Sexuality and Gender, Reaction Paper Example

Charlotte J. Patterson looks into children of lesbian and gay parents and attempts to determine whether the sexual orientation of parents affect the development of their children. This is a question that has long been discussed in legal parameters where lesbian parents have been questioned as to their ability to raise fully and normally developed children. Patterson draws from previous research that had been conducted to ascertain this. She notes that all previous research points to the fact that children born into and/or living in homes where the parental sex orientation is either gay or lesbian are no different from those children living and/or born into families whose parental sexual orientation is heterosexual.

She supports this fact from her own research together with two of her colleagues that pointed to the same fact. The research concentrated on the more developed teenagers who all depicted normal development as compared to children from families with heterosexual parents (Patterson). In her conclusion she notes that if any differences do exist, they are so minute and that the main differences in the development of children arise from the family setup and family relations rather than the sexual orientation of parents.

Relevance

The article “Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents” is of relevance to the current topic under discussion, “Sexuality and Gender”. In class, we have discussed how sexuality and the sexual orientation of any given person is influenced by different factors. This article seeks to understand that by looking at the sexual orientation of parents and if it does have an influence on the sexual orientation and development of children. This article’s theory and view coincides with what has been discussed in class, that sexual orientation of parents does not influence the development and sexual orientation of children (Patterson).

Application

This article relates to my everyday life by helping me understand the general myth that children from families where parents are of lesbian or gay sexual orientation are any different from those who come from heterosexual parents. It has helped me understand friends who come from families with gay or lesbian parents.

This paper has brought to light and dispelled a major myth in sexuality and gender. The paper brings out its argumnent supported by factual evidence both first hand and secondary. I agree with the authors view point on children from gay or lesbian families. This is because there is no factual evidence that proves that the development of a child is dependent on their parent’s sexual orientation (Williams). On the contrary the development of a child is founded on the familial relations, i.e. how individuals in the family relate to each other. A warm and caring family will tend to have well developed children. This is a proven fact from personal experience and observation.

Critique

There is one fundamental question that the research fails to answer or address. Does the sexual orientation of parents affect a child’s development and sexual orientation into adulthood? The research is centred on teenagers down to new-borns. However, it is crucial to determine whether the sexual orientation of parents influences the development of the children into adulthood. While the transition to adulthood is pegged on various factors, certain factors from childhood affect the child’s development into adulthood. It is vital to determine whether the sexual orientation of parents affects how children develop and transition into adulthood.

Works Cited

Patterson, Charlotte J. “Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents.” Association for Psychological Science (2006): 241-244. Print.

Williams, Christine L. Sexuality and Gender. Malden: Blackwell, 2002. Print.