Effects on Children Raised by Homosexual Parents - Research Paper Example

? Effects on Children Raised By Homosexual Parents Effects on Children Raised By Homosexual Parents Introduction Raising well turned out children is a difficult undertaking even in circumstances where there are two parents who are male and female- which is the socially accepted model of family. This task naturally becomes harder to achieve when the model of family raising the children does not conform to accepted social norms. In both developed as well as developing nations, a large percentage of the society does not agree with the notion of same sex parents adopting children or having them through surrogates by way of artificial insemination. This is because many cultures do not view the homosexual lifestyle as ethical and thus feel that children who are adopted by homosexual parents are likely to be subjected to abuses of different kinds. The principle argument against gay parenting is focused on the assertion that marriage is principally a dual-gendered institution which has the ability to naturally procreate. Marriage is the sole institution that is tasked with producing human capital for the coming generations. Same-sex parents cannot naturally produce children. This is an obvious indication; according to many opponents of gay parenting those children who are adopted by same sex parents are likely to suffer emotionally and physically, in some cases. This will happen because gay parents do not have the skills necessary to bring up well adjusted children who will benefit humankind. Statistics According to Regnerus (2012) more same sex couples are able to adopt children today than was the case in the past Owing to the ratification of laws, mainly in developed nations, which recognize the rights of same sex parents. In America alone, it is estimated that 65, 500 children have been adopted into same sex unions. California has the largest number of same sex couples (16, 000) who have adopted children. According to Brodzinsky and Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (2011) foreign born adopted children are more likely to end up in same sex unions than American children. The Development of Children raised by Homosexual Parents Identity There are many studies that have been conducted on the issues and concerns that face children who are raised by homosexual parents. From these studies, it is evident that the most important factor has to do with identity. According to Wainright, Russell and Patterson (2004) children raised by homosexual parents, particularly if they were adopted and not the result of artificial insemination, tend to have more emotional challenges than those raised by heterosexual parents. While there are larger percentages of emotional disturbances among people with homosexual lifestyles, and this inadvertently affects any children they adopt, the main cause of turmoil in their children is likely to be Owing to identity issues, according to (Wainright, Russell and Patterson, 2004). Any adopted child requires a family with a mother and father more than children who were not adopted. The child will innately desire to identify with an institution that basically reflects the two people that gave him or her life. Being adopted by homosexual parents can result in more trauma other than that of abandonment because the child also has to deal with the incident of being in a family that is unlike that of his original parents. As far as the child can see, he or she has no has no biological chain. An adopted child already suffers from the wound of abandonment. Being put in a home with homosexual parents adds the responsibility of the child being forced to adapt to the affective life style choices of the adoptive parents. Any child who is given to national organizations for adoptive purposes has been separated from his or her primary caregiver- his mother. This, alone, could result in the incidence of attachment disorders. The attachment to a singular maternal individual in the first eight months of life is vital in the psychological development of any human being. Bringing up a child who has experienced such an attachment disorder calls for special sensitivity to be exhibited by the child’s adoptive parents. Same-sex couples do not often acknowledge this reality because it contradicts the mantra that they also can successfully bring up a child. Moreover, this is a basic human need that cannot be confused or removed by political discourse. In the event that emotional problems develop Owing to the lack of any attachment to a maternal figure, it is likely that the same sex parents will lay the blame of the emotional disorders faced by their children on the general society or even ‘homophobia’. This is one of the reasons why same sex couples do not effectively understand the needs of children. They have separate agendas and may not be able to dedicate themselves to really understanding the needs of their adopted children; particularly if those needs are in contrast to their own beliefs. Children who have been adopted by homosexual couples, on the other hand, may not feel free to question or even express their dissatisfaction and while not feeling that they always have to exhibit their gratefulness at being allowed to be a part of the family. The Issue of Sexual Identity For same sex adoptive parents, concerns about how they will address matters concerning sexual identity with their children are very real. Male children who grow up without