Lesbian and gay parents on talk shows: resistance or collusion in heterosexism?

Clarke, V. and Kitzinger, C. (2004) Lesbian and gay parents on talk shows: resistance or collusion in heterosexism? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 1 (3). pp. 195-217. ISSN 1478-0887

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/1478088704qp014oa

Abstract

In this paper we explore popular television talk show debates about lesbian and gay parents. We show that the heterosexist framing of these debates compels lesbian and gay parents and their supporters to produce defensive and apologetic arguments that normalise lesbian and gay families. Lesbian and gay parents end up reinforcing the legitimacy of anti-lesbian/gay fears in the very act of demonstrating that they are groundless. We identify six themes in pro-lesbian/gay discourse on talk shows: (i) ‘I’m not a lesbian/gay parent’; (ii) ‘we’re just the family next door’; (iii) ‘love makes a family’; (iv) ‘god made Adam and Steve’; (v) children as ‘proof ’; and (vi) the benefits of growing up in a lesbian/gay family. Our analysis focuses on the broad, ideological functions and effects of these themes. We conclude the paper by outlining an alternative agenda for talk show debates about lesbian and gay issues.

Item Type:Article
Additional Information:This is an electronic version of an article published in "Clarke, Victoria and Kitzinger, Celia (2004) Lesbian and gay parents on talk shows: resistance or collusion in heterosexism? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 1 (3). pp. 195-217". Qualitative Research in Psychology is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a795126413~frm=abslink.
Uncontrolled Keywords:heterosexism, lesbian and gay parenting, normalisation, talk shows
Faculty/Department:~Pre-2010 Faculty Structure > Health and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Department of Psychology
~Pre-2012 Faculty Structure > Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Department of Psychology
ID Code:11706
Deposited By: Dr V. Clarke
Deposited On:22 Nov 2010 15:52
Last Modified:22 Nov 2012 16:26

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