Same-Sex Parenting and the Its Impact on Child Sexuality - Research Proposal Example

Persons Perspective on Same Sex Parenting and the Impact It has on Child Development and Sexuality [Insert al Affiliation] Introduction Diversity has taken the best of the contemporary world with various families mushrooming. Apart from stepfather or stepmother, one parent families and divorced couples, homosexual parents are also constructing families. The concept of “homosexual parenting” or “same-sex parenting” has become common in the past few years as homosexuals have been gaining more constitutional rights in places such as America, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal. Consequently, homosexual parents started having children using various methods such as adoption, sperm donor, and surrogate mothers. Noteworthy, the new trend goaded concern and debate with various persons having a different perception of the parental competence of homosexual parents and the emotional and mental health, academic success, and social competence of children brought up by homosexual parents. This paper candidly and comprehensively explores various pertinent studies that explore the various effects that gay and lesbian parents may have on the development of their children. Role modeling and parental guidance of homosexuals negatively affect the children. For sons, they are particularly affected by the nonexistence of a father in the home atmosphere. In “What Happens To Kids Raised by GayParents?”, Spriggs (2013) proclaims that “children do best with a mother and a father.” In most societies, people are used to a father figure. Apparently, it is thought of as a necessity for a child’s emotional and mental health; the absence of a fatherly figure also denies children the opportunity to be happy within the family. However, another article by Pruett opposes the assertion by indicating that “love binds parents and children together, not gender. There are plenty of boys and girls from these families with masculine and feminine role models who don’t turn out fine" (Carpenter, 2007). The aforementioned proclamation designates that fathers or mothers are not the only role models in adolescents’ life since there are many people including uncles and aunts who can embody the masculine and feminine role model correspondingly and impact on the child’s growth. Hence, in a gay family, the nonexistence of a father should not be perceived as an impediment to a child’s mental development since the child can still grow and develop even better than those brought up in a heterosexual family. However, the author fails to substantiate his claim by offering statistical evidence of homosexual families where children have been contented with their family structure and developed healthy lifestyles. The findings by Carpenter (2007) are further bolstered by Allen et al. (2006) where they state that, “the data on sexual preference indicates no difference between the children of homosexual or heterosexual parents”. The sexual orientation of children is not affected by that of their parents, and if that happens, there is no clear evidence to indicate that it transpires in their adult life. What’s more, children raised by homosexual parents often portray behaviors that indicate that they are more realistic, considerate and sensitive to the world. The most outstanding anxiety regarding children raised by homosexual parents is that they too will be homosexuals. According to Lindevaldsen (2009), “children of gay parents might be more open to homosexual activity”. The author strongly proclaims that through observation and imitation, children construct their personality. While they may later change, they acquire strong social skills, social values, and personality characteristics in their childhood depending on how they are nurtured. Scientists seem to disapprove the common believe that children should have heterosexual parents within the family setting. Homosexuality is not transmissible and despite massive research, scientists have not identified any cause-effect relationship or correlation between the parent’s sexual alignment and the homosexuality of their offspring. A research conducted on 20 children raised by heterosexual parents and 25 children raised by homosexual parents concluded that 24% of the 25 children are homosexual while all the other 20 children are straight. Despite this startling fact, the research could not find any correlation between the parents’ sexual orientation and the homosexuality of the 6 children (Tasker & Bigner, 2008). Scientists are continuously regarding homosexuality as a normal aspect rather than something that the society should be perturbed with. Hence, children raised by same-sex parents may not be disadvantaged, and homosexuality may not disrupt the society by making children raised by same-sex marriages to operate outside the social roles and norms. Interestingly, Michael (2010) asserts that children of homosexual couples have the aptitude and capability of making normal evolution through school just like children of heterosexual couples and better than children living in group residences like shelters and orphanages. According to Michael (2010) and Gray et al. (2012), a higher socioeconomic status is the only advantage that heterosexual couples enjoy over same-sex couples and this advantage is equally felt by the children. However, Bos (2009) finds the issue of socioeconomic status less significant. “Children in lesbian families felt less parental pressure to conform to gender stereotypes, were less likely to experience their own gender as superior...” (Bos, 2009). Apparently, children raised by same-sex parents remain uncertain about their gender and many find themselves in mayhem when deciding the kind of romantic relationships they would like to have and many find themselves indulging