Display Work: Lesbian Parent Couples and Their Families of Origin Negotiating New Kin Relationships

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter draws upon data from a qualitative study of the family lives of same-sex (female) couples in England who had their first and subsequent children in the context of their current relationship. I examine respondents’ accounts about how they negotiate coming out as lesbian parents within their family of origin, and their perspectives on how their families of origin ‘come out’ (or not) within their own social networks in order to claim new kin relationships with the lesbian parent family. These new forms of ‘coming out’ resonate with Finch’s (2007) notion of ‘displaying families’—in which narratives around coming out as lesbian parents display meanings of family and contribute to ways in which these meanings are conveyed, recognised and understood as ‘family-like’ relationships.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPalgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages102-118
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)978-0-230-31430-6
ISBN (Print)978-1-349-31931-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Nov 2011

Publication series

NamePalgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life
ISSN (Print)2731-6440
ISSN (Electronic)2731-6459

Keywords

  • Civil Partnership
  • Family Life
  • Front Room
  • Heterosexual Family
  • Lesbian Identity

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