This article is written by David Ambroz who took place in the Civil Rights March in LA this November. The march comes after a loss for GLBTQ rights in the election regarding Proposition 8 banning gay marriage in California, and Arkansas measure disallow GLBTQ parents to foster or adopt (they are doing this by not allowing single parents to adopt, thereby eliminating GLBTQ parents since they do not recognize GLBTQ marriages in Arkansa). Arkansa citizens who are opposing GLBTQ parenting are calling themselves, "pro-family" while the author of this article is calling this movement exploiting children. There appears to be prejudice involved in these decisions as the Arkansas Supreme Court found itself that GLBTQ parents are no more or less fit to parent than heterosexual parents, "Children of lesbian and gay parents are just as well-adjusted as children of heterosexual parents; and that having gay parents doesn't increase the risk of psychological, behavioral, academic, gender identity, or any other sort of adjustment problems; nor do gay people engage in any more domestic violence or sexual abuse than heterosexual people..."
Why are these events happening?
To begin, the motivational perspective on prejudice can help one gain insight into the prejudices against GLBTQ parents. The motivational perspective on prejudice is that as humans, we engage in prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination to feel good about ourselves and the group that we come from. That the values of the heterosexual group are the correct values.
Another thought intertwined with the motivational perspective is the theory of ethnocentrism (defined as one viewing the nature of reality through the eye's of one's own culture"). That the "pro family" contingent of Arkansa are seeing GLBTQ parenting through their own eyes of their own heterosexual socialization and culture. That their own values are correct, that those of GLBTQ parents are not, and that they know what is best for these children. Ethnocentrism sees the creation of dual perception of people and phenomenons. For example, in this situation, that Heterosexual parents know the right way to parent, while homosexual parents do not. It is an us vs. them phenomenon that is just not right.
When it comes down to it, human nature is to favor whoever is in their ingroup. The social psychology theory of the minimal group paradigm holds true in this situation of heterosexual vs homosexual parenting. The minimal group paradigm is the theory that people are normally and naturally ready to divide the world into us vs them, and that people favor their ingroup (preferential treatment or more favorable attitudes toward people in one's own group). In this situation, heterosexual parents see themselves as the us and they see the homosexual parents as the them, rather then them all just being parents looking to do the best they can raising children. People can bolster their self esteem due to the success of their ingroup according to the Social Identity Theory of Tajfel & Turner (1979), which leads to favoritism of the very groups we belong to. People derive self esteem from their own groups by 1. boosting the status of the ingroup (in the case of ridding Arkansa of GLBTQ parenting, getting rid of the right for this population to parent boosts the status of the pro-family, heterosexual parenting only group), 2. The ingroup basks in reflected glory (they see themselves as more correct, and evaluate themselves more positively), 3. Derogating outgroups (we took away their rights!)
It is a constant battle of the human race between ingroups and outgroups blacks vs. whites, women vs. men, citizens vs. immigrants...the list could be endless. We must overcome. In conclusion, when it comes down to it....are these "Pro-Family" anti GLBTQ parenting advocates really thinking about the children? Or are they thinking about the success of their very own ingroup? Because when it comes down to the children, which this whole matter is about, I am pretty sure the thousands of foster children in the system really just want a safe, caring, loving home where they can grow up, be succesful, and live their lives in peace.
Why are these events happening?
To begin, the motivational perspective on prejudice can help one gain insight into the prejudices against GLBTQ parents. The motivational perspective on prejudice is that as humans, we engage in prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination to feel good about ourselves and the group that we come from. That the values of the heterosexual group are the correct values.
Another thought intertwined with the motivational perspective is the theory of ethnocentrism (defined as one viewing the nature of reality through the eye's of one's own culture"). That the "pro family" contingent of Arkansa are seeing GLBTQ parenting through their own eyes of their own heterosexual socialization and culture. That their own values are correct, that those of GLBTQ parents are not, and that they know what is best for these children. Ethnocentrism sees the creation of dual perception of people and phenomenons. For example, in this situation, that Heterosexual parents know the right way to parent, while homosexual parents do not. It is an us vs. them phenomenon that is just not right.
When it comes down to it, human nature is to favor whoever is in their ingroup. The social psychology theory of the minimal group paradigm holds true in this situation of heterosexual vs homosexual parenting. The minimal group paradigm is the theory that people are normally and naturally ready to divide the world into us vs them, and that people favor their ingroup (preferential treatment or more favorable attitudes toward people in one's own group). In this situation, heterosexual parents see themselves as the us and they see the homosexual parents as the them, rather then them all just being parents looking to do the best they can raising children. People can bolster their self esteem due to the success of their ingroup according to the Social Identity Theory of Tajfel & Turner (1979), which leads to favoritism of the very groups we belong to. People derive self esteem from their own groups by 1. boosting the status of the ingroup (in the case of ridding Arkansa of GLBTQ parenting, getting rid of the right for this population to parent boosts the status of the pro-family, heterosexual parenting only group), 2. The ingroup basks in reflected glory (they see themselves as more correct, and evaluate themselves more positively), 3. Derogating outgroups (we took away their rights!)
It is a constant battle of the human race between ingroups and outgroups blacks vs. whites, women vs. men, citizens vs. immigrants...the list could be endless. We must overcome. In conclusion, when it comes down to it....are these "Pro-Family" anti GLBTQ parenting advocates really thinking about the children? Or are they thinking about the success of their very own ingroup? Because when it comes down to the children, which this whole matter is about, I am pretty sure the thousands of foster children in the system really just want a safe, caring, loving home where they can grow up, be succesful, and live their lives in peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment