Posted on 10/13/2005 3:24:27 PM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative
Oct.12, 2005 (Washington) -- Children growing up in same-sex parental households do not necessarily have differences in self-esteem, gender identity, or emotional problems from children growing up in heterosexual parent homes.
"There are a lot of children with at least one gay or lesbian parent," says Ellen C. Perrin, MD, professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. She revealed the findings at the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference and Exhibition.
Between 1 million and 6 million children in the U.S. are being reared by committed lesbian or gay couples, she says. Children being raised by same-sex parents were either born to a heterosexual couple, adopted, or conceived through artificial insemination.
"The vast consensus of all the studies shows that children of same-sex parents do as well as children whose parents are heterosexual in every way," she tells WebMD. "In some ways children of same-sex parents actually may have advantages over other family structures."
Study Results
Researchers looked at information gleaned from 15 studies on more than 500 children, evaluating possible stigma, teasing and social isolation, adjustment and self-esteem, opposite gender role models, sexual orientation, and strengths.
Studies from 1981 to 1994, including 260 children reared by either heterosexual mothers or same-sex mothers after divorce, found no differences in intelligence, type or prevalence of psychiatric disorders, self-esteem, well-being, peer relationships, couple relationships, or parental stress.
"Some studies showed that single heterosexual parents' children have more difficulties than children who have parents of the same sex," Perrin says. "They did better in discipline, self-esteem, and had less psychosocial difficulties at home and at school."
Another study of 37 children of 27 divorced lesbian mothers and a similar number of children of heterosexual mothers found no differences in behavior, adjustment, gender identity, and peer relationships.
Equitable Division of Chores
Two other large studies involving more than 100 couples found that same-sex parents also had contact with extended family, had social support, and had a more equitable division of labor in the home.
"Lesbian couples share household responsibilities and chores more equitably," Perrin says. "And, the children of lesbian couples are less aggressive, more nurturing to peers, more tolerant of diversity, and more inclined to play with both boy's and girl's toys.
Children seem to adjust better when there is a more equal division of labor in the home and the parental relationship with the children had a higher rating, she says.
The combined data presented by Perrin showed that children whose parents are lesbian have no more problems than the rest of the children and actually may be more tolerant of differences, she says. There was suggestive evidence that there were more stresses due to the gender of same-sex parents, but the children also reported greater well-being, more nurturing, and a greater tolerance for differences.
What is striking is that there are very consistent findings in these studies," Perrin says.
Ryan Malone, who works in public relations in Washington, D.C., says after his parents were divorced he was reared by two "lesbian moms," while still staying in contact with his father.
"We lived in a small town," he says. "While I was open about my family, I didn't broadcast it."
At times he felt isolated because he didn't know any other families at the time headed by a same-sex couple, Malone says. "My parents overparented because they felt like the whole world was watching."
Emotional Topic
While further study should be done, this is important for pediatricians to know so they can learn more about variations in families and give appropriate advice in optimizing the child's development, Perrin says.
Carol Berkowitz, MD, former president of AAP, says this analysis is important in that it combines evidence-based studies.
"This subject evokes a lot of emotions," she says. "Some of the studies on this subject in the past have been weighted and biased, based on nothing more than the researcher's views."
Evidence-based studies are important in helping pediatricians in their practices and creating policy for the future, she says.
SOURCES: American Academy of Pediatrics Conference and Exhibition, Washington, D.C., Oct. 8-11, 2005. Ellen C. Perrin, MD, professor of pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston. Carol Berkowitz, MD, former president, American Academy of Pediatrics.
Notice also that the article's author indicates that kids raised by divorced lesbians "may have advantages" over kids raised by divorced straight moms. Here are the advantages:
"Lesbian couples share household responsibilities and chores more equitably," Perrin says. "And, the children of lesbian couples are less aggressive, more nurturing to peers, more tolerant of diversity, and more inclined to play with both boy's and girl's toys.IOW, kids raised by lesbians are more likely to embrace the radical feminist ideal (especially good news for the boys, eh?).Children seem to adjust better when there is a more equal division of labor in the home and the parental relationship with the children had a higher rating, she says.
The combined data presented by Perrin showed that children whose parents are lesbian have no more problems than the rest of the children and actually may be more tolerant of differences, she says. There was suggestive evidence that there were more stresses due to the gender of same-sex parents, but the children also reported greater well-being, more nurturing, and a greater tolerance for differences.
So I can infer that children raised by 2 men will be more aggressive, less nuturing, and less tolerant of diversity?
Sociologists tend to find what they look for. In this case, an important criterion for a well-adjusted kid is that he plays equally with boy's and girl's toys. I can think of more important issues.
"Between 1 million and 6 million children in the U.S. are being reared by committed lesbian or gay couples, she says"
Wow - quite a study - they really nailed down that number ----to within a factor of 6!!!
Can't wait to read some more "statistics".
Poor choice of words, it seems to me.
Between 1 and 6 million children are being raised in committed lesbian or gay households? I find that difficult to swallow. Especially considering the percentage of gay couples that break up after a few years at most.
I'm sure kids of ax murderers might appear to have turned out ok too...
ping
"The children in both data sets had one major factor in common...broken homes. "
And duh - read into this a bit more -- they actually have the gall to compare kids in SINGLE hetero mom homes with 2 mom homes!!
Its amazing what 2 incomes and an inhouse babysitter will do!
This should be compared to single hetero moms with an extra paycheck and the inhouse babysitter.
"American Academy of Pediatrics Conference and Exhibition, Washington, D.C., Oct. 8-11, 2005. Ellen C. Perrin, MD, professor of pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston. Carol Berkowitz, MD, former president, American Academy of Pediatrics."
We should demand a properly controlled study - 2 hetero parent offspring and 2 homo parent offspring.
Any Tufts alumni out there?
I picked up on the same thing. They are genderless apparently and that is a "good" thing according to these doctors. Well, I for one don't want my son growing up to be a girl (and I'm a girl!). I will teach him how to do his laundry and housework though but it is up to him and his wife to figure out who does what when.
Perfect. Ring 'em up.
No doubt.
Children seem to adjust better when there is a more equal division of labor in the home
Oh yeah. Of all the complaints people have of their childhood, AN UNEQUAL DIVISION OF LABOR between the parents ranks right up there. Right.
"And, the children of lesbian couples are less aggressive,
Aggression is great - that's how sh*t gets done in the world.
...more nurturing to peers,
I don't believe it.
.... more tolerant of diversity,
I don't believe this. Every white bread homeschooling family I know - all of whom are Christians and think homosexuality is an abomination, would come down like a load of bricks if their kids even thought about treating gay people or minorities badly.
and more inclined to play with both boy's and girl's toys.
They say this like it's a good thing. Isn't it ironic that the diversity multi-culti "respect the differences of others" crowd are the very ones who are trying to wipe out the differences between the sexes?
Well... I guess the wife and I are big-time lesbians then...
I think this means, "OK, rug rats, give me all your toys...that means you too, beatch!"
Bogus. Never trust a study done for the purpose of proving a point.
Really poor choice of words, there ;)
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