Authenticating Family

Abstract

Authenticating family is a process of becoming a lesbian stepfamily, working to affirm strong and healthy family relationships, and learning to accept nothing less than acknowledgment and inclusion as legitimate. Authenticating family demonstrates that the internal function of becoming a stepfamily is not dissimilar to that of heterosexual stepfamilies. Frequent encounters that are heterosexist underscore the challenges faced by lesbian stepfamilies. The new stepfamily faces obstacles that contest the sense of legitimacy for all family members. These families learn from multiple interactions among themselves and with outsiders how to negotiate a new understanding of family. The conditions that impact the process are age of the children, support, and heterosexism. The lesbian stepfamily develops the ability to demonstrate pride to a society that has marginalized in the past, even as society is evolving in acceptance. There are three stages in authenticating family: accepting the challenge, building the bonds, and thriving.