Introduction
In recent years, the public and state agenda has been aimed at recognizing LGBTQ+ families as full members of society, endowed with equal rights. However, such families continue to face discrimination and infringement of rights. The family model directly affects the social status of family members and the well-being of children. LGBTQ+ families are significantly influenced by social, economic, and political factors. Challenges for LGBTQ+ families include prioritizing the patriarchal system, inequality in the labor market, and prejudice.
The Impact of Feminism, Patriarchy, Gender Roles, and Social Class
A feminist theory logically has a more substantial impact on the well-being of families with same-sex female parents. However, promoting equality and the absence of any form of discrimination also positively impact families with same-sex male parents. The patriarchal system that dominates society, on the contrary, negatively affects the LGBTQ+ family (Haines et al., 2018). Patriarchal society imposes gender roles, according to which both the family and community as a whole should be built. Gender roles, inviting all members of society to follow a given paradigm of traditionally feminine and masculine models, negatively affect the well-being of LGBTQ+ families. Members of such families can go two ways: distribute imposed gender roles, where even same-sex parents take on a ‘female’ and ‘male’ roles, or struggle with societal attitudes. Belonging to a particular social class has the same important role for LGBTQ+ families as for others, determining the wealth and comfort of life. Belonging to a specific social class depends on the conditions of the environment more than on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Impact of the Market
Previous studies of the economic characteristics of LGBTQ+ households were based on the perception that there are systematic differences between the behavior of members of the LGBTQ+ community and others. Actually, there are no such differences; however, despite this, the lives of LGBTQ+ families are complicated by economic factors. Such families face much higher costs of adopting children, and they usually resort to this procedure more often than other families.
LGBTQ+ families are no different from others from the consumption point; it depends on the place of residence and income. The labor market’ influence, on the contrary, is quite strong: LGBTQ+ families often have lower wages, and employers are less willing to provide work for them. At the same time, gays face discrimination especially hard since social accepting their equality is more difficult due to contradictions with traditional notions of masculinity. LGBTQ+ families’ wealth level is lower than that of families in the neighborhood due to labor discrimination. Gender inequality also plays a significant role: men’s wages are higher than women’s, so a gay family is expected to be richer than a lesbian family.
The Impact of the State
The state provides LGBTQ+ families with equal rights and strives to protect them from discrimination. However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people who become parents in the United States may experience disparities in parental rights (Horne et al., 2021). Every state allows couples to adopt children jointly, but there are states where LGBTQ+ families face religious discrimination. Religion often considers marriage possible only between a man and a woman so that same-sex parents may be denied adoption on personal grounds.
Access to education depends on the family’s wealth rather than on sexual orientation or gender identity. US law ensures education, accessible to all citizens, so schools do not have the right to refuse children from LGBTQ+ families. However, in educational institutions, children of same-sex parents may face discrimination and bullying from classmates and teachers. Thereby, LGBTQ+ families are protected legislatively and endowed with all rights, but their lives are more complicated than for other families.
Conclusion
Thus, LGBTQ+ families experience difficulties economically and socially: discrimination relates to the level of salaries, negative public perception, and the right to adopt children. Primarily, it happens because of the prejudices in society caused by traditional patriarchal ideas about the suitable family composition and the distribution of gender roles. The state formally protects same-sex families, but more action is needed to ensure equality in practice.
References
Haines, K. M., Boyer, C. R., Giovanazzi, C., & Galupo, M. P. (2018). “Not a real family”: Microaggressions directed toward LGBTQ families. Journal of Homosexuality, 65(9), 1138-1151.
Horne, S. G., Johnson, T., Yel, N., Maroney, M. R., & McGinley, M. (2021). Unequal rights between LGBTQ parents living in the U.S.: The association of minority stress to relationship satisfaction and parental stress. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication.