Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men: A New Dimension in Family Diversity - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195322606 ISBN 13: 9780195322606

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2011

Synopsis

The practice of adoption has changed dramatically over the past half century, with profound implications for children and families. Perhaps the most remarkable and controversial transformation during this time has been the growing willingness of adoption professionals to place children with sexual-minority individuals and couples. Yet, despite considerable research showing that lesbians and gay men can make good parents, they continue to experience difficulties and barriers in many parts of the country in their efforts to adopt and raise children. Indeed, while progress in this area has been significant, it has been impeded by the homophobia and heterosexist attitudes of adoption professionals and the judiciary; by numerous stereotypes and misconceptions about parenting by lesbians and gay men, and by a lack of adequate guidelines and training for establishing best practice standards in working with this rapidly growing group of adoptive parents.

Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men explores the gamut of historical, legal, sociological, psychological, social casework, and personal issues related to adoption by sexual-minority individuals and couples. Leading experts in a variety of fields address--and often shatter--the controversies, myths, and misconceptions hindering efforts by these individuals to adopt and raise children. What makes this book all the more valuable is that it provides insights and specific recommendations for establishing empirically validated best practices for working with an important sector of our society, for treating all prospective and current parents fairly and equally, and, perhaps most importantly, for increasing a still largely untapped resource for providing families for children who need them.

About this title

About the Author

David Brodzinsky, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of Clinical and Development Psychology at Rutgers University and Research Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute.

Adam Pertman is Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute.

Review

"...this serious, confident, and rigorous book discusses lesbian and gay adoption just as its precursors discussed adoption by heterosexual parents, and leaves the reader wondering, 'Why all the fuss'... The authors are all experts in their different fields and, together, have created a state-of-the-art collection of chapters ranging from historical and legal aspects, to social and psychological considerations, to practice issues including the assessment of prospective adopters and postadoption support. Everything you might want to know about lesbian and gay adoption, and which it is possible to know at the present time, is to be found in this important book." --from the Foreword by Susan Golombok, PhD, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge

"This text, with its emphasis on research, is quite appropriate as an academic and professional resource. Intriguingly, it also generally presents as understandable to a broader public audience. This volume is unique, in terms of its depth, and comprehensive, and it will serve as an essential tool for those persons interested in the topic of adoption by lesbians and gay men." --Stephen "Arch" Erich, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Houston-Clear Lake

"This timely, informative, and authoritative book appears at a very important time, one in which it is increasingly recognized that adoption by gay men and lesbian women can provide supportive and much-needed care for the many children who cannot be cared for adequately by their birth parents. Many agencies will want to have copies in their professional libraries, as will professionals (psychologists, social workers, lawyers, judges) who make decisions about or support adopted and fostered children. There is no other book that covers this material, so it fills an important niche." --Michael E. Lamb, PhD, Head of the Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, University of Cambridge

"This volume summarizes our knowledge of lesbian and gay adoptive families, contributes to it, and points out directions for future research, education, and policy changes. It is an academic book...but should become an invaluable reference for adoption professionals, researchers, policy makers, advocates, and lawyers. Lesbian and gay adoptive parents and prospective parents may also want to read it." -- Dana Rudolph, Bay Windows

"This informative, authoritative collection of 11 essays by leading experts challenges the myth that lesbians and gay men are unfit to adopt and provides adoption professionals with best-practice standards... This superbly successful collection shatters the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding adoption by lesbians and gay men and should be widely disseminated among legislators, social workers, lawyers, judges, and the general public. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries." -- E. W. Carp, Pacific Lutheran University, CHOICE

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0195322606
• ISBN 13: 9780195322606
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: Brodzinsky David M., Pertman Adam