LGBT CHILDREN BETWEEN PUBLIC HOMOPHOBIA AND THEIR PARENTAL FAMILIES’ DISMISSAL INSTEAD OF SOLIDARITY AND PROTECTION
LGBT CHILDREN BETWEEN PUBLIC HOMOPHOBIA AND THEIR PARENTAL FAMILIES’ DISMISSAL INSTEAD OF SOLIDARITY AND PROTECTION

Author(s): Zorica Mršević
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Sociology, Gender history
Published by: Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
Keywords: LGBT youth; family rejection; parental homophobia; psychological consequences; conditional acceptance
Summary/Abstract: Nearly 49% of LGBT people became aware of this before 15. They are vulnerable and dependent and need family support, protection and love, solidarity and protection. There are elements of identity which are not the result of family upbringing, e.g. sexual orientation and gender identity. Other, like values, beliefs, goals and even thought patterns are rooted in our family experience. Our identities understandings and behaviour are shaped by the lifelong process of socialization but also by something what we had from the very beginning (Fetoski, 2012: 9). Families are major agent of socialization and are especially significant agent of child socialization (Gelles, 1995: 3, 314). Differences between boys and girls are assumed to be natural, but most of these differences must be taught (Gelles, 1995: 108). We are constantly engaged in re-creating social meaning simply by following our normal daily routines. Morality tales teach about good and evil, but they also carry implicit messages about gender. Although these stories are not presented as true, children take them much more literally than adults do, primarily because young children are less able to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy (Coltrane, 1997: 108).

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