Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parents: Examining the Antecedents of Parenting Ability Evaluation. Issue 3 (22nd October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Battista, Silvia; Paolini, Daniele; Pivetti, Monica
• Is Part Of: Journal of GLBT family studies. Volume 17:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 291
• Publication Date: 2020-10-22
• Subjects: Same-sex parents -- negative attitudes -- gender role beliefs -- sexual prejudice; Gays -- Family relationships -- Research -- Periodicals; Lesbians -- Family relationships -- Research -- Periodicals; Bisexuals -- Family relationships -- Research -- Periodicals; Transgender people -- Family relationships -- Research -- Periodicals; 306.87408664
• DOI: 10.1080/1550428X.2020.1835596
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1550-428X

Abstract

Abstract: Hostility toward same-sex parenting is widespread. Literature supports one persistent argument against same-sex parenting which focusses on the concern for children's wellbeing, whereas lesbian and gay parents' ability is sometimes evaluated positively. In particular, the belief that children need both a father and a mother impacts the evaluation that same-sex parents are unfit to raise well-adjusted children. The present research aimed to investigate linking mechanisms and conditional processes underlying the evaluation of same-sex parents' ability. Cisgender heterosexual Italian participants ( N = 320) read one of four vignettes describing a family situation – two types of same-sex (step)parents (i.e., lesbian and gay (step)parents) vs. two types of different-sex (step)parents (i.e., heterosexual (step)parents) – in which a child misbehaved in the context of a mild family disagreement. After reading the vignette, the participants rated parenting ability and to what extent the child's misbehavior was attributable to the parenting relationship. Moderated-mediation analyses indicated that same-sex (step)parents were perceived as being less capable parents compared to different-sex (step)parents by giving them greater responsibility for the child's misbehavior, among participants with medium and high levels of gender role beliefs. Implications for research on sexual discrimination are discussed.