Developmental Outcomes For Children of Same-Sex Parents: What We Know, and What We Do Not Know

Abstract

Claims by social science elites of “no harm” for children with same-sex parents rest on a false knowledge that ask us to ignore science. When we demand that basic scientific standards be followed, such as random sampling, only 3 studies, with problematic samples, qualify as evidence out of the 75 studies alleged to show “no harm”. Meanwhile, a larger number of strong scientific studies have found emotional and developmental problems. Three possible causes of the harm observed are: 1) the parenting or partnership arrangements involved, 2) homosexual orientation as distinct from partnership, and 3) the array of gender distinctions that come with same-sex parent families, a result predicted by the relational-symbolic model of gender, generativity and lineage in family relations. By rejecting a false consciousness that flattens gender, we can begin to explore how the gender differences involved in same-sex parenting may powerfully shape child well-being. This is the text of a lecture that was subsequently published in revised form as a chapter in Elena Canzi, Same-sex parenting, filiation and related topics: a critical research review, Family Center Notebook 29, Vita e pensiero 2017.

Note:
Funding Declaration: This study was funded by a stipend from the University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.

Conflict of Interests: None to declare.