« Gender and Family

Sarah Kaye Carpenter

Gender and Family

13 replies
KR MO Elijah Ingleson KD SV AP ZH Regan Skedgell MO GR HD CG
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Chapter 6 in The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Family discusses Same-Sex Families. It discusses the family life of Same-sex marriages. The text emphasizes that in same-sex relationships typical gendered roles can not be followed. The book discusses how the “ time bind and second shift experienced by mothers in dual-career couples are in some ways shaped by the fact that their partners are men; these kinds of work/family conflicts may take on different shapes when the partners are two mothers or two fathers” (Burke, 2013). It also states“ Accordingly, as heterosexual couples become less guided by gender, gay male and lesbian coparent families may be setting trends that family sociology can learn from more generally.” What do you think the biggest parenting difference would be between a heterosexual versus homosexual family? What type of impact do you think this parenting has on children as they grow up as teens and even into their relationships?  To what extent do you think it impacts them? How do you think your life would be if you were raised in the opposite type of family that you were? (hetersexual parents to homosexual or vise vera?)
13 replies
  1. Post by Colin Glover
    Re: Gender and Family
    An immediate parenting difference between heterosexual and homosexual families is that you're missing the opposite sex in a homosexual relationship. I think having a male and female coparenting style which is seen in a heterosexual family dynamic can be beneficial because as a child you would getting insight from both genders. The problem with homosexual parenting dynamics is there is not an obvious gender distinction so as a child it could be hard to get certain information that would want to know. Homosexual parenting styles can have a large impact on children as they grow up to become teenagers and get into relationships. The issue would be if their child grew up wanting to be in a heterosexual relationship. How do you explain the dynamics of a heterosexual relationship while in a Homosexual one? If I were raised in a homosexual relationship, I don't feel my life would be much different, not until I became a teenager, because as I'm trying to navigate life it could hard to get certain answers from my parents because they are both the same gender.
    1 reply
  2. Parent of this post↑ Reply to CGColin Glover from Kevin Roberts
    Re: Gender and Family
    I think Colin made a very good point about having same sex parents. Similar to growing up in a single parent home, the dominant gender will have a much larger influence on the Childs life, and they may have a harder time relating to there parent if they are of a different gender. Say a homosexual female couple had a son, they may not be able to understand or relate to the changes their son goes through during puberty like hormonal mood swings, etc...  i do think having someone that can relate to what you are going through biologically is important, but if you have supportive and patient parents I don't think it would make a drastic change in the teens development. 
    1 reply
  3. Parent of this post↑ Reply to KRKevin Roberts from Kevin Roberts
    Re: Gender and Family
    To more clearly answer to questions posted above, I think the biggest difference between the parenting situations would be the division of child care, as the statistics in class indicated, the homosexual parents would be more likely to more evenly split the child care and home chores. As for the child's relationships, i think they would naturally be less inclined to fit into the social norms of housework and income dependency. I was raised with two straight parents, so i think my views on relationships and parenting would be different if i where raised with homosexual parents. 
  4. Post by Hannah Daoust
    Re: Gender and Family
    The biggest parenting differences that come with being raised by homosexual parents compared to heterosexual parents can potentially be the "one-sided" aspect that can come with being raised by two mothers or two fathers. The dynamics of a homosexual relationship compared to a heterosexual relationship can vary when it comes the biological and psychological aspects that the child is exposed to, impacting them in a potentially confusing way when experiencing the physical and mental changes one undergoes when becoming a teen and experiences puberty. Being raised by either two mothers or two fathers can have many benefits, however, the general relationship and bond that a father has with his son and a mother can have with her daughter has the potential to be varied if raised in a homosexual family. As children in homosexual families grow into teens and even adults, however, I don't think the process of being raised by either homosexual vs heterosexual parents will impact their relationships, due to them still being their own individual and having their own preferences and attractions as they mature. If I were raised in a homosexual family, compared to the heterosexual family I was raised in, I don't think it would affect or alter me as an individual very much, however, it would expose me to a whole new dynamic of bonds, and struggles, and family relationships that come with having either two mothers or two fathers, however, the overall way of life that I had growing up I do not think would alter very much. 
  5. Post by Gracie Ricci
    Re: Gender and Family
    Truth be told, there should be no difference in parenting no matter the gender of the parents. There is much less distance between genders than society makes us think, and gender roles are slowly starting to become less patriarchal. The only difference children of same-sex couples may encounter is bullying by their young peers who have been radicalized by their homophobic parents. Some may think a son needs a dad to “know how to be a man”, I say that’s bullshit. What does that even mean? When you answer that question, you may find yourself describing hegemonic masculinity…something that is very harmful to men. Some may say a little girl needs a dad to know how a man should treat her. I think a little girl needs a loving parent to show her how anyone should treat her, regardless of their gender. 


    Needless to say, men and women are much more alike than different smile && I think that’s  something to be happy about. 

