Same-sex kissing and having a gay or lesbian child: a bridge too far? Parent-child similarities in homophobic attitudes and observed parental discomfort

Rozenberg, T. van den; Kroes, A.D.A.; Pol, L.D. van der; Groeneveld, M.G.; Mesman, J. (2024)

Article / Letter to editor

This study examined parent-child similarities in homophobic
attitudes and observed parental discomfort with coming-out
vignettes in interactions with their adolescent children (14–18
years old). Based on gender schema theory and the family
process model we expected parent-child similarities in homophobic
attitudes to be stronger in same-gender dyads. Further,
we expected that observed parental discomfort with comingout
vignettes would occur and is stronger when the gender of
the parent, child, and character in the vignette match. We used
questionnaires and observation data from 199 White Dutch
families in the Netherlands. Our results showed that parents’
homophobic attitudes were associated with their children’s
homophobic attitudes. For same-sex kissing and (imagining)
having a gay son, these associations were stronger between
parents and children of the same gender. Further, parental
discomfort with coming-out vignettes occurred and was stronger
when parents and children had the same gender, regardless
of the gender of the vignette character. In conclusion, policies
aiming at gay and lesbian inclusion should not be limited to
accepting gay/lesbian identities, but also pay attention to the
acceptance of same-sex intimacy expressions, having gay or
lesbian family members, and normalizing discussions about
gay/lesbian lives.

• All authors: Rozenberg, T. van den; Kroes, A.D.A.; Pol, L.D. van der; Groeneveld, M.G.; Mesman, J.
• Date: 2024
• Journal: Journal of Homosexuality
• Volume: 71
• Pages: 2341–2365
• DOI: doi:10.1080/00918369.2023.2233658