Gain a better understanding of the special therapeutic issues and needs of GLBT families
In terms of research, GLBT families constitute a neglected segment of society. Gender and sexual orientation can make the issues in family studies even more difficult to work through. An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies tackles a challenging research topic by presenting noted experts examining the latest information on the newest type of family studies—GLBT families. This groundbreaking text explores a wide range of unique problems faced by nontraditional families, as well as issues common to traditional families that need to be approached with a GLBT perspective.
Though homophobia and heterosexism constantly influence GLBT families, these factors do not necessarily overwhelm the dynamic of their basic family unit. Issues present in many traditional families are found when researching GLBT families. An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies spotlights the issues, research, and future trends that provide a foundation for the study of GLBT families. This breakthrough volume focuses not only on the obvious unique factors within GLBT families, but also on the elements encountered within families that are present regardless of sexual orientation and gender, such as physical and emotional abuse. Expert contributors present research findings on family pattern issues relating to parent-child relationships, child development, sibling relationships, family structure, intimate relationships, stepfamilies, alternative family structures, and extended family relationships. Each chapter is extensively referenced and offers possibilities for further research.
An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies discusses family studies topics such as:
- the impact of the family of origin
- life course perspective
- transgender identity issues and the family
- when a spouse comes out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- a study of lesbian couples adapting genogram techniques in therapy
- research comparing siblings of different sexual orientations
- studies of patterns of responses to parental reactions to learning their offspring are gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- the polyamory structure to some gay men’s familial relationships
- same-sex marriages and legalized relationships
- gay male couples’ roles in today’s society
- the impact of heterosexism on working with same-sex relationships
- research on long-term lesbian couples
- About the Editor
- Contributors
- Foreword (William J. Doherty)
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction (Jerry J. Bigner)
- PART I: GLBT FAMILY ISSUES
- Chapter 1. A Process of Change: The Intersection of the GLBT Individual and His or Her Family of Origin (Colleen M. Connolly)
- Societal and Familial Constraints
- GLBT Awareness and Discovery
- The Question of Disclosure
- The Process of Change
- Conclusion
- Chapter 2. Life-Course Social Science Perspectives on the GLBT Family (Bertram J. Cohler)
- Life-Course Perspectives and the GLBT Family
- From Life-Cycle to Life-Course Family Study
- Life-Course Perspectives on Sexual-Minority Families
- Conclusion
- Chapter 3. Translove: Transgender Persons and Their Families (Gianna E. Israel)
- General Issues
- Family-of-Origin Issues
- Case Study: A Transwoman (MTF)
- Couples’ Issues
- Case Study: A Transman (FTM)
- Issues Affecting Children
- Conclusion
- Introductory Transgender Resources
- Chapter 4. A Family Matter: When a Spouse Comes Out As Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual (Amity P. Buxton)
- Where We Are
- Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Spouses
- Heterosexual Spouses
- Mixed-Orientation Couples
- Children of Mixed-Orientation Couples
- The Future and How We Might Get There
- Chapter 5. Genograms Redrawn: Lesbian Couples Define Their Families (Mary Swainson and Fiona Tasker)
- Lesbian Family Relationships
- Family Life-Cycle Theory and Genograms
- Method
- Results
- Discussion
- Chapter 6. Siblings and Sexual Orientation: Products of Alternative Families or the Ones Who Got Away? (Esther D. Rothblum, Kimberly F. Balsam, Sondra E. Solomon, and Rhonda J. Factor)
- Siblings As a Comparison Group for GLBs: The Studies
- Education and Moving Away from the Family of Origin
- Relationships, Children, and Divisions of Labor
- Religion and Politics
- Which Siblings Become Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Heterosexual?
- Chapter 7. Stress and Adaptation Among Families of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: Research Challenges (Anthony R. D’Augelli)
- Stress and the Discovery of GLB Youths’ Sexual and Gender Identities
- Recent Findings Concerning GLB Youth and Their Families
- Problems with Research on Familial Reactions to Disclosure of GLB Youths’ Sexual Orientation
- A Human Development Model of GLB Youth Development in the Family Context
- Directions for Future Research
- PART II: SPECIAL ISSUES IN GLBT FAMILY STUDIES
- Chapter 8. Polyamory and Gay Men: A Family Systems Approach (Michael Bettinger)
- Models of Polyamory
- Making It Work: Essential Skills
- Benefits of Polyamorous Relationships
- Understanding Families
- Understanding a Polyamorous Gay Male Family
- Areas for Future Research
- Conclusion
- Chapter 9. Coming Out As “We 3”: Using Personal Ethnography and the Case Study to Assess Relational Identity and Parental Support of Gay Male, Three-Partner Relationship (Eric Aoki)
- Background
- The Academic Letter
- Chapter 10. Same-Sex Marriage and Legalized Relationships: I Do, or Do I? (Esther D. Rothblum)
- Heterosexual Marriage As a Model for Same-Sex Marriage?
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Do Lesbians and Gay Men Want to Marry?
- Other Data on Legalized Same-Sex Relationships
- Future Directions
- Chapter 11. Same-Sex Marriage: The Difficult Road Ahead (Vincent J. Samar)
- PART III: ISSUES IN GLBT FAMILY STUDIES
- Chapter 12. Sex, Drugs, Rock ’N’ Roll…and Children: Redefining Male Co
Biography
J Jerry Bigner
