 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Nicole McKirahan, MPH, School of Public Health/ Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas-Houston, 7000 Fannin, 26th Floor, Houston, TX 77030, 713 500 9982, nkmckirahan@sph.uth.tmc.edu and Sheryl McCurdy, PhD, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, TX 77030.
Background: A growing number of children have parents who are lesbian women. Despite this, there remains a paucity of research that examines the family experience of lesbian parents and their children. There is a need to assess the family experience of lesbian-led families and how this impacts parent-child and child-non-family relations.
Objectives: Describe the formation, structure, and roles of members in a lesbian-led family. Determine the composition of children’s social network. Describe parent’s choice to disclose sexual orientation to children’s social network.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews with a sample of 7 self-identified lesbian parents (3 couples and 1 single) were conducted. Qualitative analysis identified family formation and processes, as well as the children’s outside social interactions. A questionnaire assessed basic demographic characteristics.
Results: 2 families had children from heterosexual relationships and the other 2 families had children through artificial insemination. Family formation plays a major role in the lesbian-led family experience, especially with respect to parenting styles and household roles. Couples who are more open about their sexual orientation and family structure have better parent-child relations, and their children have better social relations than couples who are not as open. Other themes identified: building a family, importance of community support, and religion.
Conclusions: Overall, family formation and disclosure of sexual orientation plays a vital role in various aspects of the lesbian-led family experience, especially how these factors impact children’s social networks and parent-child relations. This study expands the limited research available on the lesbian-led family experience.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Lesbian, Family Involvement
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.