  6. Post by Michael O'Driscoll
    Re: Gender and Family
    The most significant difference that we can see about having same-sex parents is that we could be losing one side of the family. Going off what we talked about today, some dads are incompetent when it goes to their daughters when specific issues arise. This could be an issue if there are two dads in the picture and vice versa for two moms with a son. I am not saying they are not as good as heterosexual parents, but specific dynamics could arise. I feel that same-sex parents' issues might not be terrible until their child reaches puberty. If they have a child the opposite sex of them, inexperience can show when the child starts asking for help. If I had same-sex parents, I feel it would be a good bit different from what I am today just because f the dynamic of my family and how they raised me. 
  7. Post by Regan Skedgell
    Gender and Family
    I do not think there is a big difference between heterosexual and homosexual parenting, except for the fact that it could be harder for the child to connect with their parents when it comes to certain situations. For example, if a girl gets her period, and she has two dads, it could be harder for her and her dads to navigate the situation because as men, they never had to go through that or experience it. Same thing for a boy with two moms. It just makes the situation a little more tricky, but that does not mean that it is impossible. I do not think gender has a major impact on how a child is brought up. I think what impacts a child is having two loving parents, whether that be homosexual or heterosexual, it does not matter. Having homosexual parents could actually be beneficial to a child. It would teach them to be more open-minded, loving and accepting of others. 
  8. Post by Zachary Hall
    Re: Gender and Family
    I feel as if the connection between parent and child would be more difficult as the child would progress through life. Men and women in todays world still live lives on separate scales or degrees of difficulty and attempting to explain that to a child of two male parents when she is a female would be more difficult then most. For instance if a male child has questions about sex, or anything involving his body there would be a lack of understanding if the two parents were women and the same things goes for two men and a female child. However, with that being said i feel that stage of the child's life would be around middle school to early high school and after that the child would be able to understand and comprehend what his/her parents are saying. The biggest challenge would be the sexual questions but other than that i don't see any other major challenges that would separate a child raised of heterosexual or homosexual parents. Both are capable of raising amazing, smart, loving, kind children. It doesn't matter the sexual preference of the parents when it comes to raising a great kid.   
  9. Post by Angelina Piccini
    Re: Gender and Family
    The biggest difference that I think the child would have in a homosexual household than a heterosexual household is the views that the child will be more inclined to be not only socially liberal, but a strong and active supporter of socially liberal policies. LGBT+ rights are more accepted than they were just 10 years ago, maybe even sooner. Times are changing now to be more socially liberal so it may not be the case in a few years, but homosexual households will definitely raise their children to be more accepting of others choices such as chosen pronouns and homosexual relationships and such. I think this acceptance of others ingrained in them since birth will allow the child to grow up to be more empathetic and accepting of others choices. I also think the child will be less judgmental. I don't think there is a big difference between homosexual-household children and heterosexual-household children. I don't think my life would be very different if I were raised in a homoesexual-household. The only thing that I can say for sure would be that I would definitely have been more aware of gay rights activism at an earlier age had I been raised in a homosexual household. 
  10. Post by Sarah Van Hoose
    Re: Gender and Family
    I believe that both heterosexual and homosexual parents can raise children equally as well. Heterosexual parents would most likely expose there children to gender norms whether purposefully or subconsciously. Whereas homosexual parents don't represent gender norms such as the mom cooking and the dad working. So their children may be more likely to express themselves how they see fit regardless of their gender norms. I think children growing up with homosexual parents would be open to dating different genders or expressing themselves freely without fear of judgement from their parents. Our parents have major influences on our beliefs so our parents beliefs can subconsciously become our own.  
  11. Post by Krislyn Dapprich
    Re: Gender and Family

    Of course there are some parenting differences between a heterosexual and homosexual family, but that isn't a bad thing. The parents would just have to adjust and learn new things, especially if they had a child of the opposite sex. For example, if two fathers had a daughter and when she inevitably got "girl problems," since they have never personally experienced that before, they would have to learn how to handle it and help her. And the same thing with two mothers trying to help their son with "boy problems." But I don't think it is that much of a difference as long as it is two parents loving their child and want the best for them. I have two aunts and me and my cousin turned out pretty much the same. So even though she grew up with two moms and I grew up with a mom and a dad, we aren't much different at all. She got her college degree just as I'm doing and now she is happily married to her husband with two kids. My life would be different if I was raised in the opposite type family that I was raised in but I don't think it would be drastically different, if my parents loved and took care of me. 

  12. Post by Elijah Ingleson
    Re: Gender and Family
    I do not think that there should be a big difference in how a homosexual or heterosexuals couple raise their kids. If a parent is a good caretaker, then it has nothing to do with their sexuality and everything to do with their character. Their is really only one difference in parenting I can think of between heterosexual and homosexual couples. Straight couples are not very familiar (a lot of the times) with the LGBT community. From my personal experience, many heterosexual parents do not have a lot of knowledge about this topic, and therefore, do not teach their kids. Some could argue that this is same about homosexual couples dealing with teaching their kids about heterosexuality, but I do not believe this to be the case. We grow up in a society where heterosexuality is the norm. Everybody learns about it, regardless of whether of your sexualities. So, I feel that children raised by homosexual parents may have a greater and broader knowledge of human sexuality. 
  13. Post by Masaki Oguni
    Re: Gender and Family
    After their children who grow up with the same adult parents become adults, some influences will be shown up.  It is hard to know what the family is for them since they have not spent their time with their parents who love the other sex. It is also hard to educate their children about the love and sex for that parents. These days, it is getting more usual things to be the same-sex couple and adopt their children. As the world's cognition changes, their environments, such as education and surroundings will be great to these homosexual parents and their kids.