Gay parenting is a situation whereby one or more of a child’s parents or guardians identify themselves as lesbian or gay. This may involve children from a previous marriage or even adopted children. Only a small percentage of same-sex parents have an adopted child, and the majority of such families live in some sort of step-family agreement, in which parents have children from an earlier heterosexual marriage or relationship. The issue of gay parenting has raised eyebrows among many people around the world. This is because a large percentage of the world’s population perceives such marriages as social misfits.
Research has shown that children raised by same-sex parents demonstrate more compassion for social diversity, are less restricted by gender stereotypes and are therefore more likely to explore homosexual activity themselves. Adolescent girls who are brought up by lesbian mothers seem to be more sexually explorative than those raised by heterosexual mothers who appear to be more conservative. On the other hand, the boys are to some extent less sexually probing than boys brought up by heterosexual parents.
Some critics view homo-sexuality as a confusing way of life that tears children emotionally apart. They argue that children reared in these marriages are destined to years of a psychological struggle compared with those raised in a heterosexual kind of marriage.
In addition, such children may be subjected to childhood trauma which results from stigmatization by the greater society. This is because the children are likely to be made fun of by their peers who at times might even laugh at them. Consequently, this may affect their psychological state of mind and can contribute to lowering their self-esteem.
However, various studies have also shown that children raised by same-sex parents have more or less the same behaviors as other children. This may be in terms of; academic performance, self-worth, peer group relationships, affection and value of family relationships, or behavioral problems.
Subsequently, it appears that a parent’s sexual orientation is total of no consequence to his or her capability to raise a child. Research indicates that there is very slight or no difference at all between children of homosexual and heterosexual parents. This could be in terms of their level of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and several other measures of societal and emotional adjustment.
These scholars bring out a strong feeling that all children turn out to be about the same despite their parents’ sexual orientation. An outstanding parent will remain to be good in nurturing his children to produce better results even though he/she could be a homosexual.
In fact, it would be stupid to argue that homosexual parents would produce homosexual children. In case that was true, then, it would also be true to argue that upright parents produce upright children and besides, an analysis of several studies has found out that the sexual course of a parent is immaterial to a child’s mental and social growth and also to the value of the parent-child relationship. This notwithstanding, research tells us that the absence of a father in a home is not good for the family in the long run.
In conclusion, scholars have noted a few differences in the characters of children brought up in the same sex- marriages and those brought up in conventional ones. These differences however have very little or no impact on a child’s well-being. The concern of gay parenting will nevertheless remain to stand out as a contentious issue in the months to come throughout the world as there have been propositions in several states to ban gay marriage.
References
In Our Own Words by Rebecca Mlynarczyk & Steven B. Haber.
Chicago Tribune 1849–2021. Web.