Gay fathers, gay citizenship: on the power of reproductive futurism and assimilation

Abstract

Edelman 's (2004) new ethics of queer theory is focussed on the all-pervasive image of the child, which he argues provides the foundation for the hegemonic politics of 'reproductive futurism'. His searing criticism raises important questions for sexual citizenship and particularly the gay parent as citizen. Edelman's argument that queers should abandon accommodation and instead embrace their

Heteronormativity and the (re)construction of gay male entrepreneurial identities

“…That gay men can be proponents of heteronormative family arrangements is not new (Warner, 1999), but our data exposes how heteronormative discourses on the family and entrepreneurship demand (re)adjustments from gay men who identify through and within them. As a single father with full custody of his son, one reading is that Benjamin personifies a growing number of 'queer' fathers who are raising children in family arrangements that do not fit a heteronormative nuclear family unit ideal (Langdridge, 2013) Overall, Benjamin's interview text provides insights into the terms and conditions upon which entrepreneurial identities are normalised, in particular at the conjunction of heteronormative discourses of the family and entrepreneurship. In order to maintain a position at this site, to enable specific identities to be reproduced (i.e.…”

LGBQ resilience: a thematic meta-synthesis of qualitative research

“…When it comes to LGBQ families there is invariably no pre-existing model, no 'roadmap' to follow (Vaccaro, 2010;Weston, 1997). Options may therefore include LGBQ folk following heterosexual norms (Hequembourg, 2004;Langdridge, 2013) and/or dismissing radical alternatives as mere fantasy (Bong, 2011). Communities thus remain divided over family models, as well as models of sexual and relationship behaviour, with controversy continuing over 'good' versus 'bad' LGBQ citizens.…”

Doing Care, Doing Citizenship

“…Research is showing the crucial links between citizenship and sexualities (Wilson 2009;Langdridge 2013) and the necessity to develop broader definitions of citizenship, including cultural dimensions and new forms of belonging, beyond the traditional contexts of law, politics and welfare (Turner 1993(Turner , 1999bPakulski 1997;O'Byrne 2003;McLaughling et al 2011;Monro 2012, Yuval-Davis 2007). More specifically, a growing literature on same-sex partnership and parenthood has discussed the ways in which non-conventional forms of intimacy and care may represent an opportunity to overcome the binary logic of social, legal and political entitlement and redefine conventional notions of families, intimacies and relationships (Berkowitz and Marsiglio 2007;Duncan and Smith 2006;Hicks 2011;Langdridge 2013;Mallon 2004;Rabun and Oswald 2009;Roseneil and Budgeon 2004;Smart 2007;Stychin 2001Stychin , 2003Stacey 1996;Weston 1997;Weeks 1998;Weeks and Heaphy 2002). This broadening of customary notions of families, intimacies, relationships and parenthood has also implied an expansion of the concept of citizenship, not only with regard to the acknowledgment of sexual diversity but also in terms of plurality of lifestyles and choices (Plummer 2003).…”

“…the master status) and the newly acquired social identity of "parent" seems to be stronger than and somehow overcome the social identity of "gay" or "lesbian". For these parents, "being gay" or "being lesbian" is gradually shaped in terms of a new social identity overshadowing their sexual identity (Langdridge 2013;Pratesi 2012a;Warner 1999). The dynamics of status membership/inclusion seem to be particularly evident in the following excerpt, where Kendrick, a single adoptive father, clearly describes his parenthood as a sort of gateway allowing him to access to the "club of heterosexual parents" and-as he says-to be "accepted into a totally different society".…”