Growing up with a lesbian or gay parent: young people's perspectives

Fairtlough, Anna

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2524.2008.00774.x

Cited by 34 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Crowl et al 2008;Biblarz and Stacey 2010), increased likelihood for negative reactions and stigmatization have been reported by some (e.g. Fairtlough 2008;Robitaille and Saint-Jacques 2009;Stefansen et al 2009). Questions and concern in relation to possible negative social reactions and bullying of children who grow up with lesbian and gay parents are therefore relevant and must not be ignored.…”

Section: Concern For the Welfare Of Children With Lesbian And Gay Parmentioning

confidence: 87%

A Nationwide Study of Norwegian Beliefs About Same-sex Marriage and Lesbian and Gay Parenthood

2011

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In Norway, a gender-neutral Marriage Law that secured equal marriage and parenting rights for lesbian, gay and heterosexual couples took effect in January 2009. The aim of the current study was to explore Norwegian beliefs about equal marriage and parenting rights for lesbian, gay and heterosexual couples and the welfare of children with lesbian and gay parents. A sample of 1,246 Norwegians participated in the study by filling out a questionnaire. The majority reported that they were supportive of equal marriage rights for lesbian, gay and heterosexual couples, whilst there was less support for granting gay and lesbian couples equal right to become parents. The negative attitudes towards equal parenting rights for lesbian, gay and heterosexual couples were explained mainly by concerns about the welfare of children growing up with gay and lesbian parents.

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Section: Concern For the Welfare Of Children With Lesbian And Gay Parmentioning

confidence: 87%

A Nationwide Study of Norwegian Beliefs About Same-sex Marriage and Lesbian and Gay Parenthood

2011

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“…A number of scholarly articles argue that lesbian and gay parenting provides a beneficial environment for children because it exposes them to more liberal and inclusive understandings of diversity within society (Saffron 1998;Goldberg 2007;Fairtlough 2008). This argument is reflected in the life stories of children of lesbian and gay parents.…”

Section: In the Best Interests Of The (Silenced) Child 175mentioning

confidence: 99%

In the Best Interests of the (Silenced) Child

Hosking¹,

Ripper²

2012

Australian Feminist Studies

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The rhetoric of the 'best interests of the child' frequently emerges in public and political debates concerning the changing nature of family and society. This article explores how the rhetoric was invoked in recent same-sex marriage debates in Australia. We analyse the public submissions to the 2009 Australian government inquiry into same-sex marriage to reveal the ways in which the abstract figure of 'the child' was deployed. It became evident that heteronormativity was privileged and upheld primarily through the discourse of children's best interests. Concern about the well-being of children raised by lesbian and gay parents was the pivotal argument by those who opposed same-sex marriage. Heteronormativity was reproduced through the claim that same-sex parenting is harmful to children and thus heterosexuality was positioned as the only 'safe' place for parenting. A small number of the submissions in support of same-sex marriage also based their arguments on the best interests of the child. Typically, these submissions positioned lesbian and gay parents as 'just like' heterosexual parents and in doing so they produced an idealised homonormative couple. This unwittingly reinforces heterosexuality through the construction of an 'acceptable' domesticated homosexuality, based on adherence to heteronormativity, which effectively marginalises other family forms and sexual behaviours. We argue that the rhetorical power of the 'best interests' argument relies on the absence of the voices of actual children raised by lesbian and gay parents and that this silencing has harmful consequences for these children.When opposing sides both argue for 'the best interests of the child' it is often likely that children themselves will disappear in the argument; their needs and voices as people are typically subsumed by the voices of those arguing for their position on what is best for children. (Riggs 2009, 193)

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“…Furthermore, literature on the disclosure practices of adolescents raised in lesbian parent families (Fairtlough, 2008;Goldberg, 2007;Tasker & Golombok, 1997;Pennington, 1987) has highlighted the concept of social control by means of disclosure. Because children often fear the discovery of their parent's sexuality, certain control strategies are employed by them for the purpose of managing their own public image.…”

Section: But It Is Hard To Be Judged On By the Choices That Your Parementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Deciding if and when to disclose seems to be a decision that children raised in lesbian parent families want to control (Fairtlough, 2008), irrespective of a perceived positive or negative consequence.…”

Section: …I've Never Disclosed Because I Feel Proud Of My Family Set-mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result of this research, another social control method that we have termed "casual-calculated disclosure" came to the fore. In much of the literature (Fairtlough, 2008;Goldberg, 2007;Pennington, 1987;Tasker & Golombok, 1997), ambivalence in their feelings towards their parents' sexual orientation has repeatedly been identified in children from lesbian parent families. Ambivalence also came through as such a prevalent theme in the conversations with Lilly that we felt compelled to give this "ambivalence" a place in the research.…”

Section: Lilly's Disclosure Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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