United States Normative Attitudes for Pursuing Parenthood as a Function of Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Age

Abstract

Decisions about whether or not to become a parent are significant parts of normative human development. Many studies have shown that married different-sex couples are expected to become parents, and that many social pressures enforce this norm. For same-sex couples, however, much less is known about social norms surrounding parenthood within marriage. This study examined injunctive norms and descriptive norms for the pursuit of parenthood as a function of age, gender, and sexual orientation. Participants in an internet survey included 1020 (522 heterosexual, 498 lesbian/gay) cisgender people from across the United States Findings showed that norms, especially descriptive norms, for the pursuit of parenthood for heterosexual people were much stronger than those for lesbian women and gay men, and that norms for lesbian women were stronger than those for gay men. These differences were more pronounced for older, heterosexual, and male participants. However, lesbian and gay participants, especially gay men, reported that lesbian and gay people ought to become parents to the same extent as heterosexual people. Overall, the results indicated that, regardless of sexual orientation, adults report that lesbian and gay married people ought to become parents, but that they expect only a minority of these couples will pursue parenthood. This research provided a glimpse into how Americans are envisioning family formation among same-sex couples today.

Independently planned parenthood: Sexual identity and evaluations of single-parenthood-by-choice.

“…In a recent study, Tate (2022) examined normative attitudes surrounding the pursuit of parenthood as a function of sexual identity, gender, and age. Within this study, a conceptual framework was suggested involving augmented assimilation (Tate, 2022). Assimilation is observed as a pathway for historically marginalized populations to gain power, status, and belonging within a culture designed by the majority group for the majority group (Bowleg, 2013).…”

“…The first would be asking these questions of purisexual, transgender, and nonbinary people. These groups are underrepresented in the research literature on normative family formation (Tate, 2022). In addition, there are questions about economic considerations surrounding independently planned parenthood to consider.…”

“…The next line of research could involve the further exploration of how lesbian and gay individuals are conforming to but also expanding the norms surrounding parenthood (Tate, 2022). Future studies could access questions of power and status to investigate the role of these within the decisions that lesbian/gay adults make regarding assimilating to the norms of parenthood.…”

“…When utilizing a social normative theoretical framework, parenthood is usually viewed as happening within the institution of marriage (Ashburn-Nardo, 2017; DeJean et al, 2012; Tate, 2022). Single parenthood has a negative connotation and is typically associated with divorce, separation, or widowhood (DeJean et al, 2012).…”

“…For instance, married heterosexual men and women may face social backlash for voluntarily choosing not to have children and are also viewed more negatively when they choose not to become parents (Ashburn-Nardo, 2017). In all, people tend to believe that parenthood is an aspect of life that will and should be achieved by married heterosexual couples (Ashburn-Nardo, 2017; Tate, 2022).…”