distinct feminine influences and female children who grow up without distinct male models within the family face more angst where the subject of sexual identity is concerned than the children of heterosexual parents. The children may fear to express their true feelings if they feel that their desire for an opposite sex partner may be disparaged by the same sex parents. They may also feel uncomfortable about openly expressing their heterosexual desire for opposite sex partners before parents who are obviously homosexual. This could even go into areas such as wondering whether to invite girlfriends or boyfriends home to meet their two mothers or two fathers. This confusion is a very real issue that is not often addressed in public spheres for the fear of provoking harsh rebuttals. The Child’s Emotional Welfare A child who lives with homosexual parents is likely to face more problems in the course of his or her growth and development than children brought up by heterosexual couples. In the first place, because homosexual parents are unable to reproduce naturally, they are forced to opt for artificial insemination or adoption if they wish to have children. Adoption is the more common process of getting children for most homosexual couples who may not have the funds to pay for surrogate services. The adopted child is already saddled with having to work through the feeling of abandonment. It can be extremely painful when he or she is forced to deal with the prejudice exhibited by others Owing to his or her parent’s lifestyle (Mills, Paul, Stall, Pollack, Canchola and Chang, 2004). All of the children who are adopted into homosexual unions come from heterosexual relationships. This makes it even harder for them to adapt not only to their feelings about the lifestyle of their adoptive parents but also the reactions of people to their new family. It is quite common for the children who are adopted by homosexual parents to experience problems in determining their own sexual identity. This is because they could try to completely identify with their new parents in an effort to avoid any more rejection in their young lives. In a study conducted by Kansas State University’s Walter R. Schumm, it was established that 20% to 57% of children adopted by gay and lesbian partners took on non-heterosexual sexual identities (Farr, Forsell and Patterson, 2010b).  The greatest challenge faced by homosexual couples who are parenting children is that they have to exist in a society that holds homophobic attitudes. Children do not have the emotional arsenal of adults and so cannot deal with the rejection by complete strangers that their parents are accustomed to. In addition, it may be too much for them to shoulder while they are still nursing feelings of abandonment by their true parents Owing to being adopted. This is why they may choose to identify excessively with the only people who are providing them with some measure of acceptance- their ‘two mothers’ or ‘two fathers’ – thus setting themselves up for a sexual identity crisis in the near future. The families of homosexual couples are also often plagued with problems. This is because there are usually people in the nuclear or extended family who may disagree with the chosen lifestyle of the homosexual couple. While this could be said to be an infringement of the couple’s basic rights, it is also wrong of them to bring a child who already questions his existence and immerse him or her in the midst of even more emotional conflict. The rejection from the parents of one or both of the homosexual parents could be interpreted by the child as a rejection of him or herself. Homosexual couples are also more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol than heterosexual couples with children (O’Connell, Lampinen, Weber, Chan, Miller and Hogg, 2004). Naturally, this will affect the children and even cause them to adopt similar habits as their parents. According to information compiled from Mark Regnerus’ New Family Structures Study which was done in concert with the University of Texas, children who are brought up by homosexual parents are more likely to exhibit symptoms showing that they have emotional and social problems than their colleagues who are raised in homes that have a male and female parent (Regnerus, 2012). Regnerus’ study had 2,988 participants from 18yrs to 39yrs (Regnerus, 2012). In the study, there were 75 adult participants who were brought up by lesbian mothers and 73 adult participants who were raised by homosexual fathers (Regnerus, 2012). Some of the symptoms that the participants confirmed as issues they dealt with included suicidal thoughts, depression, showing poor impulse control, confused sexual identity that resulted in serious mental disturbance, the incidence of unfaithfulness when engaged in relationships, contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and abusing alcohol and drugs (Regnerus, 2012). These are identical symptoms to those that past studies have established as being more common among people living in homosexual lifestyles than those in heterosexual lifestyles. According to studies documented in the Archives of General Psychiatry people who self-identify as being in same-sex relationships exhibit almost twice the suicidal ideation rate exhibited by the general population. Effects from Financial Problems Children adopted by same sex couples tend to have problems Owing to the inability of their parents to adequately provide for them. Many