in heterosexual relationships. Bos’ argument is convincing as he goes ahead and indicates how gender contentedness and gender typicality are important factors in psychological adjustments in various family types. Noteworthy, the adopted children could undoubtedly overcome the challenges posed by their living environment, particularly the family setting, and would eventually find themselves inclined to romantic relationships that are not necessarily those of the parents (Gato & Fontaine, 2012; Conley, 2011). Additionally, Sutfin, Fulcher, Bowles & Patterson (2007), Lannutti & Lachlan (2007), and Perrin (2002) undertake a study to ascertain how the sexual orientation of primary parents influenced children’s attitudes towards gender and their physical environment. The masculinity or femininity of the children’s rooms was used to evaluate the physical environment while the children’s attitudes towards gender were assessed through interviews. Children were asked to express their acceptance of activities or actions that contradict traditional gender roles; actions that are commonly referred as ‘gender transgressions’. After comprehensive interviews, the authors found out that children of heterosexual parents maintained the traditional gender roles and boys appeared to hold such attitudes more than girls. Moreover, they found out that notwithstanding their sexual alignment, parents with liberal perspective on gender are unlikely to furnish their children’s quarters to conform to some gender stereotypes. Hence, children are likely to imitate the gender attitudes of the parents. However, the authors ignored the varying environments that the children were being raised in, a factor that puts the findings of the study into doubt. Despite this feebleness, the findings cannot wholly be ignored and has continuously been attracting interests among sociologists. Similarly, Patterson (1992) conducted a research to ascertain the effects that same-sex parenting had on gender identity development and the overall gender behavior. Children and parents were interviewed about vocational aspirations, extracurricular activities, and desired television shows. Patterson (1992) disapproved the findings by previous studies that indicated that daughters whose parents are lesbians showed interest in masculine behaviors and activities while sons whose parents are lesbians are likely to be less playful and less aggression. The two studies indicate that children of gay or lesbian parents do not differ ominously as far as gender identity development and the overall gender behaviors are considered. Consequently, the two studies conclude that a child’s gender development is not directly affected by the gender of their gay or lesbian parents. Despite similar findings by various studies and the overwhelming evidence that same-sex parents do not unswervingly affect the gender identity development and the overall gender behavior of a child, sociologists stalwartly believe that there are fundamental differences that account for the variation in the way children of heterosexual parents and those of homosexual parents perceive gender. Noticeably, if the parents’ sex had no influence on children’s gender identity and development, the various differences and/or variations observed in various studies could not have been there (Badgett, 2009; DeGenova, 2008). While the authors offer only a narrow evidence to substantiate their claims, it is clear that they hold onto the point that primary parents’ sexual orientation has a direct effect on a child’s gender identity and development. What’s more, Farr et al. (2010) conducted experiments to affirm the effect on parents’ sexual orientation on children’s development and gender identity. The findings of the study were amazing, but largely conformed to those of preceding researchers. They found that young children adopted by heterosexual, lesbian and gay parents showed usual gender development. Most girls demonstrated usual behavior of same-aged girls while most boys demonstrated normal behavior of same-aged boys, irrespective of whether their parents were heterosexual, lesbian, or gay. There were no statistically significant differences that could be attributed to emanate from the variation in type of family. Seemingly, the results were important for children of gay fathers, since earlier studies seldom investigated how gender development of children of lesbian fathers was likely to be affected by their parents’ sexual orientation. There was considerable substantiation to prove that those who thought that parental sexual orientation is an influential factor in children’s gender development were mistaken. Hence, the authors disputed that kind of fallacious reasoning and instead indicated that gender-related socialization powers and biological influences are important in children’s identity development, and their parents’ sexual orientation hardly has an effect on their identity development (Farr et al., 2010; Stanton & Maier, 2004). Fascinatingly, the study also affirmed that most homosexual parents reported low levels of parenting stress as most of them used effective parenting techniques that often allowed their children to grow normally and bolstered previous studies which had controversially indicated that biological parents felt more parenting stress than adoptive parents. In consideration of the findings and overall social trends, the study concludes that there are no justifications to deny gay and lesbian adults parenting rights since the child’s development will not be adversely affected. This was an important finding and recommendation to policy formulators and implementers (Farr et al., 2010; Lemanna et al., 2014). The notion of same-sex parenting and its impacts on sexuality and children’s development appears to have been of interest to many sociologists and psychologists