New life goal:
So I've come up with a new life goal. It does, however, require some background knowledge. I'm currently working on (read: procrastinating) a "research portfolio" for my Intro to Social Work class (that is of course, due, tomorrow). I've been reading articles for it for many many days now (read: 2) most of which deal with the policies and procedures of gay adoption. Through reading these articles I've come up with a new life goal:
To develop a training program for social workers/adoption agencies about GLBT adoption issues (ie: parent sexual orientation does not effect that development of the child, 90% of child molesters are heterosexual males so there is little risk of molestation, and the children don't grow up with distorted gender identity/gender roles) and then study its effectiveness. I will however, have to hire someone to do the statistical analysis. I can gather the data easily. I'm good at that. But doing the math part of it... NEG.
While we're on the topic I need to rant:
All of the arguments I'm reading in these articles against gay adoption say that the agencies/social workers fear that the children will grown up to be homosexual themselves, or have distorted gender identity/gender roles.
First of all, research shows that the sexual orientation of a parent has no effect on the sexual orientation of the child (unless that child is biologically theirs, since it is passed genetically). This argument to me sounds ridiculous to even bring up, because they are saying that from a stand point that "gay is bad." If these social workers/agencies were taught that homosexuality is not bad/immoral/disgusting/detrimental to the child or whatever, then there wouldn't even be this issue in the first place.
Second, the gender roles/gender identity BS. What is wrong with having more lax gender roles. The only way having a different gender role could be bad is if they are treated differently (read: possibly violently) by other people. If society were to stop being so goddamn conservative about issues to do with sex and gender life would be a lot easier for everyone. So what if a little boy wants to play house, or a little girl wants to play with a Tonka truck? I say go for it! To me it's an early sign of self-confidence and security. Gender identity is an entirely different issue however. There is NO research to support that having a gay or lesbian parent creates gender identity issues. There are many more socialization agents that tell someone if they are a girl or a boy, than just parents. I personally believe the restrictions on gender are ridiculous anyway. When I see a form that has Male or Female on it, and no "other" section, I get pissed. But I digress.
My frustration seems to stem from the fact that there is SO much research out there on this topic and courts/politicians/agencies/workers sometimes completely ignore it. Choosing, instead, to rule with their own opinions and stating that not allowing gay adoption is "in the best interest of the child." Well... when there are over 200,000 kids waiting to be adopted in North Carolina each year (one of my articles focused on NC) and only 46,000 are adopted each year, I think increasing the pool of adpoptive parents by allowing GLBT people to adopt is "in the best interest of the child."
I have MUCH more to say on this topic, but I feel like I'm getting too emotionally worked up to talk about it with any sort of clarity.
In other news, I found a place to live next year. I'm living with my friend Ashley (who is amazing btw!) and the place is called... Woodside, or Woodsomething apartments. It's approximately two blocks from where I'm at now, and it's the same price... however the place is bigger, and has more included like central air conditioning (as opposed to a crappy window unit stuck in the wall), a washer and dryer, and my bedroom will be the same size if not bigger. The kitchen is kinda small, but I don't spend much time in my kitchen anyway.
I'm still doing really well in school. My attendance to my music class is pretty sketchy, but I don't care. I'm still getting an A. I got a 93% on my last HEV 110 (Diversity) exam, and a 96% on my HEV 211 (Marriage and Family Perspectives) ecomap assignment. Sweet.
Also, I know my schedule for next semester already.
BIO 151 (Human Biology) I have to take it for my major, not sure what that has to do with social work, but whatev.
SWK 250 (Social Work Policy and Practice I) it's scary starting to get my major underway...
SOC 221 (social problems) counts as a university program AND major class, yay double counting!
HEV 597O (Sexual Orientation) it counts as my last minor elective, and I'm taking it with Dr. Brad, who I had that GLBT family studies class for
REL 222 (Religious Traditions of India) my LAST university program! taking it credit/no credit just in case 15 credits is too much.
I should get back to writing my research. Blarg.
<3 all!
To develop a training program for social workers/adoption agencies about GLBT adoption issues (ie: parent sexual orientation does not effect that development of the child, 90% of child molesters are heterosexual males so there is little risk of molestation, and the children don't grow up with distorted gender identity/gender roles) and then study its effectiveness. I will however, have to hire someone to do the statistical analysis. I can gather the data easily. I'm good at that. But doing the math part of it... NEG.
While we're on the topic I need to rant:
All of the arguments I'm reading in these articles against gay adoption say that the agencies/social workers fear that the children will grown up to be homosexual themselves, or have distorted gender identity/gender roles.
First of all, research shows that the sexual orientation of a parent has no effect on the sexual orientation of the child (unless that child is biologically theirs, since it is passed genetically). This argument to me sounds ridiculous to even bring up, because they are saying that from a stand point that "gay is bad." If these social workers/agencies were taught that homosexuality is not bad/immoral/disgusting/detrimental to the child or whatever, then there wouldn't even be this issue in the first place.
Second, the gender roles/gender identity BS. What is wrong with having more lax gender roles. The only way having a different gender role could be bad is if they are treated differently (read: possibly violently) by other people. If society were to stop being so goddamn conservative about issues to do with sex and gender life would be a lot easier for everyone. So what if a little boy wants to play house, or a little girl wants to play with a Tonka truck? I say go for it! To me it's an early sign of self-confidence and security. Gender identity is an entirely different issue however. There is NO research to support that having a gay or lesbian parent creates gender identity issues. There are many more socialization agents that tell someone if they are a girl or a boy, than just parents. I personally believe the restrictions on gender are ridiculous anyway. When I see a form that has Male or Female on it, and no "other" section, I get pissed. But I digress.
My frustration seems to stem from the fact that there is SO much research out there on this topic and courts/politicians/agencies/workers sometimes completely ignore it. Choosing, instead, to rule with their own opinions and stating that not allowing gay adoption is "in the best interest of the child." Well... when there are over 200,000 kids waiting to be adopted in North Carolina each year (one of my articles focused on NC) and only 46,000 are adopted each year, I think increasing the pool of adpoptive parents by allowing GLBT people to adopt is "in the best interest of the child."
I have MUCH more to say on this topic, but I feel like I'm getting too emotionally worked up to talk about it with any sort of clarity.
In other news, I found a place to live next year. I'm living with my friend Ashley (who is amazing btw!) and the place is called... Woodside, or Woodsomething apartments. It's approximately two blocks from where I'm at now, and it's the same price... however the place is bigger, and has more included like central air conditioning (as opposed to a crappy window unit stuck in the wall), a washer and dryer, and my bedroom will be the same size if not bigger. The kitchen is kinda small, but I don't spend much time in my kitchen anyway.
I'm still doing really well in school. My attendance to my music class is pretty sketchy, but I don't care. I'm still getting an A. I got a 93% on my last HEV 110 (Diversity) exam, and a 96% on my HEV 211 (Marriage and Family Perspectives) ecomap assignment. Sweet.
Also, I know my schedule for next semester already.
BIO 151 (Human Biology) I have to take it for my major, not sure what that has to do with social work, but whatev.
SWK 250 (Social Work Policy and Practice I) it's scary starting to get my major underway...
SOC 221 (social problems) counts as a university program AND major class, yay double counting!
HEV 597O (Sexual Orientation) it counts as my last minor elective, and I'm taking it with Dr. Brad, who I had that GLBT family studies class for
REL 222 (Religious Traditions of India) my LAST university program! taking it credit/no credit just in case 15 credits is too much.
I should get back to writing my research. Blarg.
<3 all!