Lesbian Mothers With Planned Families: A Comparative Study of Internalized Homophobia and Social Support
Kathleen A. DeMino DSW,
George Appleby DSW, PhD, Deborah Fisk MSW,
Corresponding Author
Kathleen A. DeMino DSW
Adelphi University
41 Maplehurst Road, Guilford. CT 06437. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorKathleen A. DeMino DSW,
George Appleby DSW, PhD, Deborah Fisk MSW,
Corresponding Author
Kathleen A. DeMino DSW
Adelphi University
41 Maplehurst Road, Guilford. CT 06437. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This study compared the perception of social support and the degree of internalized homophobia for two demographically similar groups; lesbians with planned families and lesbians who did not have children. Results found that lesbians with planned families perceived significantly less social support from friends overall, from gay men and lesbian friends specifically, and more support from their families-of-origin than lesbians who did not have children. Lesbians with planned families also reported significantly higher internalized homophobia specific to disclosure of sexual identification. The authors suggest that selective disclosure may be an adaptive response rather than a true measure of internalized homophobia.
References
- Anderson, M., & Mavis, B. (1996). Sources of coming out: Self-efficacy for lesbians. Journal of Homosexuality, 32, 37–52.
-
Appleby, G. (1995). AIDS and homophobia/heterosexism.
Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 2, 1–23.
10.1300/J041v02n03_01 Google Scholar
- Appleby, G., & Anastas, J. (1998). Not just a passing phase: Social work with gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Berger, R. M. (1992). Passing and social support among gay men. Journal of Homosexuality, 23, 85–97.
- Blumenfeld, W. (1992). Children, families, and homophobia. In W. Blumenfeld (Ed.), Homophobia (pp. 95–130). Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
-
Brown, L. (1995). Lesbian identities: Concepts and issues. In R. D'Augelli &
C. Patterson (Eds.), Lesbian, gay and bisexual identities over the lifespan: Psychological perspectives (pp. 3–23). New York: Oxford Press.
10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195082319.003.0001 Google Scholar
- Carter, E., & McGoldrick, M. (1996). The Family life cycle: A framework for family therapy ( 2nd ed.). New York: Gardner Press.
- Cass, V. (1979). Homosexual identity formation: A theoretical model. Journal of Homosexuality, 4, 219–235.
- Cox, S., & Gallois, C. (1996). Gay and lesbian identity development: A social identity perspective. Journal of Homosexuality, 30, 1–38.
- Curry, E. (2000). Lesbian couples who choose motherhood: A qualitative study. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 60, 9-B.
- DeMino, K. (2004). Lesbian mothers with planned families: Internalized homophobia and social support. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY. (UMI No. 31335457)..
-
Donaldson, C. (2000). Midlife lesbian parenting.
Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 11, 119–138.
10.1300/J041v11n02_06 Google Scholar
- Dougherty, T. (2006). Economic benefits of marriage under federal and Connecticut law. New York: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.
- Earle, H. (2000). The relationship of internalized homophobia, level of outedness, perceived social support, and self-esteem to depression in lesbians. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 60, 9-B.
- Erdfelder, E., Faul, F., & Buchner, A. (1996). GPOWER: A general power analysis program. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 28, 1–11.
- Faderman, L. (1984). The “ldquo;new gay” lesbian. Journal of Homosexuality, 10, 85–95.
- Fassinger, R. (1991). The hidden minority: Issues and challenges in working with lesbian women and gay men. The Counseling Psychologist, 19, 157–176.
- Flaks, D., Fischer, I., Masterpasqua, F., & Joseph, G. (1995). Lesbians choosing motherhood: A comparative study of lesbian and heterosexual parents and their children. Developmental Psychology, 31, 105–114.
- Frable, D., Wortman, C., & Joseph, J. (1997). Predicting self-esteem, well-being, and distress in a cohort of gay men: The importance of cultural stigma, personal visibility, community networks, and positive identity. Journal of Personality, 65, 599–624.
- Frock, S. (2000). The relationship between internalized homophobia and psychological distress in lesbians. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B. The Sciences and Engineering, 61,(1-B), 529.
- Fulcher, M., Chan, R., Rabohy, B., & Patterson, C. (2002). Contact with grandparents among children conceived via donor insemination by lesbian and heterosexual mothers. Parenting: Science and Practice, 2(1), 61–76.
- Gartrell, N., Banks, A., Hamilton, J., Reed, N., Bishop, H., & Rodas, C. (1999). The National Lesbian Family Study 2. Interviews with mothers of toddlers. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 69, 362–369.
- Gartrell, N., Banks, A., Reed, N., Hamilton, J., Rodas, C., & Deck, A. (2000). The National Lesbian Family Study 3. Interviews with mothers of five-year-olds. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70, 542–548.
- Gartrell, N., Hamilton, J., Banks, A., Mosbacher, D., Reed, N., Sparks, C., et al. (1996). The National Lesbian Family Study 1. Interviews with prospective mothers. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 66, 272–281.
- Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
- Hare, J. (1994). Concerns and issues faced by families headed by a lesbian couple: Families in society. The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 75, 27–35.
- Herek, G. (1992). The social context of hate crimes: Notes on cultural heterosexism. In G. Herek & K. Berrill (Eds.), Hate crimes: Confronting violence against lesbians and gay men (pp. 89–104). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
- Herek, G. (1998). Stigma and sexual orientation: Understanding prejudice against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Hetherington, E., Henderson, S., Reiss, D., Anderson, E., Bridges, M. Chan, R., et al. (1999). Adolescent siblings in step-families: Family function and adolescent adjustment. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 64, 1–222.
- King, B., & Black, K. (1999). Extent of relational stigmatization of lesbians and their children by heterosexual college students. Journal of Homosexuality, 37, 65–81.
