Atitudes toward Same-Sex Parenting of Future Professionals in Social Intervention

Abstract

In this study, we sought to characterize the attitudes of future professionals of the social network towards lesbian and gay parenting. Each participant (N = 1288) read one of 14 vignettes describing an adoption situation. The vignettes were identical except for the sexual orientation and the relational status of the candidates. After reading the vignette, participants rated various aspects of the parental competence of the candidates. Results showed that although all candidates were rated positively, heterosexual parents were favored over homosexual parents. Additionally, participants considered that single lesbian or gay candidates would receive more social support from the community than same­?sex couples. In the case of lesbian parents, custody was also awarded with greater probability to a single woman than to a couple. This heteronormative view of parenting is discussed and implications are drawn in terms of the students’ academic training, namely the necessary inclusion of this issue in the curricula of university degrees.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v26i1.263