In a groundbreaking essay, researchers delve into the complexities of defining family within the context of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. Published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, the essay sheds light on the challenges and opportunities that arise when attempting to capture the diverse and often misrepresented experiences of LGBTQ+ families. The authors emphasize the critical importance of interrogating methodological approaches to defining family in order to overcome the continued marginalization and misrepresentation of LGBTQ+ family scholarship.
Framed within the U.S. context, the essay discusses the oppressive and emancipatory consequences that have occurred through the project of defining family. The authors highlight the historical exclusion and stigmatization of LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, which has often led to their invisibility in traditional family research. However, they also acknowledge the transformative potential of redefining family to encompass the diverse and authentic experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and their loved ones.
The essay delves into the current challenges of defining LGBTQ+ families, emphasizing the importance of data inclusion and measurement considerations. The authors discuss the methodological complexities that arise when distinguishing between LGBTQ+ individuals and LGBTQ+ families, as well as the need to recognize and include chosen families and fictive kin in family research. They also highlight the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ children in families and the often overlooked dynamics of consensually non-monogamous relationships.
Throughout the essay, the authors present opportunities to address current shortcomings within family scholarship regarding LGBTQ+ families. They call for a more intentional commitment from family scholars to measure and advocate for data and methods that properly illuminate the diverse realities of LGBTQ+ family life. The authors provide clear and pointed steps on how family researchers can integrate practical but nevertheless influential strategies to advance and enrich LGBTQ+ family research through intentional reflections on research design, sampling, and measurement.
The essay underscores the transformative potential of redefining family to encompass the authentic experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and their loved ones. By challenging traditional notions of family and kinship, the authors argue that family scholarship can play a crucial role in promoting inclusivity, visibility, and understanding of LGBTQ+ families. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and validating the diverse forms of love, support, and connection that exist within LGBTQ+ communities and beyond.
Despite the progress made in recent years, the authors acknowledge that family scholarship, alongside current social events, entreats a more intentional commitment from family scholars to measure and advocate for data and methods that properly illuminate LGBTQ+ family life. They call for a shift in research paradigms that prioritizes the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, rather than imposing narrow and exclusionary definitions of family.
The essay serves as a powerful call to action for family researchers, policymakers, and society at large to embrace a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of family. By redefining kinship and transcending traditional norms, we can create a more equitable and affirming world for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. The authors' insights and recommendations provide a roadmap for advancing LGBTQ+ family scholarship and promoting social justice through research and advocacy.
