The
definition of minority in the United States has changed throughout history. Irish
migrants were once considered a minority and in contemporary US society people
that are ethnically nonwhite, non heterosexual and poor are generally referred
to as minorities. In a family context, the definition of minority is shifting
to represent the changes in recognized unions and partnerships. When I think of
minority, I undoubtedly think of Latino, Black and some Asian communities. But
in my quick reflection of minorities in the US, I ignored Native American. Now, imagine the combined ‘burden’ of being a racial/ethnic
minority, as well as being a sexual minority. The invisible worlds that these
racial and ethnic minorities occupy are further removed from our idea of what
society is with the conflux of LGBTQ identities.
LGBT families are represented in 96 percent of U.S.
counties. If we look at where they live, you find that they are located in Mississippi,
which has a percentage 33% of same-sex couples raising families. For those interested, Mass has a 19% of
same-sex couples raising children. Other southern states like Arkansas, Texas,
Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina top the list, as well as middle-American
states like Wyoming, Oklahoma, Kansas and Montana (Thompson, 2007). This figure
illustrates that Latino women and men trump all other identities when it comes
to raising children, yet there is little exposure or instances in which we are
exposed to media, law, or the general lifestyle of these families.
Less than 20 states recognize same-sex marriages. Laws ignoring
contemporary family configurations, result in some pretty bad consequences that
can affect the mental psyche of an individual. Laws preventing or not
recognizing LGBTQ family configurations may deny children the security and
protection of having a legal connection to a parent who cares for them (Guzman
et al, 2009). The binary effect of this is that parents, who are not recognized
by law to be a part of their own family can have difficulty communicating with
other members in society about their issues. LGBTQ families from the get go are
disadvantaged in terms of access to social security benefits as well as health
care benefits. In terms of guardianship, if a parent dies, their accumulated
wealth might not go to those either involved in their family unit or the same
sex partner. An area that has not responded to shifting definitions of family
is the tax system. Same sex couples cannot file one household tax return. Even
adoption laws prevent the establishment of families living in LGBTQ households.
Media is always a good tool to understand what society
things about certain issues. In the case of LGBTQ families, Modern Family inaccurately represents the
reality of LGBTQ families, but it does touch on the role of kinship networks as
a form of support. ABC is Launching a
new tv Show called; The Fosters,
(directed by J-lo!) which is focused on a lesbian headed household. Although,
LGBTQ families are underrepresented, there is an increased awareness in
society, even though racial minorities are often discounted in this
representation.
This video demonstrates the discrimination faced by some
LGBT families. Even though it’s staged, it reflects the mentality that many
parents have to deal with. Imagine being in a setting like that with your
children? Stereotypes are harmful but the video also shows that people don’t
stand for discrimination.
Minority same sex families face unique pressures; race-based
discrimination is still widely documented in employment and housing, and
racial/ethnic profiling remains a common practice. As a result, families of
color confront stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination throughout their
daily lives without the political agency to elevate their status (Movement
Advancement Project, 2012).
Questions:
Who's next?- In contemporary US society, what groups or combination of groups will become minorities or be labelled as such?
-Is labeling groups as minorities useful or harmful to their identity and agency?
Citation:
Thompson, C. (2007). The Struggles,
Experiences and Needs of Children in LGBTQ Families. Diversity Factor, 15(3), 36-42.
LEV, A. (2010). How Queer!—The Development
of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation in LGBTQ-Headed
Families. Family Process, 49(3), 268-290.
doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.2010.01323.x
Guzman, M., & Sperling, R. L. (2009).
“Knock-Knock!”: ReVisioning Family and Home. Journal Of Gay & Lesbian Social Services,
21(2-3), 115-133. doi:10.1080/10538720902771867
http://www.basicrights.org/ourfamilies/-
This link has “our stories” basically detailing the experience of LGBTQ
families from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Brian Diah.
I think that labeling minorities is harmful because labeling anything comes with stigma attached to it.
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