- Kinsey, A., Pomeroy, W., Martin, C., & Gebhard, P. (1953). Sexual behavior in the human female. Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders.
- Lambert, M. (2002). Minority stress and coping in lesbian mothers. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 63, 6B.
- Martin, A. (1993). The lesbian and gay parents handbook. New York: Harper Collins.
- Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1979). Homosexuality in perspective. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
- McCandlish, B. (1987). Against all odds: Lesbian mother family dynamics. In F. Bozett (Ed.), Gay and lesbian parents (pp. 23–38). New York: Praeger.
- McCarn, S., & Fassinger, R. (1996). Revisioning sexual minority identity formation: A new model of lesbian identity and its implications for counseling and research. The Counseling Psychologist, 24, 508–534.
- McGregor, B., & Carver, C. (2001). Distress and internalized homophobia among lesbian women treated for early stage breast cancer. Psychology of Women, 25, 1–9.
- McNeill, K., Rienzi, B., & Kposowa, A. (1998). Families and parenting: A comparison of lesbian and heterosexual mothers. Psychological Reports, 82, 59–62.
- Mehta, S., & Farina, A. (1988). Associative stigma: Perceptions of the difficulties of college-aged children of stigmatized fathers. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 7, 192–202.
- Melamed, D. (1993). Internalized homophobia and lesbian couples functioning. Dissertation Abstracts International, 53(07), 3784B.
- Milder, C. (2001). Sexual minority identity information and internalized homophobia in lesbians: A validation study of a new instrument and related variables. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 62, 5-B.
- Mildner, C. (2001). Sexual minority identity formation and internalized homophobia in lesbians: A validation study of a new instrument and related variables. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 62, 5B.
- Nicolson, W., & Long, B. (1990). Self-esteem, social support, internalized homophobia, and coping strategies of HIV+ gay men. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58, 873–876.
- Nungesser, L. (1983). Homosexual acts, actors, and identities. New York: Prager Publishers.
- Pain, M., & Disney, M. (1995). Testing the reliability ad validity of the Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals (IATT) in Australia. Journal of Homosexuality, 30, 99–110.
- Parks, C. (1998). Lesbian parenthood: A review of the literature. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 68, 376–389.
- Patterson, C. (1995). Families of the lesbian baby boom: Parent's division of labor and children's adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 31, 115–123.
- Patterson, C., Hurt, S., & Mason, C. (1998). Families of the lesbian baby boom: Children's contact with grandparents and other adults. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 68, 390–399.
-
Radonsky, V., &
Borders, L. (1995). Factors influencing lesbians' direct disclosure of their sexual orientation.
Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, 2, 17–37.
10.1300/J236v02n03_02 Google Scholar
- Rich, A. (1980). Compulsory heterosexual and lesbian experience. Signs, 5, 631–660.
- Romano, K. (1990). The relation of perceived societal and familial homonegativism and homophobia and individual homophobia to relationship satisfaction and self-esteem in partnered lesbians. Dissertation Abstracts International, 51(04), 1171A.
-
Ross, M., &
Rosser, S. (1996). Measurement and correlates of internalized homophobia: A factor analytic study.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52, 15–21.
10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199601)52:1<15::AID-JCLP2>3.0.CO;2-V CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
- E. Rothblum, & L. Bond (Eds.). (1996). Preventing heterosexism and homophobia. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. (1997). Research Methods for Social Work. ( 3rd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
- Sarason, I. G., Levin, H. M., Bashman, R. B., & Sarason, B. (1983). Assessing social support: The Social Support Questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 127–139.
-
Shidlo, A. (1994). Internalized homophobia: Conceptual and empirical issues in measurement. In G. Green &
G. Herek (Eds.), Lesbian and gay psychology: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 176–205). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
10.4135/9781483326757.n10 Google Scholar
- Slater, S. (1995). The lesbian family life cycle: A contextual approach. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 61, 372–382.
- Sophie, J. (1986). A critical examination of stage theories of lesbian identity development. Journal of Homosexuality, 12, 39–51.
- Sophie, J. (1987). Internalized homophobia and lesbian identity. Journal of Homosexuality, 14, 53–65.
- Steeno, J. (1998). Lesbian mothers and their children: An exploration of lesbian family functioning. Dissertation Abstracts International. Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 59, 1A.
- Szymanski, D. (2002). Lesbian internalized homophobia in relation to same-sex relationships, feminist attitudes, and coping resources. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 62, 8A.
- Szymanski, D., & Chung, B. (2001). The Lesbian Internalized Homophobia Scale: A rational/theoretical approach. Journal of Homosexuality, 41, 37–52.
- Szymanski, D., Chung, Y., & Balsam, K. (2001). Psychosocial correlates of internalized homophobia in lesbians. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 27–38.
- Tasker, F., & Golombok, S. (1997). Growing up in a lesbian family: Effects on child development. New York: Guilford Press.
- Troiden, R. (1989). The formation of homosexual identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 17, 43–73.
- Wagner, G. Serafini, J., Rabkin, J. Remien, R., & Williams, J. (1994). Integration of one's religion and homosexuality: A weapon against internalized homophobia. Journal of Homosexuality, 26, 91–110.
- Waldner, L., & Magruder, B. (1999). Coming out to parents: Perception of family relationships and perceived resources, and identity expression as predictors of identity disclosure for gay and lesbian adolescents. Journal of Homosexuality, 32, 83–100.
- Walsh, W. (1995). Social support factors of lesbians with positive sexual identity. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 56( 5B).
-
Wilson, C. (2000). The creation of motherhood: Exploring the experiences of lesbian co-mothers.
Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 12, 21–45.
10.1300/J086v12n01_03 Google Scholar