people out rightly presume that all same sex couples who wish to adopt are quite wealthy. This may be because there is hardly ever any depiction of poor same sex couples in the media. The reality is that most same sex couples do not even have access to the amenities that are enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts and so cannot provide much for any children they adopt. In fact, according to Brodzinsky and Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (2011) children who are adopted by same-sex couples are twice as likely to live in scarcity as those adopted by married heterosexual couples. Most of the time when the media is addressing problems that are facing gay people, they only feature celebrities who have a lot of money and can live in relative wealth. The media does not address all issues that face homosexual couples with adopted children. Homosexual couples are often stopped from enjoying financial programs that are available to others in society. While this is a contravention of their human rights, it is quite irresponsible to force children to live with the same want in order to prove that even same sex couples can raise children. These unspoken double standards that society has where homosexual people are concerned is the reason why many homosexual people opt to live their preferred lifestyles in private, without letting their family members, friends, or co-workers know about their true lives. Some of the economic burdens shouldered by homosexuals include: Lack of legal protections: Owing to the fact that many nations forbid the sanctioning of homosexual marriages, the children that same sex couples adopt may only have legal ties to a single parent. While legal documents can afford some protections, they are often inadequate. This means that the children of such couples could be vulnerable to physical lacks. Higher taxes: Owing to the fact that in nations where same sex couples are recognized, like America, they still cannot file for joint federal tax returns, they tend to pay higher taxes than the rest of society. In America, same sex couples are also not given permission to have child-related tax deductions. This means that child care costs are weightier than in the case of heterosexual couples. Reduced rights to use to health benefits: Owing to the fact that corporate employers are not expected to extend coverage to the dependents of workers who have no legal ties to the, same sex couples usually have to procure health coverage privately or do without it. In many cases, same sex couples choose to do without it. This is dangerous for children as it puts them in a risky position; should they fall seriously ill. Lack of access to safety net programs: Programs that are created to support heterosexual families in difficult economic times usually exclude same sex families. This means that in the event that a parent in a same sex relationship is disabled through an accident or dies, his or her child will not be able to get the help he or she needs to continue with life at a comfortable level. While these rules show how unfair society can be when dealing with homosexual families, it is important to note that children who are adopted by homosexual couples are put at even greater risk, financially. The Child’s Physical Welfare It is a scientifically established fact that the general health and well being of children is more likely to be endangered when they are adopted by same sex couples and not heterosexual couples. This is because there are higher rates of domestic abuse, substance abuse, and premature death among homosexual couples than among heterosexual couples. According to Farr, Forsell and Patterson (2010b) there are significantly higher percentages of drug and alcohol abuse among homosexual men and women than among heterosexual men and women. In addition, homosexual and bisexual men’s life expectancy is 10 to 20 years less than that of heterosexual men. This means that almost half of all homosexual and bisexual men who are 20 years today will not live to see their 65th birthday (Sorenson and Thomas, 2009). It is clearly unconscionable to put susceptible children in such disorienting environments. According to Potoczniak, Mourot, Crosbie-Burnett and Potoczniak (2003) domestic violence is less common among heterosexual couples than among same-sex couples. One in four heterosexual unions have experienced domestic violence whereas one in three same-sex unions has witnessed domestic violence (Potoczniak, Mourot, Crosbie-Burnett and Potoczniak, 2003). In addition, gay men are more likely than heterosexual men to be infected with diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, or the cancer causing HPV. According to Lock, Kleis and Brian (1998) 50% of homosexual men are likely to be infected with the AIDS virus before attaining their fiftieth birthday (Lock, Kleis and Brian, 1998). In a research with 4,000 high school participants conducted by the Harvard Medical School, it was found that youths who were experiencing sexual identity problems and alternately identified as being both homosexual and heterosexual are at a disproportionate risk of exhibiting destructive emotional behaviors. All these figures show that children who are adopted by homosexual couples tend to be exposed to more problems in their adoptive parents than those adopted by heterosexual couples. Naturally, any problems exhibited by a parent will in some way affect a child’s life. When determining the right of married heterosexual couples who wish to adopt, such statistics would automatically be used to disqualify any prospect of adoption. However, the politicizing of all issues concerning same-sex unions means that they are not often held up to the same level of scrutiny. When this is not done, it is the children who suffer.  