My thesis should provide a comprehensive sum up of the life of homoparental families in the Czech Republic. I would like to closely see and monitor functioning of those LGBTI families and to research obstacles that these families must overcome to fully function in the society. In terms of equal and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity I will examine in more details the processes, tools and institutions that provide the same conditions to all families without exception. I am primarily interested in barriers to the full functioning of these families, their access to assisted reproduction, surrogacy for gay families, and the legalization of non-biologic parent relationships to a child in a common household, their rights and duties. From a public policy point of view, I will find out whether these processes are in the accordance to equal and not discrimination treatment for all. By legalization of the partnership between homosexuals in the Czech Republic it has caused the logical development of this status and issues connecting to this law. Today, is often discussed the nature of this relationship and the possibility of its "transformation" into a full family structure ended up by marriage. This development raises a number of theoretical and practical issues. In my work,...

Die Diplomarbeit untersucht die Gestaltung von Hochzeitsfeiern lesbischer Paare vor dem Hintergrund ritualtheoretischer Konzepte und dem Wandel der gesellschaftlichen Bedeutung des Heiratens. Es werden sechs lesbische Paare mithilfe leidfadengestützter Interviews zu Vorbereitung, Ablauf und Nachwirkungen ihrer Hochzeitsfeiern befragt. Schwerpunkt der durch Verfahren der Grounded Theory geleiteten Analyse sind der Umgang mit dem kulturellen Konzept „Hochzeit“ und die Gestaltung der Hochzeitsfeiern in Auseinandersetzung mit heteronormativen Erwartungen. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass lesbische Paare bei der Gestaltung ihrer Hochzeitsfeiern eine Inklusion von eigenem Paarverständnis und kulturellen Anforderungen an Hochzeitsfeiern anstreben. Dabei knüpfen sie an kulturell tradierte Bräuche an, sodass nicht von einer eigenständigen lesbischen Hochzeitskultur gesprochen werden kann.:1. Einleitung 2. Lesbische Paare in er soziologischen Forschung 2.1 Zur Geschichte der Lesbenforschung 2.2 Forschungsstand 3. Die Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft 3.1 Anforderunge und Wünsche von Lesben und Schwulen 3.2 Geschichte des Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetzes 3.3 Gesezliche Bestimmungen des Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetzes 3.4 Kritik und Diskussion zum Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz 3.5 Verbreitung der Eingetragenen Lebenspartnerschaft 4. Hochzeitsfeiern als (Übergangs-)Rituale 4.1 Ritualbegriff in der Soziologie 4.2 Übergangsrituale 4.3 Hochzeiten als Übergangsrituale 4.4 Veränderungen in der rituellen Gestaltung von Hochzeiten 4.5 Heutige Hochzeiten und ihr Status als Übergangsritual 5. Empirische Untersuchung 5.1 Auswahl der Erhebungsmethode 5.2 Entwicklung des Interviewleitfadens 5.3 Durchführung der Untersuchung 5.4 Transkription 5.5 Auswertungsmethode 6. Wie lesbische Paare ihre Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft feiern 6.1 Beschreibung der Hochzeitsfeiern 6.2 Fallübergreifende Betrachtung 6.3 Analyse der Hauptkategorien 6.4 Entwicklung der Schlüsselkategorie 7. Die Ergebnisse im Kontext des Forschungsstandes Literaturverzeichnis / The thesis studies lesbian weddings against the background of ritual theory and the changing social significance of getting married. Six lesbian couples are interviewed on planning, realization and aftereffects of their weddings. The analysis is based on grounded theory procedures and focuses on dealing with the cultural concept of “wedding” and the arrangement of weddings against the background of heteronormative expectations. Results suggest that lesbian couples strive for an inclusion of their own understanding of being a couple with cultural standards for weddings. They build on traditional customs, so that there appears to be no independent lesbian wedding culture.:1. Einleitung 2. Lesbische Paare in er soziologischen Forschung 2.1 Zur Geschichte der Lesbenforschung 2.2 Forschungsstand 3. Die Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft 3.1 Anforderunge und Wünsche von Lesben und Schwulen 3.2 Geschichte des Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetzes 3.3 Gesezliche Bestimmungen des Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetzes 3.4 Kritik und Diskussion zum Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz 3.5 Verbreitung der Eingetragenen Lebenspartnerschaft 4. Hochzeitsfeiern als (Übergangs-)Rituale 4.1 Ritualbegriff in der Soziologie 4.2 Übergangsrituale 4.3 Hochzeiten als Übergangsrituale 4.4 Veränderungen in der rituellen Gestaltung von Hochzeiten 4.5 Heutige Hochzeiten und ihr Status als Übergangsritual 5. Empirische Untersuchung 5.1 Auswahl der Erhebungsmethode 5.2 Entwicklung des Interviewleitfadens 5.3 Durchführung der Untersuchung 5.4 Transkription 5.5 Auswertungsmethode 6. Wie lesbische Paare ihre Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft feiern 6.1 Beschreibung der Hochzeitsfeiern 6.2 Fallübergreifende Betrachtung 6.3 Analyse der Hauptkategorien 6.4 Entwicklung der Schlüsselkategorie 7. Die Ergebnisse im Kontext des Forschungsstandes Literaturverzeichnis

Creative Gender Expression Performativity may be a coping mechanism for dealing with minority stress in sexual and gender minority populations. The current study suggests the creation of a new scale that measures effortful presentation rather than directional presentation. Rather than examining whether someone identifies as masculine or feminine – the proposed model would instead look at how much effort an individual is putting into their gender expression. In this mixed methods study, participants (N = 187) completed a survey based on gender expression, minority stress, and mental health, while 10 participants completed a qualitative post-survey interview via email. Multiple regressions were performed to examine the relationships between gender expression and negative health outcomes. Tests performed examined relationships amongst factors such as positive gender expression outlook, gender congruence, and self-esteem; and outcomes including depression, anxiety, and anticipated discrimination. Multiple regression analyses revealed that positive perceptions of gender expression acted as a buffer to anticipated discrimination. TGNC individuals experienced lower self-esteem and higher depression levels than cisgender individuals. Qualitative themes uncovered motives behind gender expression, such as coping with minority stress.

