Same-sex relationship experiences and expectations regarding partnership and parenthood

Abstract

BACKGROUNDWhereas recent years have brought comprehensive demographic accounts of the gay and lesbian population in the United States and several European countries, relatively little is yet known about gays' and lesbians' family-related attitudes and expectations. OBJECTIVEThe present study contributes to closing this research gap, comparing individuals with and without same-sex relationship experiences regarding their expectations concerning partnership and parenthood. METHODWe run OLS regressions, using nationally representative survey data for two cohorts of young adults in Germany (born 1971-1973 and 1981-1983). RESULTSIn several regards, gays and lesbians expect lower benefits and greater costs of being in a partnership, but not of being a parent. CONCLUSIONSWe propose that the latter finding results from same-sex parenthood still being a comparatively rare event and expectations being formed on the basis of heteronormatively shaped values rather than on experience. This is different when considering romantic relationships. Even if partnership-related expectations are partially influenced by the same structural constraints that limit gays' and lesbians' factual opportunity to form a family, these expectations might still exhibit an independent additional impact on demographic outcomes.

Parenting Aspiration among Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities in Mexico, and Its Association with Internalized Homo/Transnegativity and Connectedness to the LGBTQ Community

“…Research to date has examined almost exclusively lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals’ parenting aspiration, and in most cases isolating only one aspect of parenting aspiration: for example, motivations (Bos et al, 2003; Lozano & Jiménez, 2010; Robinson & Brewster, 2014), expectations (D’Augelli, Rendina, Grossman, & Sinclair, 2007; Hank & Wetzel, 2018; Shenkman, 2012), self-efficacy (Riskind, Patterson, & Nosek, 2013), desire and intention (Baiocco & Laghi, 2013; Bauermeister, 2014; Costa & Bidell, 2017; Gates, Badget, Macomber, & Chambers, 2007; Goldberg, Downing, & Moyer, 2012; Haces, 2006; Laguna, 2013; Patterson & Riskind, 2010; Riskind & Patterson, 2010; Riskind & Tornello, 2017; Shenkman, 2012; Simon et al, 2018). Nevertheless, despite the lack of consensus regarding the operationalization of parenting aspiration, some patterns have been identified.…”

Same-Sex Families and Legal Recognition in Europe

“…The fact that the proportion of parents is lower for lesbians and especially for gays might also imply that their attitudes and expectations about marriage are different and less favourable to marriage. In this direction, Hank and Wetzel (2018) argue that "accounting for individuals' expectations might contribute to better explaining why, for example, marriage-like partnerships and cohabitation are less frequent in gay and lesbian couples than in heterosexual couples".…”

“…A recent study that uses German survey data shows that gays and lesbians expect fewer benefits and greater costs of being in a partnership than heterosexuals but at the same time they do not find differences in the expectations about parenthood according to sexual orientation. The authors think that same-sex parenthood attitudes might be affected by the fact that same-sex parenting is still not that common and that heteronormative values are more determinant than experience (Hank and Wetzel 2018).…”

Work-family conflict and partners' agreement on fertility preferences among dual-earner couples: Does women's employment status matter?

“…Due to data limitations, we were also unable to include same-sex couples in our analysis. Prior work suggests that the complexities of work-family conflict (Allen & Eby, 2016), as well as fertility intentions (Hank & Wetzel, 2018), might operate differently among same-sex couples. Thus, we encourage future scholars to explore this topic among couples who do not identify as heterosexual.…”