as well. Charlotte Peterson (2006) contributes to this study too by undertaking apt experiments. The work discovered few variations in adjustment between teenagers living with heterosexual parents and those living with same-sex parents. No significant differences were reported on the two groups in regards to measures of family affiliations such as care from peers and adults and parental warmth, measures of school outcomes, and measures of psychological wellbeing including nervousness and self-confidence. While adolescents from the two groups were grouped in accordance with their parents’ sexual orientation, they had equal probabilities of reporting of having been involved in romantic relationships over the past twelve months and were similarly likely to confirm to have participated in sexual intercourse within that duration (Charlotte, 2006). However, the only statistical difference that Charlotte (2006) identified is that children reared by same-sex parents were more likely to develop greater associations with people when exposed to the outside world. While the author does not expound on this, he endorses the notion that parents’ sexual orientation has insignificant differences on a child’s sexuality, physical and emotional development (Wainright & Patterson, 2008). However, although children of same-sex parents develop in healthy ways, they experience many challenges in outside their families (Starks, 2005; Merino, 2010). Sylva et al. (2010), Mooney et al. 2009, and Rosenthal (2013) affirm that children of gay parents often encounter antigay sentiments among their peers. Consequently, such children feel remorseful, irritated, and dismayed with their experiences. However, this kind of prejudice that children of homosexual parents are subjected to is not enough to hinder their healthy development and ultimate sexuality. The above literature on same-sex parenting and its impacts on the sexuality and development of children is comprehensive. While various researchers hold diverging viewpoints, more seem to conclude that the parents’ sexual orientation hardly affects a child’s sexuality and overall development. However, more research is required to account for the few differences between children reared by heterosexual parents and those reared by same-sex parents. These differences observed in various studies are important and will help in determining the ultimate conclusion regarding same-sex parenting. Merging the diverging viewpoints will aid in understanding the dangers or benefits that the continual increase in same-sex parenting is portending for the present-day society. Indeed, it is imperative to understand the effects of belonging to a nonconventional family in lieu of the rapidly fluctuating viewpoints on such families. References Allen, M. and Nancy, B. (2006) “Comparing the Impact of Homosexual and Heterosexual Parents on Children: Meta-Analysis of Existing Research.” Journal of Homosexuality. 32.(2): 19-35. Badgett, M. V. (2009). When gay people get married: What happens when societies legalize same-sex marriage. New York: New York University Press. Bos, H. (2009). Children’s Gender Identity in Lesbian and Heterosexual Two-Parent Families. Springer US. Carpenter, M. (2007). “What Happens To Kids Raised by Gay Parents?” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on 25 February 2015. Charlotte, J. P. (2006). Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents. Retrieved from http://web.missouri.edu/~segerti/2210/gayparents.pdf Conley, C. L. (2011). Learning About a Childs Gay or Lesbian Sexual Orientation: Parental Concerns About Societal Rejection, Loss of Loved Ones, and Child Well Being. Journal of Homosexuality. doi:10.1080/00918369.2011.598409 DeGenova, M. K. (2008). Intimate relationships, marriages & families. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill. Farr, H., Stephen, L., and Charlotte, P. (2010). parenting and child development in adoptive families: does parental sexual orientation matter? 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Nontraditional Families and Childhood Progress Through School. Population Association of America. Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (2009). Understanding social problems. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Patterson, C. J. (1992). Lesbian and Gay Parenthood. In M. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting (pp. 317-338). Perrin, E. C. (2002). Sexual orientation in child and adolescent health care. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. Peter, S. (2013). What about the children of same-sex couples? | News | LifeSite. Retrieved from https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/what-about-the-children-of-same-sex-couples Rosenthal, B. (2013). Gay parenting. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press. Stanton, G. T., & Maier, B. (2004). Marriage on trial: The case against same-sex marriage and parenting. Starks, M. T. (2005). Gender Atypicality and Sexual Orientation Development Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: Prevalence, Sex Differences, and Parental Responses. Sutfin, Enrin, L., Fulcher, M., Bowles, P. & Patterson, J. (2007). “How Lesbian and Heterosexual Parents Convey Attitudes about Gender to their Children: The Role Of Gendered Environment”. Sex roles 58:501-513. Sylva, D., Rieger, G., Linsenmeier, J. A., & Bailey, J. M. (2010). Concealment of Sexual Orientation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2(1). doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9466-2 Tasker, F. L., & Bigner, J. J. (2008). Gay and lesbian parenting: New directions. Wainright, J. L., & Patterson, C. J. (2008). Peer Relations Among Adolescents With Female Same-Sex Parents. Developmental Psychology, 112-322. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.44.1.117 Read More