Today’s Guest Blogger is Peter Holmlund-Fluker.
Researchers from the University of Kentucky and the University of Massachusetts Amherst present the findings of their study on microaggressions experienced by preadolescent youth being raised by same-sex parents in the article, “Microaggressions, Feelings of Difference, and Resilience Among Adopted Children with Sexual Minority Parents.” Published in the September 2015 edition of the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, the article frames the microaggressions experienced by this population because their parents are sexual minorities as an additional layer of difference already internalized by the general population of adoptees. The results of the study found that out of a sample size of 49 children between the ages of six and eleven who were adopted during infancy by lesbian or gay parents, over half experienced at least one microaggression. Subthemes of the microaggressions included heterosexism, “outing” of family structure in public, stereotypes and discrimination, teasing and bullying, expectations of being a “spokesperson”, and questioned legitimacy of family.
The focus on microaggressions is a unique lens from which to view the lives of these children. As far as the researchers know, this is the first research study of its kind in terms of seeking to understand the types of microaggressions experienced by children adopted by sexual minority parents. The article references past research on children adopted by lesbian, gay, or bisexual parents (LGB) and how that past research highlights the resilience demonstrated by this population in terms of their ability to adapt to difference and counter social stigma. This study continues where past research left off by using a strength-based approach to understand the resilience demonstrated by this group of adoptees when coping with the daily interactions that have the potential to make them feel “othered” and “less-than” because of their family’s identity and structure. As the authors explain in the article, most of the existing research within this population has been related to outcomes rather than seeking to understand this population’s day-to-day experiences.
This study continues the important work of dispelling myths about same-sex families and families in which children are adopted by LGB parents. The study shows that the children have a positive view of their families and possess great resilience when faced with adversity as it pertains to their family. The study is also important because it highlights the different arenas (heterosexism, bullying, etc.) in which this population encounters adversity. Knowing what this population is up against in terms of the microaggressions they face helps LGB families, allies, school staff, social workers, and other providers better counteract stigma and injustice. While data on transracial adoption was included in this study, further research could explore more of the intersectionality of race and ethnicity in relation to the microaggressions encountered by this population. This study was also limited to children adopted as infants. Research could be expanded to include children who are adopted at an older age within this population.
Works Cited:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10964-015-0353-6
Farr, R. H., Crain, E. E., Oakley, M. K., Cashen, K. K., & Garber, K. J. (2016). Microaggressions, Feelings of Difference, and Resilience Among Adopted Children with Sexual Minority Parents. Journal of youth and adolescence, 45(1), 85-104.