The State of GLBT Family Research: An Opportunity to Critically Reflect

Abstract

It has been well established that there exists a severe need for family researchers, family professionals, and therapists that serve families to have training and competency in issues that affect the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. Given this need, this study was created to examine and reflect upon the scholarship productivity, relative to GLBT family issues, in some of the most highly respected and top-tier family journals. This study identified 10 of the most prominent journals that involve family issues, and the thousands of articles within (N D 6,003). After a thorough content analysis, GLBT scholarship made up 2.2% of total scholarship (N D 130). Journals, researchers, and institutions that published the most GLBT family research in the articles selected are also reported as well as possible directions for future research.

A Content Analysis of LGBT Research in Top Family Journals 2000-2015

“…Overall, 153 of the 6,832 published articles (2.24%) included or focused on the LGBT population. Rates ranged from a low of 0.58% in 2005 to a high of 3.20% in 2008, lower than previous analyses of social work journals (e.g., 3.92%; Van Vorris & Wagner, 2002) but consistent with others (e.g., Hartwell et al, 2012; Zrenchik & Craft, 2015).…”

“…In Sullivan and Losberg’s (2003) analysis of the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services from 1997 to 2000, they found that of the 37 empirical articles about 78% used purposive sampling, 15 included those who were bisexual or transgender (only one focused entirely on a transgender sample and none focused on an entirely bisexual sample), most samples were White, and most did not report on indicators of socioeconomic status (SES). Zrenchik and Craft’s (2015) content analysis is unique in that the study answered who are the most prolific LGBT-focused researchers and which outlets publish the most LGBT research. Data from 10 of the most prominent family journals, from 2002 to 2012, implied that LGBT scholarship only comprised 2.2% of total scholarship ( N = 130 articles).…”

Experiences of Family Belonging among Two Generations of Sexually Diverse Australians

“…Until the past few years, there was limited recognition of the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the field of family science (Moore & Stambolis‐Ruhstorfer, ; van Eeden‐Moorefield, Few‐Demo, Benson, Bible, & Lummer, ; Zrenchik & Craft, ). We are therefore keen to add our voice to those calling for a more deliberate attempt to queer established definitions and methodologies for researching families (Fish & Russell, ) and to “destabilise [the dominant] categories of gender, sexuality and identity” (Davies & Robinson, , p. 40), which have too often been presumed to underpin experiences of family life.…”

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

“…In addition to factors such as increasing divorce rates and decreasing fertility, one of the many variables that shape this transformation is the process of social, legal, and political acceptance of same-sex marriage. Zrenchik & Craft (2016) call for a collective shift inside the field of family studies to properly include and expand the experiences of the LGBT+ community. This study is a step in this direction.…”