Same Sex Marriage: Before and After
Programme
| Time |
Session |
| 9.45 |
Arrival, tea/coffee and registration |
| 10.15 |
Welcome and Introduction |
| 10.30 |
Researching lesbian and gay family life: A Retrospective Susan Golombok (Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge) |
| 11.30 |
Developments in thinking about same-sex couples and families in the context of therapy Damian McCann (Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships and Associate of the Pink Therapy Service) |
| 12.30 |
Lunch |
| 1.30 |
New Directions in Lesbian Motherhood Dr Roisin Ryan-Flood (Centre for Intimate and Sexual Citizenship (CISC), University of Essex) |
| 2.30 |
Same Sex Marriage: New generations, ordinary experiences? Brian Heaphy, Carol Smart and Anna Einarsdottir (Morgan Centre, University of Manchester) |
| 3.30 |
Panel Discussion |
| 4.00 |
Close |
Researching lesbian and family life: A Retrospective
Susan Golombok, Director, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge
The talk will give a historical overview of research on lesbian and gay families from the 1970s until the present time. Following a description of the social climate experienced by lesbian mothers in the mid-1970s when the first studies were initiated, the presentation will chart the various phases of research on families headed by same-sex parents from the early studies of lesbian families formed post-divorce through research on planned lesbian mother families to current studies of gay father families. The talk will also discuss the impact of this body of research on social policy and legislation as well as on the theoretical understanding of family influences on child development.
Developments in thinking about same-sex couples and families in the context of therapy
Damian McCann, Consultant Family Psychotherapist, Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships and Associate of Pink Therapy Services
This presentation will tackle the ongoing therapeutic communities' reliance on heternormative thinking as a basis for practice with sexual minority couples and families. Despite recent changes for gay and lesbian couples and families, witnessed in the rise in same-sex parenting and in the uptake in commitment ceremonies, it is my contention that therapist's continued reliance on generic heterosexist based models of practice, makes the therapeutic setting a questionable context for sexual minority couples and families to bring their issues and concerns for explorations. Ideas for closing this gap and making the therapeutic space responsive to the specific needs of sexual minorities will be considered.
New Directions in Lesbian Motherhood
Roisin Ryan-Flood, Director, Centre for Intimate and Sexual Citizenship (CISC), University of Essex
The lesbian and gay baby boom has been the focus of much theoretical attention and research in recent years. However, the challenges that arise when a lesbian couple seperate and continue to negotiate parenthood together have been relatively neglected by social scientists. This paper explores what happens when lesbian parents are faced with a new family configuration after a couple relationship ends. Interviews were carried out with lesbian parents in two European countries, Sweden and Ireland. At the time of interview, co-parents were not recognised by law, still a common situation in many parts of the world. The literature on lesbian parenthood has often emphasised the potential for egalitarian relationships in these families, with an equitable division of labour in relation to childcare and housework. However, despite this emphasis on equality, the legal vunerability of co-parents presents particular difficulties for these families. This dynamic is explored with reference to care, power and difference post seperation.
Same Sex Marriage: New generations, ordinary experiences?
Brian Heaphy, Carol Smart and Anna Einarsdottir, Morgan Centre, University of Manchester
This presentation explores the new 'ordinariness' of same sex relationships by focussing on how same sex relationships are actually lived after being formalised through civil partnership. It discusses the findings of the first major UK study of civil partnerships, funded by the ESRC. The study focussed on couples who were aged under 35 when they formalised their relationship. Thus it included people from the first cohort of same sex partners in the UK who have the opportunity for (more or less) 'full' relational citizenship for most of their adult lives, and for whom same sex relationships are experienced as relatively unexceptional. Joint and individual interviews were conducted with 50 couples that explored how formalised partnerships were defined and experienced, and how partnerships in practice were related to biographical, socio-cultural and temporal factors. For the most part couples lived and viewed themselves as ordinary 'married' couples. We draw out the implications of this for contemporary politics of sexualities and relating.
Registration
This conference is free, but those wishing to attend must register by emailing Lisa.Jenkins@manchester.ac.uk
Places are limited due to space and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.
Directions
The Manchester Museum is number 44 on the Campus Map.
If you are heading from the city centre down Oxford Road, watch out for a pedestrian bridge over the road with 'University of Manchester' on it. If you continue under the bridge you should pass Blackwell Book Shop on your right (you should be on this side of the road). Carry on and you will come to a cafe (Cafe Muse/Couture) and the entrance to the museum is just past here.