Children adopted by same sex couples are also often exposed to a lot of instability. Since civil unions were allowed in different American states, there have been few numbers of homosexual couples who have decided to use them. According to a research conducted in 2004 in Sweden, the number of same-sex partnerships that were ratified between 1995 and 2002 merely made one-half of one percent of the figure of heterosexual weddings that were conducted in the same period of time (Potoczniak, Mourot, Crosbie-Burnett and Potoczniak, 2003). This was the case even though only three percent of the Swedish population is homosexual. Children who are adopted by homosexual parents are also more likely to suffer from extreme depression Owing to the break-up of the family. According to Erich, Leung and Kindle (2005) same-sex partner relationships are usually more short-lived than heterosexual unions. For any children adopted by same sex couples, this could mean that there is a greater possibility of suffering from emotional problems that are the result of transitions through different foster homes. Foster or adopted children have to deal with adoption and abandonment issues; more-frequent transitions after adoption may result in worse psychological harm as well as psychosocial maladjustment (O’Connell, Lampinen, Weber, Chan, Miller and Hogg, 2004). Oddly, it is not just researches conducted by heterosexual institutions that show that children raised by homosexual couples have a greater chance of exhibiting emotional and physical problems. An interesting observation was made by an American celebrity, Rosie O’ Donnell, who lives with her female partner. She made what appeared to be contradictory comments when speaking to the news caster, Diane Sawyer. O'Donnell categorically stated that she knew that her children’s lives would have been much easier and less fraught with emotional issues if she had chosen to marry a man. She also added that she hoped that her children would grow up to be heterosexual. These admissions affirm the overwhelming research evidence that exists to show that children's emotional as well as physical health is put at greater risk when they are adopted by same sex couples. Conclusion When the care of young children is entrusted to adoptive parents, the children’s welfare has to be the first priority; not the politicized plans of groups that support the rights of homosexuals. There are immense emotional as well as social pressures placed on the heads of heterosexual children who are adopted by homosexual couples. The sheer weight of research evidence shows that the homosexual takes a marked toll on is adherents. Involving the life of an innocent child in such conflict is doing a big disservice to the said child. Many adherents of adoption by same sex parents claim that it provides a stable home for the many children who may never find a family, otherwise. However, the stark reality is that it also results in serious emotional issues for the adopted children who may suffer from, among other emotional problems, issues of identification for the rest of their lives. References Brodzinsky, D., & Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. (2011). Expanding resources for children: Research-based best practices in adoption by gays and lesbians. New York: Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. Erich, S., Leung, P., & Kindle, P. (2005). A comparative analysis of adoptive family functioning with gay, lesbian, and heterosexual parents and their children. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 1, 43–60. Farr, R., Forsell, S., & Patterson, C. (2010b). Gay, lesbian, and heterosexual adoptive parents: Couple and relationship issues. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 6, 199–213. Lock, J., Kleis, B., & Brian, N. (1998). A primer on homophobia for the child and adolescent psychiatrist. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37 (6), 671–673. Mills, T. C., Paul, J., Stall, R., Pollack, L., Canchola, J., & Chang, Y. (2004). Distress and depression in men who have sex with men: The urban men’s health study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161(2), 278–285. O’Connell, J. M., Lampinen, T. M., Weber, A. E., Chan, K., Miller, M. L., & Hogg, R. S. (2004). Sexual risk profile of young men in Vancouver, British Columbia, who have sex with men and inject drugs. AIDS Behav. Mar., 8(1), 17-23. Potoczniak, M. J., Mourot, J. T., Crosbie-Burnett, M., & Potoczniak, D. J. (2003). Legal and psychological perspectives on same-sex domestic violence: A Multi-systemic approach. Journal of Family Psychology, 17, 252 –259 Regnerus, M. (2012). How different are the adult children of parents who have same-sex relationships? Findings from the New Family Structures Study. Social Science Research, 41, 752-770. Sorenson, S. B., & Thomas, K. A. (2009). Views of intimate partner violence in same-and opposite-sex relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 337–352 Wainright, J., Russell, S., & Patterson, C. (2004). Psychosocial adjustment, school outcomes and romantic relationships of adolescents with same-sex parents. Child Development, 75, 1886–1898. Read More