Abstract

Appearing culturally “gender-normative” represents one of the ways that gender identity is salient to others. In the context of continued controversy surrounding children’s gender role development in sexual minority parent families, the current study examined gender presentation (i.e., appearing gender-conforming or nonconforming) among adopted children and their lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parents across two time points over a five-year period (Wave 1: N = 106 families, child M_age = 36.07 months; Wave 2: N = 96 families, child M_age = 8.34 years). Children’s and parents’ gender presentation were observed and rated, focusing on gender-typed clothing and accessories, and then children’s gender presentation was compared with their self-reported friendship quality. Children and parents alike generally demonstrated a gender-conforming presentation; there were limited differences by parental sexual orientation (e.g., lesbian mothers displayed greater nonconforming presentation than other parents). There was also no difference by parental sexual orientation in children’s reports of friendship quality. Gender presentation was associated across time, with children’s nonconforming gender presentation in Wave 1 being positively associated with their nonconforming presentation in Wave 2. Children’s nonconforming gender presentation was negatively associated with children’s friendships with an interaction effect such that gender-nonconforming girls, but not boys, reported lower quality friendships.

摘要

在文化上出现“性别规范”表示性别认同对其他人很重要。在围绕少数族裔父母家庭中儿童性别角色发展的持续争议的背景下，当前研究在两个时间点上考察了收养儿童及其女同性恋，男同性恋和异性父母中的性别表现（即，出现符合性别或不符合性别的行为）。一个五年期（波动1：N  = 106个家庭，M_岁的孩子 = 36.07个月;波动2：N  = 96个家庭，M_岁的孩子 = 8.34年）。对儿童和父母的性别表现进行观察和评分，重点是性别服装和配饰，然后将儿童的性别表现与他们自我报告的友谊质量进行比较。儿童和父母一般都表现出符合性别的陈述；父母的性取向差异有限（例如，女同性恋母亲比其他父母表现出更大的不合格表现）。在儿童的友谊质量报告中，父母的性取向也没有差异。性别表达与时间相关，第一波中儿童的不合格性别表现与第二波中的不合格表现成正相关。