Prejudice and discrimination in the everyday life of same-sex couples raising children

Abstract

The present study investigated the experiences of prejudice and discrimination in the everyday lives of five same-sex couples raising children. Data were collected using a questionnaire and an interview and were analyzed by thematic analysis. Participants attributed meanings to their experiences of being homoparental families: they assumed their social role as they managed to develop their own conjugality and parental projects in the struggle within a social context permeated by the hegemony of heteronormative values. The participants experienced prejudice related to their lifestyle and attained parenthood status, challenging social norms and gender stereotypes. However, it was also found that attitudes of willingness and perseverance in their fight for their rights proved to be protective measures against prejudice and social intolerance. A limited number of studies have examined the prejudice and discrimination towards same-sex families in Brazil; therefore, there is a need for greater visibility and further discussion about this phenomenon.

Cultivating practices of inclusion towards same‐sex families in Italy: A comparison among educators, social workers, and healthcare professionals

“…For instance, Costa, Pereira, and Leal (2015) found that interpersonal contact of heterosexuals with gay men and lesbians lowered their negative attitudes towards LGB+ parented families. Consistently, qualitative investigations that examined how same‐sex family members perceive prejudice and discrimination from heterosexual people showed that the possibility to have everyday personal interactions with heterosexual persons allowed for the development of a more positive attitude towards these family forms (Hässler et al, 2020; Iudici, Masiello, Faccio, & Turchi, 2020; Tombolato, Bortolozzi Maia, Uziel, & Santos, 2018). Also, an innovative study by Vecho, Gross, Gratton, D'Amore, and Green (2018) showed that sexual prejudice can function as a mediation variable between contact with same‐sex couples and people's attitude towards same‐sex marriage and parenting.…”

Same-sex parenting in Brazil and Portugal: An integrative review

“…People in both countries reported different methods for making parenting viable. Same-sex parenting could be planned and/or experienced through: adoption Araldi & Serralta, 2019;Carneiro et al, 2018;Costa & Bidell, 2017;Lira et al, 2015;Matos et al, 2019;Tombolato et al, 2018;Vitule et al, 2015); assisted reproduction techniques, such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (common for lesbian couples), and in vitro fertilization with a surrogate uterus (common among gay couples) (Costa & Bidell, 2017;Costa, Tasker et al, 2019;Lira et al, 2015;Machin & Couto, 2014;Meletti & Scorsolini-Comin, 2015;Pontes et al, 2015Pontes et al, , 2017Vitule et al, 2015); coparenting agreements or to make the parental project viable (Lira et al, 2016a; Research, Society and Development, v. 11, n. 16, e357111638227, 2022 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i16.38227 Matos et al, 2019;Medeiros, 2006;Rodriguez & Paiva, 2009;. Thus, the choice of each family depends on a series of contextual and biopsychosocial factors present in the lives of individuals.…”

“Does Everybody Want the Hollywood Fairytale?” Same-Sex Couples Hinting at the Second Demographic Transition in Brazil

“…In Brazil, research in Psychology shows qualitative case studies of same-sex couples, such as Meletti & Scorsolini-Comin (2015), Borges, Magalhães & Féres-Carneiro (2017), Tombolato et al (2018), and Gurgel & Uziel (2019). They discuss the concern of participants with conjugal dynamics, societal norms regarding children's well-being, and the stigma of having same-sex parents.…”