Research in the Functioning of Families Headed by Lesbians
Does it affect the development of our children?
In researching the functioning of families with homosexual parents, one can find a great deal of research. Although various studies take different approaches in their methods of research, the studies mentioned in this article generally agree in their findings. As educators, we must consider the implications of this research in order to accommodate our students. Following will be an outline of the research methods used in studying the developmental affects, the findings, and the implications of four recent studies related to the functioning of lesbian families.
Methods of Research
In study one, Lesbians choosing motherhood: A comparative study of lesbian and heterosexual parents and their children, the participants were 15 lesbian couples and 15 matched heterosexual couples with children between 3 and 9 years old (Flaks et al., 1995). Researchers evaluated the cognitive functioning, behavioral adjustments, quality of relationships, and parenting skills of each family. The study identified associations between parents sexual orientation, parenting skills and their children’s developmental outcome using a casual-comparative study via interviews and questionnaires.
In study two, Children with lesbian parents: A community study, the participants were 39 lesbian family-mother families, 74 two-parent heterosexual families, and 60 families headed by single heterosexual mothers with children aged 5-7 years (Golombok, et al., 2003). Each family filled out questionnaires and participated in interviews about their child’s socio-emotional development that were video-taped. Later, the video tapes were viewed and the parent child relationships were analyzed. The responses of the lesbian-mother families were then compared to the two control groups. This study identified associations with parents’ sexual orientation and mother-child relations and children’s socio-emotional adjustment using a casual comparative study.
The participants in study three, Do parents influence the sexual orientation of their children? were 25 children of lesbian mothers and a control group of 21 children of heterosexual single mothers (Golombok, et al., 1996). Each child was interviewed at average age 9.5 and again at 23.5. Through interviews, each child provided information on family characteristics, gender role behavior, and their sexual orientation. This casual comparative longitudinal study designed to show developmental stability or change and identify associations between parent’s sexual orientation and the family characteristics, gender role behavior and children’s sexual orientation.
The participants in study four, Family functioning in lesbian families created by donor insemination, were 24 families with lesbian parents and 24 families with heterosexual parents with children at a mean age of 10.5 years. The study had two focuses. The first was on the differences in parenting between the biological mother and the social mother. The second was to explore the role the social mother, in comparison to a father, plays in the life of the child. Together, these two measures were used to explore family functioning. Data was collected using the Parent-Child Interaction Questionnaire (PACHIQ) and interviews. This was a casual-comparative study.
Research Findings
Although the studies differed slightly in their approach to researching the functioning of families with lesbian parents, their research finding were consistent. Although there are slight differences between the way that fathers interact with their children on average and social mothers interact with their children on average, there are no identifiable difference in children’s development between families that are headed by lesbian mothers verses families that are headed by two heterosexual parents. The specific findings of each study follow.
Study one found no significant differences between the two groups of children participating in terms of cognitive functioning, behavioral adjustments, or quality of parent-child relationships. The study did find a difference in parenting style between the groups, which was that lesbian couples showed more parenting awareness skills than heterosexual couples.
Study two found no significant difference between the socio-emotional development of children with lesbian parents verses children with heterosexual parents or single mother families. Two significant differences were found. The first was that fathers reported more ‘smacking’ that social mothers. The second was that social mothers engaged in more imaginative play with their children than did fathers.
Study three found no significant difference in the proportion of children that reported having feelings for a person of the same gender as themselves, although there were two other slight differences found. The first was that children raised by lesbian parents reported in higher proportions considering the possibility of a same-sex relationship. The second was that children raised by lesbian parents reported higher rates of actual involvement in a same-sex relationship. It must be noted that involvement in a same-sex relationship does not mean that that child considered themselves homosexual.
Study four found that in comparing families headed by lesbian mothers verses a heterosexual couple, the quality of parent-child relationships was comparable, and the parent child interactions are very similar. The study revealed that social mothers and fathers interact with their children in very similar ways. The only significant differences was that heterosexual mothers reported spending more time with their children in comparison with fathers. This was not reported by the children of these mothers. In sum, the study concluded that families function very similarly whether headed by lesbian mothers or heterosexual fathers.
Implications
We now have proof that children that are raised in families that are headed by lesbian mothers are no more or less well adjusted than children raised in families that are headed by a heterosexual couple. Lesbian parents and heterosexual parents both make good parents. Still though, parents and children that are part of a family that is headed by a homosexual couple may face discrimination, teasing, and other social problems that may affect their educational experience.
As educator, parents and as a society, we need to be informed about the parenting skills of lesbian parents. We need to be aware that anybody, regardless of sexual orientation can be a good parent. We will have children from every kind of family in our classrooms and in our communities. It is part of our job to teach children to accept each other’s differences, and this is one of them.
Study One
Flaks, D.K., Ficher, I., Masterpasqua, F., & Joseph, G. (1995). Lesbians choosing motherhood: A comparative study of lesbian and heterosexual parents and their children. Developmental Psychology, 31, 105-114.
Study Two
Golombok, S., Perry, B., Burston, A., Murray, C., Mooney-Sommers, J., Stevens, M., & Golding, J., (2003). Children with lesbian parents: A community study. Development Psychology, 39, 20-33.
Study Three
Golombok, S., & Tasker, F. (1996). Do parents influence the sexual orientation of their children? Finding from a longitudinal study of lesbian families. Developmental Psychology, 32, 3-11.
Study Four
Vanfraussen, K., Ponjaert-Kristoffersen, I., & Brewaeys, A. (2003). Family functioning in lesbian families created by donor insemination. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 73, 78-90.