Despite the continual prevention efforts in the United States, an estimated 1 million people are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 25% of them are unaware of their infection status. There are no national surveillance data available on the incidence or prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the transgender population; this absence of data is a matter for concern. Guided by the health behavior model and social cognitive theory, this study utilized a quantitative approach to examine the associations between HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS and condoms, and condom use self-efficacy as predictors of condom use in African American transgender young adults--one of the most disenfranchised and marginalized groups at increased risk for HIV infection--in the District of Columbia. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and chi-square analyses were used to analyze the research questions. There was no statistically significant relationship found between the dependent and independent variables at last intercourse with a steady partner. However, there was a statistically significant relationship when predicting condom use in the last 30 days and last 6 months with a steady partner. There was a statistically significant relationship for predicting condom use at last intercourse and intercourse in the last 30 days among nonsteady partners. There was no statistically significant relationship found between the dependent and independent variables at intercourse in the last 6 months with nonsteady partners. The findings could inform public health practitioners to develop and implement programs targeting African American transgender populations; the findings could also reinforce the public health policies and practices in favor of this cohort.

Cultural socialization has been linked with child development and outcome, but, to date, the majority of research has focused on race and ethnicity. However, since families headed by gay and lesbian parents experience stigma related to parental sexual orientation, socialization practices may be uniquely important for families headed by gay and lesbian parents. The present study examined same-sex parent socialization among 54 families headed by gay and lesbian parents (52 fathers, 43 mothers, 51 school-aged children) using a cultural socialization framework. Findings revealed that parents engaged in socialization along three dimensions: Cultural Socialization, Preparation for Bias, and Proactive Parenting. Children perceived same-sex parent socialization with less frequency than parents reported engaging in these behaviors across all dimensions. In general, same-sex parent socialization was not associated with child behavioral adjustment. Neither same-sex parent socialization nor child behavioral adjustment was associated with whether parents were gay or lesbian. Results from this study justify the need to broaden our conceptualization of cultural socialization to be more inclusive of these diverse family structures.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This study investigates the philanthropic practices of same-sex couples, including their motivations for giving and how they make philanthropic decisions. Existing research has focused almost exclusively on heterosexual couples and assumes that all households are the same. Using the frameworks of the eight mechanisms of giving and social identification theory, this study investigates the role of identity in philanthropic behavior and how gender differences may be amplified among same-sex couples. Drawing on 19 semi-structured joint interviews with gay and lesbian couples in Indiana, the research uses a qualitative method to "give voice" to a marginalized population's philanthropic experiences that are little studied. The study finds participants are highly engaged in nonprofit organizations and participate in a diverse array of philanthropic behaviors. While many couples support at least one LGBT-affiliated nonprofit, giving to LGBT causes does not constitute the majority of most couples' philanthropy. Still, sexual orientation plays a significant role in motivating support for the LGBT community, for public policy changes and equal rights initiatives, and to HIV/AIDS-service organizations. Sexual orientation also determines which organizations many donors would not support. Same-sex couples also use their philanthropy as a way to support their communities at-large and be recognized by mainstream society. In terms of financial management, a majority of participant couples maintained independent financial accounts or partial pooling systems of household income, leading to more opportunities for charitable giving; at the same time, couples expressed low conflict over making giving decisions and supported one another's interests. This study provides scholars and practitioners insights into the complex interactions of motivations, identity, and financial arrangements that underscore charitable giving, and it offers implications for nonprofit organizations and fundraisers who work with diverse populations of donors.

Working and unmarried women could have a life which married women had not. Instead of marriage, they built their social and family life on friendship. They lived with each other, payed rent together, discussed domestic issues such as cleaning and household labour. They also talked about love, and passion, and how to find a friend to share their life with. This particular group of unmarried women did not solely arrange friendship out of practical purposes but also of emotional and social bonds. This study focuses on the teacher Maja Beskow in Umeå and her diaries and correspondence with and about her friends from the year 1896 to 1923. What did they say about friendship? What aspects of life could be found within the friendships?

No description available.

It is a difficult task to interpret historical silences, to investigate subjects that are largely missing in the archives. However, the writing of history must not stop because of that, but with the help of the small amount of material that exists, research must move forward and create more knowledge. One purpose of the essay is precisely this, to contribute with inspiration and knowledge about working with limited materials from marginalized groups. This particular essay is about lesbian living conditions during the 1940s in Stockholm and this is examined using documents from a police investigation during the time, that convicted five women by the swedish law against homosexuality, "fornication that is against nature". This court case is unique as it is the first case in swedish legal history where women have been convicted of homosexual acts. The source material is examined using text analysis, queer theory, queer phenomenology and gender theory. Through this method and theory formation, lesbian living conditions are studied based on factors such as identity, community, norms and attitudes. The main results show that the prevailing heteronormativity and gender order were both limiting and liberating for gay women in different situations and that there were different attitudes towards female homosexuality. The various investigated categories are also woven together in the final discussion and their connections and influence on each other are made visible. With this essay, the goal is to contribute to the research of historical lesbian living conditions as well as to contribute with historical role models for lesbians today.

No description available.