Children of Lesbian Mothers

The paucity of research in this area is especially important considering Lewin's (1981), report that a common belief held by American society is that parent homosexuality adversely affects children and that the belief has been utilized to deny custody to many lesbian mothers. Since losing custody of one's children is associated with strong emotional and psychological suffering on the part of both mother and children, it seems reasonable to examine whether this view of lesbian parenting is supported by empirical research. The purpose of the review of the literature presented here is, therefore, to examine the current research on lesbian parenting and its affects, if any, on children.

Research on Lesbian Parenting and its Effects on Children

The research examining for effects of lesbian parenting on children has been sparse and sporadic with the great bulk of the work being conducted in the early and mid 1980s. In general, this research explored for effects on children's psychosocial functioning levels, sexual orientation and development, and self-esteem. Studies in each of these areas are examined here.

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roup and one of the other three, with the female/single mother group scoring lower (less healthy). On the AT20, scores of the female/single mother group were significantly lower than those of the male/lesbian mother group. Females predictably scored higher on the EES without regard to mothers' sexual preference. On both the ES and the EES, the male/lesbian mother group showed more ability to empathize than the male/single mother group. Regarding sex role behavior, statistical significance was again based on sex of the subject rather than mothers' sexual preference. Sex-Role Identity, Characteristics, and Traits In another comparative study, Hoeffer (1980), examined for the influence of lesbian and heterosexual single mothers on their children's acquisition of sex-role traits and behavior utilizing the framework of Bandura's social learning theory and the concept of psychological androgyny. The sample consisted of 20 lesbian and 20 heterosexual mothers and their only or oldest child. Half of sample children were boys and half girls; all children were aged 6 through 10 years. Hoeffer reported that there were no significant differences between the two groups of boys on sex-role traits or behavior, or between the two groups
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Approximate Word count = 3119
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page)

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