescent's transition to a "gay" or "lesbian" identity"( Karl Pillemer, Kathleen McCartney,1991, P- 63). "Most lesbian and gay parents are or have been married. Lesbian mothers share many similarities with heterosexual mothers. Studies indicate that children of both lesbians and gay men fare best when the parents are secure in their sexual orientation. Although the children of gay and lesbian parents may have difficulty accepting their parents' orientation at first, they generally maintain close relationships with their parents, are well adjusted, and develop the same sexual orientations and gender roles as children of heterosexuals" (Bryan Strong, Christine DeVault, Theodore F Cohen, Marriage and Family Experience: Relationships Changing Society, 2004, P- 376) But Charlotte J. Patterson concludes in his article that "research on lesbian and gay parents and their children is still very new and relatively scarce. Less is known about children of gay fathers than about children of lesbian mothers. Little is known about development of the offspring of gay or lesbian parents during adolescence or adulthood. Sources of heterogeneity have yet to be systematically investigated. Longitudinal studies that follow lesbian and gay families over time are badly needed" (Charlotte J. Patterson, University of Virginia, American Psychological Association, 2005). References Lesbian and Gay Parenting, Article written by Charlotte J. Patterson, University of Virginia, for American Psychological Association, Public Interest Directorate, 2005. Article - Gay and Lesbian Adoptive Parents: Resources for Professionals and Parents, issued by NAIC - National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Gateways to Information: Protecting Children and strengthening Families, April 2000. Book: Parent-Child Relations Throughout Life edited by Karl Pillemer, Kathleen McCartney, August 1991 Debatabase Book: A Must Have Guide for Successful Debate, International Debate Education Association, July 2004 Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Problems: A Clinician's Guide by Carolyn S Schroeder, Betty Gordon, July 2002 Marriage and Family Experience: Relationships Changing Society by Bryan Strong, Christine DeVault, Theodore F Cohen, July 2004 Read More