Introduction
All people have biases; self-awareness is the key to understanding how these biases affect the delivery of health care to individuals, families, and populations. Several jurisdictions in the United States have legalized same-sex marriages. On the 13th of August, 2013, 13 states had legalized same-sex marriages. However, gay couples in society attempting to adopt children have experienced a lot of barriers. Resistance to adoption originates from the cultural, religious, political, and economic inclinations of various people (Pew Research Center, 2013). This essay discusses barriers experienced by gay couples while seeking adoption.
Demographics
According to the 2012 census, same-sex marriages are more than 71,165. The state of Massachusetts, which legalized it earlier than other states, had 22,406 by 2012, whereas New York had 12,285 in the same year. Connecticut had 5759 same-sex marriages by 2011 while Washington had 2,500 marriages. In the same year, 428 cases were recorded in Maine State. The state of California recorded 18,000 cases of same-sex marriages (Pew Research Center, 2013).
Personal awareness of the population before studying the demographics
Before this study, little was known about gay couples. The idea of same-sex marriages has developed in America to a legal platform. America is a society that is founded on personal liberty and freedom. However, the community’s perception of this issue was suppressed by cultural and religious beliefs. During the adoption process, gay couples encounter a lot of barriers. Though most states have legalized gay marriages, some states are opposed to it. This explains the negative perception bestowed on same-sex marriages. Cultural beliefs that undermine the role of same-sex parenting have an impact on the efficacy of gay couples as parents. This has affected the laws that influence adoption. Therefore, most parents end up ignoring the legal procedure of adoption. Barriers to adoption among gay couples lead to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional stressors to sexual minorities. This has an adverse impact on their well-being. Stigma results from social beliefs that same-sex parents cannot meet all the needs of a child. Therefore, gay couples anticipate such attitudes against them, which affect their roles in adoption (Goldberg and Smith, 2009).
Effect of research on personal attitudes
This information is meant to create self-awareness amongst professionals in the health care domain. Initially, I believed that gay couples could not adopt a child because they lacked legal grounds to support their cause. However, this study has made me aware that gay couples have legal rights if they want to adopt. Despite the stigma directed towards them, same-sex couples are able to parent children just like heterosexual couples. Furthermore, cultural limits that affect the legalization of adoption are weakening (Oswald and Masciadrelli, 2008). Therefore, they are opening up avenues for gay couple adoptions. In health care delivery, professional biases and stereotypes linked to the gay couple adoptions are shifting focus and embracing the practice.
Rather than basing on cultural, social, and ideological perspectives to determine the ability of a gay couple to adopt, concerned professionals should reflect on the legal requirements while handling adoptions by gay couples. Therefore, professionals should act within the confines of the law, but not their subjective judgments in executing their obligations (Leedy and Connolly, 2007).
Perceptions before and after
Just like the rest of the population, I had a negative attitude towards gay couple adoptions. My attitude was based on cultural beliefs that devalued the role of gay couples in parenting. However, this study has made me aware that parenting is not affected by gender. Furthermore, gender roles are concepts of social processes that suppress the abilities of each gender. Therefore, just like women, men are also able to nurture children (Oswald and Masciadrelli, 2008).
Conclusion
Gay couples encounter a lot of barriers while seeking adoption. This information is useful in formal and informal contexts to counteract these limitations. Social, cultural and ideological limits are superseded by the law. Therefore, the attitude of the society should shift from the cultural model of determining adoption, to legal procedures.
References
Goldberg, A. E., & Smith, J. Z. (2009). Perceived parenting skill across the transition to adoptive parenthood among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(1), 861 – 870.
Leedy, G., & Connolly, C. (2007). Out in the cowboy state: A look at lesbian and gay lives in Wyoming. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 19(1), 17 – 34.
Oswald, R. F., & Masciadrelli, B. P. (2008). Generative ritual among nonmetropolitan lesbians and gay men: Promoting social inclusion. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70(1), 1060 – 1073.
Pew Research Center. (2013). How many same-sex marriages in the U.S.? At least 71,165, probably more.