Questions concerning same-sex parenthood

摘要

Same-sex parenthood is the subject of often heated debate, as these new family structures separate sexuality from procreation and parenthood. Following a brief review of the history of same-sex parenthood, emphasizing the changes in the paradigms of psychology and taking into account data derived from anthropology, the authors examine the main questions raised by the appearance of same-sex families. The debate on same-sex parenthood focuses on several elements, particularly with reference to psychoanalytical theories: the primal scene and the question of origins, the desire for children, and the psychic structuring of the child. These various points will be examined and discussed. The development of children who grow up in same-sex families will be examined on the basis of the data of the scientific literature. Analysis of 35 studies identified ten main themes including the sexed/sexual aspect of child development, their psychological or behavioural problems, relations with their peers and stigmatisation, parent-child adjustment, etc. Lastly, the authors discuss the rapid inscription of same-sex parenthood in our social landscape and, concomitantly with this development, the paradoxical adhesion of some same-sex couples to the norms of the traditional family.