Sexual orientation is one of the discussed issues in the world today. It is worth nothing that sexual orientation is mostly used to describe what gender or genders an individual is romantically and sexually attracted to. There are no specific causes of sexual orientation, but many people are very curious about sexual orientation. Sexuality is very crucial part in human existence. This is based on the fact that it defines how people physically relate with others and how we see ourselves. Sexual orientation is divided into bisexual, heterosexual, and homosexual. In most cases, sexual orientation entails sense of identity and personal feelings. Various studies have been carried out regarding parental sexual orientation (Farr, 2010). During child growth and development, parents play a key role in socialization of the child towards gender roles and other gender related issues. One of the issues related to sexual orientation is whether parenting influences sexual orientation; this is based on children raised in heterosexual, homosexual, and heterosexual relationships. In the general perspective, parenting does not have much influence on the development of the child sexual orientation.
Perhaps, opinion varies among psychological and biological theorists regarding the extent that it is possible for parents to influence children’s sexual orientation. Biological perspectives assert that parenting makes no difference on issues related to sexual orientation. Psychologists have a different view on parenting sexual orientation (Goldberg, 2009). This is because psychoanalysis theories focus on the fact that the relationships with parents in childhood play a crucial role in sexual orientation during adult life.
Studies show that children, especially those adopted are not affected by the sexual orientation of the guardians or parents. What is important is the way the parents support each other in taking care of the children. It is worth nothing that the variation arises on how parenting arises on issues of sexual orientation. The lesbian parents, heterosexual parents, and gay parents parent in different ways. One of the main variations of parenting sexual orientation is on the division of labor (Farr, Forssell & Patterson, 2010). Heterosexual parenting assumes the traditional and stereotype division of labor. In this case, they assume that the mothers do more of the parenting activity compared to the father. On the same note, same-sex parents shared their activities equally. The parenting activities are shared equally among the parents. The differences in labor division seem to have very little impact on the children’s behavioral problems.
Parenting sexual orientation appears to have little impact on children. It is evident that the children are not influence by the parenting social orientation, but what matters is how harmonious the parent’s relationships are among each other (Goldberg, 2009). Notably, when the parents are in greater engagement and pleasure, children behaved in a better manner for all homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual families.
Parenting sexual orientations is a reality in the world today. The issue of homosexuality and lesbian parenting is debatable, yet in the real sense homosexual parents are capable of being adoptive parents. There is no variation of parenting behaviors, couple adjustments, and child adjustment in families headed by heterosexual, gay, or lesbian parents. The gay parents fair on well in parenting as were heterosexual and lesbian parents.
Parenting sexual orientation seems to have a low level of stress regarding childcare. In fact, the adoptive parents provide a critical fit of parenting since they undergo tremendous screening. This enables them to manage their children compared to biological parents. On the same note, parental sexual orientation does not matter on issues related to child development. There are no various on measures of parenting sexual orientation and children shows no variation in externalizing, internalizing, and other social related problems (Farr, Forssell & Patterson, 2010). Parenting sexual orientation does not influence the behavior adjustment of children. There is always a sense of consistency on behaviors of children whether they were from gay, lesbian or heterosexual families.
In most cases, parents are more comfortable on issues related to family adjustment and satisfaction. Parental sexual orientation does not determine how couples behave in the family. This is based on the fact that heterosexual, gay, and lesbian parents enjoy the same level of happiness and satisfaction in their relationship (Goldberg, 2009). The change of behaviors of children is driven by various environmental and social issues, but the parents regardless of sexual orientation applied various parenting styles to ensure that the discipline of the child conform with the society norms.
Proper understanding of parenting sexual orientation forms the basis of good parenting skills. Family process plays a crucial role in the relationship of the parents and the parenting techniques. Parenting sexual orientation does not matter on issues of childcare since gay, lesbian, or heterosexual parents delivered equal outcomes. The issues that influence parenting and outcome of childcare include parenting strategies, couple relationship satisfaction, as well as parenting stress (Farr, 2010). This implies that parenting sexual orientation should not be blamed for the issues of child development and growth. Sexual identity of children develops regardless of parenting sexual orientation. In the general perspective, parenting sexual orientation is crucial and controversial topic, especially on issues related to childcare.
References
Farr, R. H., Forssell, S. L., & Patterson, C. J. (2010). Parenting and Child Development in Adoptive Families: Does Parental Sexual Orientation Matter?. Applied Developmental Science, 14(3), 164-178. doi:10.1080/10888691.2010.500958
Farr, R. J. (2010). Gay, Lesbian, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parents: Couple and Relationship Issues. Journal Of GLBT Family Studies, 6(2), 199. doi:10.1080/15504281003705436
Goldberg, A. E. (2009). Lesbian and gay parents and their children: Research on the family life cycle. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
