Working With What We’ve Got: Perceptions of Barriers and Supports Among Small-Metropolitan-Area Same-Sex Adopting Couples

Abstract

In seeking to adopt, lesbians and gay men may confront various barriers and obstacles. Ideally they have access to a variety of support resources that can help to buffer the negative effects of these barriers. However, lesbians and gay men living in small-metropolitan communities may have limited access to support resources. The current qualitative study examined the perceptions of 37 same-sex couples who were pursuing adoption while living outside of large metropolitan cities, with attention to the barriers these couples encountered during the adoption process, and the resources they drew upon to cope with such challenges. Findings indicated that same sex couples living in small-metropolitan areas confronted several major barriers in the adoption process, such as a lack of geographically accessible gay-friendly adoption agencies. Despite limited access to support, participants showed evidence of notable resourcefulness. For example, participants with limited access to formal support groups sought out informal supports instead.

Pride and Prejudice : Lesbian Families in Contemporary Sweden

“…This legal change, however, has not been followed by practical opportunities for same-sex couples, thus lesbian couples generally have children through birth giving. Joint adoption is a well-established path to parenthood for lesbians in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada (Ausbrooks & Russel, 2011;Averett, Nalavany & Ryan, 2009;Brown et al, 2009;Farr & Patterson, 2009;Hicks, 2011;Kinkler & Goldberg, 2011;Ross et al, 2008;Woodford et al, 2010), again in contrast to results from the present Swedish study.…”

“…Having a child in a planned lesbian family often directly involves healthcare services or welfare institutions, such as fertility clinics, maternal health care or adoption agencies. Accordingly, a great number of studies regard lesbians' encounters with such institutions (Brown et al, 2009;Cherguit, Burns, Pettle, & Tasker, 2013;Dahl, Fylkesnes, Sørlie & Malterud, 2013;Dahl Spidsberg, 2007;Goldberg, Weber, Moyer & Shapiro, 2014;Hayman et al, 2013;;Kinkler & Goldberg, 2011;McManus, Hunter & Renn, 2006;Mallon, 2011;Peel, 2010;Ross et al 2008Ross et al , 2009Ryan & Withlock, 2007;Shields et al, 2012;Wilton & Kaufmann, 2001). These studies generally highlight discrimination and prejudices, labelled as heteronormativity, heterosexism or homophobia, depending on the researcher's epistemological and theoretical background.…”

Law and LGBQ-Parent Families

“…As Brown et al note: "Some [lesbian and gay] families clearly fear that this is not equal protection under the law for their adopted children" (p. 239). Further, studies by Goldberg et al (2009) and Kinkler and Goldberg (2011) found that some LGBQ adoptive parents had a difficult time finding agencies that would work with them. Scholars argue that Black lesbian and bisexual individuals in particular may be disproportionately affected by anti-LGBQ adoption policies given that "Black children are greatly overrepresented in the foster care system and are most likely to be adopted by Black women."…”

“…Moreover, the negative impact of the law on LGBQ parent's mental health may be especially exacerbated for parents who are not legally recognized as parents. Given the lack of legal recognition, they experience anxiety and fear that their child will be taken away from them and that they will have no legal recourse to remedy the situation (Butterfield and Padavic 2014;Goldberg et al 2009;Kazyak 2015;Kinkler and Goldberg 2011;Lev 2006).…”

Parentalidade em casais homossexuais: Uma revisão sistemática

“…Nos Estados Unidos uma pesquisa destaca o sentimento de discriminação percebido por lésbicas durante o processo de adoção (Shelley-Sireci & Ciano-Boyce, 2002). Casais que buscam adoção, especialmente em cidades de menor porte, encontram mais dificuldades e obtêm menor suporte dos profissionais envolvidos neste processo (Kinkler & Goldberg, 2011). Apesar destes resultados, que indicam uma expectativa negativa da população sobre a parentalidade de casais homossexuais, diversas pesquisas mostram que não há diferença entre o nível de bem-estar e desenvolvimento emocional de filhos de casais homossexuais e heterossexuais (Fond, Franc, & Purper-Ouakil, 2012;Goldberg, Smith, & Kashy, 2010;Golombok et al, 2013;Rivers, Poteat, & Noret, 2008).…”