UPNE - The Gay & Lesbian Marriage & Family Reader: Jennifer M. Lehmann

Shipping Info

Click for larger image

The Gay & Lesbian Marriage & Family Reader
Analyses of Problems and Prospects for the 21st Century
Jennifer M. Lehmann, ed.

Gordian Knot Books
2001 • 300 pp. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2"
Gay Studies / Gender Studies / Sociology

$39.95 Paper, 978-1-884092-57-2

Penetrating articles for people who want to accurately understand the major issues gays and lesbians face that involve marriage and family life in 21st century America

This book provides a convenient, single source for students and others who want to accurately understand the major issues gays and lesbians face that involve marriage and family life in 21st century America, including:

•legalized marriage and cohabitation
•parenting and coparenting
•child custody and adoption
•coming out to family members
•living in stepfamilies

This book will also prove to be valuable for those interested in anticipating changes in our laws and social conventions that will affect gay and lesbian marriage and family life in the near future; for homosexuals who want to enjoy the same economic, health, and other benefits afforded to both legally married and longtime, cohabiting heterosexual couples; and for all individuals interested in civil rights—since the estimated two million (the lowest estimate) to 30 million (the highest estimate) men and women who are gay or lesbian in America are the only adult citizens denied the right to legally marry a person of their choice; and they are generally discriminated against by the legal system and public alike when it comes to adopting children or retaining custody of their children in divorce cases involving a heterosexual spouse.

Today, these historical prohibitions and restrictions are buckling under the weight of changing social attitudes, and we appear to be at a revolutionary turning point in society, involving acceptance of same-sex marriage and child adoption and custody rights, if not the legalization of these phenomena.

The reality of same-sex marriage and parenthood also has profound ramifications for the psychological and emotional lives of the individuals involved. These individuals include, of course, not only the gays and lesbians who cohabit, marry, or become parents, but also their immediate and extended family members, and the children they raise. Since it is estimated that many, if not most, families have at least one member who is gay or lesbian, these revolutionary changes will likely affect most members of society.

What are the psychological, emotional, economic, and legal issues involved in same-sex marriage and parenthood? Can expansion of gay and lesbian marriage and family rights have negative, as well as positive, outcomes, for both the individuals directly involved and society as a whole? Should gay and lesbian individuals expect changes in the laws and social conventions over the next several years that will fundamentally transform their relationship to the institutions of marriage, family, and parenthood?

The answers to these and related questions are presented in this book, which brings together a collection of highly informed articles written by leading scholars in social science, social work, clinical psychology, and the law. These answers—which are based on findings from research studies and case analyses—will be of interest and value not only to gays and lesbians and their family members, but to everyone concerned about the issues and trends that involve same-sex marriage and family life—including social scientists, lawyers, politicians, family practitioners, clinical therapists, social workers, and journalists.

Endorsements:

“The anthology is very professionally done and Lehmann has chosen very interesting articles.” —Candan Duran-Aydintug, Associate Professor and Department Chair for Sociology, University of Colorado, Denver

Click here for TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the Book:

The heterosexual culture has long viewed gay and lesbian parenting as an unusual, unknown, and largely unsupported family choice. Yet, many gay men and lesbians decide to raise children, either through pregnancy, adoption, or by blending their families. Because of fear of discrimination or violence, and fear of losing custody or visitation rights, gay men and lesbians may not feel free to be open about their family structure. This makes it difficult to measure accurately the number of these parents in the United States. The U.S. Census estimates that the number of gay men and lesbians is more than two million and the number of children being raised by them is as high as six million. Gay- and lesbian-identified families, like heterosexual families, may seek psychotherapeutic help with the dynamic and concrete issues that confront all families from time to time.

To date, there is no specific family therapy theory in place to guide clinicians in their acknowledgment and support of the experiences of gay- and lesbian-identified families. Through the application of ideas from self psychology within the context of narrative theory, this article will present a framework for therapists that may deepen understanding and appreciation of cultural and clinical aspects of gay and lesbian parenting while more fully validating gay and lesbian family issues and experiences through the creation and understanding of the meaning of their parenting narratives.

“From ‘Psychotherapy with Gay and Lesbian Families: Opportunities for Cultural Inclusion and Clinical Challenge’” by Susan O’Dell

Jennifer M. Lehmann is an associate professor of sociology and women's studies at the University of Nebraska. She is the author of Durkheim and Women (Nebraska 1994) and the editor of Current Perspectives in Social Theory.