11.4 Motherhood: Sexual Minority Women and Their Journey to Parenting

A life course-developmental perspective can be used to help understand how experiences in life may impact a person at each developmental stage. The process of deciding to have children and becoming a  parent often involves reworking the process of “coming out” as a lesbian woman. Growing up as a sexual minority can influence the strengths and vulnerabilities that one brings to parenting. Children may encounter obstacles that stem from the homophobia, stigmatization, and microaggressions t hat are directed toward them because of their parent’s sexual orientation.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research