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Gay mothers and early childhood education: Standing tall |
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Debora Lee
University of Auckland
Legislation in New Zealand would suggest there is a liberal and accepting attitude towards diverse families in this country, yet discrimination and heteronormative expectations are strongly evident. In this article I report the findings of a study of the experiences of lesbian-parented families in early childhood centres. Seventeen gay women from 12 lesbian-parented families were asked about their own and their children's experiences in a variety of early childhood education settings. The findings, which are discussed in terms of a theory of heteronormativity, describe the steps the women reported they needed to take to prepare their children to cope in a heteronormative world. I conclude that, despite seemingly supportive legislation, this group of gay mothers felt it necessary to protect their children from heteronormativity and to prepare them for coping with discrimination.
Australasian Journal of Early Childhood – Volume 35 No 1 March 2010, pp. 16–23.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 April 2010 )
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