Derek Whitmore SOC 100 Final Paper

Implications of Growing Up in a Homosexual Household

Growing up in a home with lesbian, gay, bi, or transvestite parents can be disorienting and confusing for a child. The quality of life for a child should be analyzed if the debate of same-sex marriage will ever be considered federally constitutional. The parent-child relationship quality should be examined. The childs cognitive development is a must to be considered due to his or her future accomplishments. The gender identity, gender role-behavior, and sexual preference should also be studied because we have to consider whether or not the parents sexual preference can have preference or the childs. Naturally the social and emotional development of the child will absolutely have to be considered. Will the children in these situations be considered fit for society? What is not considered in most studies is the impact of living as a homosexual parent or adult in mainstream society (Robitalle and Saint Jacque 2009). The repercussions on mundane activities and the social stigmatization of living as a homosexual adult can absolutely impact the way a family cooperates. Most children raised by homosexual run families are born into heterosexual families before a parent comes out (Robitalle and Saint Jacque 2009). This whole process can be draining to the adult and lead to several stressful circumstances. The view of the family by others, the coming out process in general, and scrutiny of the child raising process by other

members of the social society. These are all aspects that should be considered when examining the life of a child. How are they affected by the position that their parents are in. Generally speaking most studies of child life product and family organization conclude that children raised by heterosexual couples and their biological parents fare the best (Crowl et al. 2008). These studies however havent really raised the point of why this is a fact. There havent been many studies actually pointed in the direction of homosexual parents. Some results have indicated that the socioeconomic status explains most or all of the advantage of children raised by married heterosexual couples (Crowl et al. 2008). However, the results of more recent studies show that higher rates of homosexual couples are raising their status to higher levels (Rosenfield 2010). This could be the fact that homosexuality is becoming more acceptable in the modern civilization and that more couples are coming out as openly gay trying to adopt children or have some form of artificial insemination. The parent-child relationship is an important aspect of growing up in general. If a child does not have a good home life he or she may not be able to function properly in any social setting. The first 4 years of a childs life are developing these skills and they specifically come from their kin (Murray and McClintock 2005). Studies have shown however that there is not a significant difference in a relationship between parents and their children in either a homosexual or heterosexual family (Crowl et al. 2008). This important conclusion helps to assume that any issues or concerns that do happen in a family and more or less an individually based concern.

A childs cognitive development is essential to leading a successful and meaningful life. These years are where the child begins a knowledge base and natural morals. Adverse studies to homosexual parenting develop theses claiming a child will not learn certain things that are essential to living in societal norms. Examples of these are acceptable developmental knowledge such as recalling, thinking, learning, and decision making. No one study showed that such things are affected at all by the parenting of homosexual couples. Statistically speaking there is no significant difference between children raised by either sexual oriented parents (Crowl et al. 2008). An excuse always raised by activists against gay rights is that the child will be confused. The point they try to make is that the child will be raised biased and in turn have problems with gender identity, gender role-behavior, and sexual preference (Ray and Gregory 2001). As it is raising a child with only one other woman or man depending on the family can be a hassle. Who is Dad or Mom? This feeling however can be seen any of the quickly high rising single family dynamics seen in the world today. Studies have shown already that LGBT married couples are fighting against the highest of divorce rates seen in heterosexual lifestyles (Robitalle and Saint-Jacque 2009). In each of these categories it is shown that there is no significant difference in the childs gender identity, gender role and behavior, or sexual preference (Crowl et al. 2008). This again can show evidence and support that these characteristics are not developed, but rather a part of who that individual child is and will become. The social and emotional development of a child could be by far the most important part of growing up. Building relationships and maintaining a sound mind is essential to living a healthy and successful life. It is natural that studying this aspect of a

childs progression through life would be studied and examined with a keen eye. The fact of the matter is, is that we learn these behaviors and characteristics through our own developing brains. We are all humans and develop accordingly. Studies show that again, there are no significant differences in a childs psychological adjustment depending on the parents sexual orientation (Crowl et al. 2009). Another very important aspect of a childs life is how they are affected by their parents status. In schools across the country children are ridiculed about who their parents are or how they live (Ray and Gregory 2001). Many studies focusing on the impact of this situation have led to the conclusion that homosexual parents do feel that social homophobia and the shame of being a same-sex couple can lead to issues specific to homosexual parenthood. These social stigmas can lead to bullying of a child or even violence and social out casting of the entire family. Ray and Gregory (2001) noted that several of the children in their study were subjected to teasing and bullying because of their parents sexual orientation. These ranged from verbal, physical, and sometimes sexual abuse against the children. Growing up as a child in modern society is a problem across the board. A child has to deal with social issues such as bullying, peer pressure, belonging, and a continuously more strenuous work load. Child development is already a complex process that must be dealt with carefully no matter who the parents are. The parentchild relationship is an important aspect to a childs life and the ability of that child to form lasting social bonds and acceptance. A childs cognitive development is absolutely crucial to developing a strong knowledge base and important for belonging to our society. The importance of a childs gender identity, gender role-behavior, and sexual

preference are becoming characteristics that dont really determine the role of a person in todays world. These individualities are quickly becoming socially acceptable in many different socio-economic classes and groups. The social and emotional development of an individuals mind can be crucial to how a child is accepted into their peer groups and how they develop social and professional bonds. Social stigmatization can be found in any social group and any sexual preferences group. In todays world being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transvestite is more acceptable than it used to be. Children raised by homosexual parents have shown that they have no different problems or complex lives as children raised by heterosexual parents. In this respect, children with homosexual parents have just as much of an ability to become reputable, contributing human beings.

Bibliography Cameron, Kirk, Cameron, Paul. Homosexual Parents. Adolescence 31(124).1996. Crowl, Alicia, Ahn, Soyeon, Baker, Jean. A Meta-Analysis of Developmental Outcomes for Children of Same-Sex and Heterosexual Parents. Journal of GLBT Family Studies 4(3). 2008. 385-407 Murray, Paul D. McClintock, Karen. Children of the Closet: A Measurement of the Anxiety and Self-Esteem of Children Raised by a Non-Disclosed Homosexual or Bisexual Parent. Journal of Homosexuality 49(1). 2005. 77-95. Ray, V., & Gregory, R. (2001). School Experiences of the Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents. Family Matters, 59, 2834. Rosenfeld, Michael J. Nontraditional Families and Childhood Progress Through School Demography 47(3). 2010. 755-775 Robitalle, Caroline, Saint-Jacque, Marie-Christine. Social Stigma and the Situation of Young People in Lesbian and Gay Stepfamilies. Journal of Homosexuality 56. 2009. 421-442.