Lesbian-Headed Stepfamilies

Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I.; Erera, Pauline I.

doi:10.1300/j137v08n02_11

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The participants mentioned that their children were not denied support from extended family members. From the extant literature on Black lesbian families, coparenting and transition issues are also related to lesbian stepfamily processes (e.g., child acceptance of stepparent; and child's disconnection from biological parents) and deserve further investigation (Fredriksen‐Goldsen & Erera, ; Lynch, ).…”

Section: Future Directions and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complexities of Informal Social Support Arrangements for Black Lesbian Couples

Glass

Few‐Demo

2013

Family Relations

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This qualitative study examined how Black lesbian couples receive informal social support from their social networks. Guided by an integrated framework of symbolic interactionism and Black feminist theory, interviews were conducted with 11 Black lesbian couples (22 individuals) in committed relationships. Using grounded theory methodology, it was found that Black lesbian couples received informal social support from different sources, but that this support was provided to individuals as a means of sustaining individuals' roles as daughters and mothers. Although extended families actively fulfilled perceived family obligations, they negated the existence of lesbian individuals' sexual identity, intimate relationships, and families built with lesbian partners. Friends, church communities, and gay and lesbian communities did not validate Black lesbian couplehood or families headed by Black lesbian couples, but served as supportive sites for individuals. Black lesbian couples responded to social invisibility by engaging in self‐validating processes and limiting access to their families.

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Section: Future Directions and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complexities of Informal Social Support Arrangements for Black Lesbian Couples

Glass

Few‐Demo

2013

Family Relations

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“…However, when children are present from the beginning of the relationship, partners must learn to function together both as a couple and as parent and step‐parent despite the ambiguity of parental roles and lack of clear models for behaviour (Rouyer, Baude, Biargues‐Joubert, & Monribot, 2018). Same‐sex couples in blended families have the same child‐raising responsibilities and desires to develop bonds of love and affection as heterosexual couples (Fredrikson‐Goldsen & Erera, 2003). Their experiences of creating a blended family and the challenges they face are, overall, very similar (Ganong & Coleman, 2017).…”

Section: Current State Of Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Lovers for a time, mothers for life: Ecosystemic analysis of blended family experiences of lesbian mothers and stepmothers

Lavoie

Saint‐Jacques

2020

Child & Family Social Work

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This article presents results of a qualitative study of blended lesbian-headed families with children from previous same-sex relationships. Conducted in partnership with the LGBT Family Coalition, this study adopts an ecosystemic approach to document the experiences of parental separation and family blending of 17 (n = 17) lesbian mothers and stepmothers in the province of Quebec, Canada. The challenges these women face in these periods of transition, particularly in terms of postseparation co-parenting and family reorganization, are analysed with particular concern for the daily stresses of heterosexism and membership in a sexual minority. Various strategies used to overcome these challenges, the positive outcomes of creating blended families and the stepmother's place and role within the family are examined. A discussion of the support and intervention needs of these families concludes the paper.

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“…There is a small yet growing body of research discussing issues faced by lesbians as they become parents within a relationship, many of which focus on how they are received by society in general (Bos, van Balen, & van den Boom, 2004; Brown & Perlesz, 2008; Flaks, Ficher, Masterpaqua, & Joseph, 1995; McCann & Delmonte, 2005; Patterson & Riskind, 2010). Research focusing on the lives of lesbian stepfamilies is limited (Fredriksen-Goldsen & Erera, 2003; Hall & Kitson, 2000; Lorah, 2007; Lynch, 2004; Robitaille & Saint-Jacques, 2009). Rarely do researchers consider the viewpoint of the nonbiological parent or the children.…”

Section: Review Of the Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Authenticating Family

Rickards

McLeod

2016

The Family Journal

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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.

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Lesbian-Headed Stepfamilies

Cited by 12 publications

References 39 publications

Complexities of Informal Social Support Arrangements for Black Lesbian Couples

Complexities of Informal Social Support Arrangements for Black Lesbian Couples

Lovers for a time, mothers for life: Ecosystemic analysis of blended family experiences of lesbian mothers and stepmothers

Authenticating Family

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