TY - JOUR
T1 - LGB + Moms and Dads
T2 - “My Primary Identity… is Being a Parent”
AU - Forenza, Brad
AU - Dashew, Brian Leigh
AU - Bergeson, Carrie
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Decades of empirical research has demonstrated that same-sex parenting can produce outcomes that are, at least, comparable to hetero-normative parenting. Less research, however, has examined the common, process-oriented experiences of same-sex adoptive parents. To this end, the current study utilized qualitative interviewing techniques, with nine participants, to discern: (1) the ways in which lesbian and gay adoptive parents came to identify as a family, and (2) the ways in which family formation altered lesbian and gay adoptive parent identities. Collective identity theory helped frame the primary findings. While experiences as “lesbian” or “gay” prospectively informed participant conceptions of family, the paramount identity of “parent” retrospectively usurped all other collective identities. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are also discussed.
AB - Decades of empirical research has demonstrated that same-sex parenting can produce outcomes that are, at least, comparable to hetero-normative parenting. Less research, however, has examined the common, process-oriented experiences of same-sex adoptive parents. To this end, the current study utilized qualitative interviewing techniques, with nine participants, to discern: (1) the ways in which lesbian and gay adoptive parents came to identify as a family, and (2) the ways in which family formation altered lesbian and gay adoptive parent identities. Collective identity theory helped frame the primary findings. While experiences as “lesbian” or “gay” prospectively informed participant conceptions of family, the paramount identity of “parent” retrospectively usurped all other collective identities. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are also discussed.
KW - adoption
KW - collective identity
KW - family formation
KW - LGBT
KW - same-sex parenting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075427110&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/1550428X.2019.1688215
DO - 10.1080/1550428X.2019.1688215
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85075427110
SN - 1550-428X
JO - Journal of GLBT Family Studies
JF - Journal of GLBT Family Studies
ER -