This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Almack, K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Display Work

Lesbian Parent Couples and their Families of Origin Negotiating New Kin Relationships

University of Nottingham, k.almack{at}nottingham.ac.uk

This article examines neglected aspects of coming out that arise for lesbian parents and for their families of origin and considers the ways in which these forms of coming out resonate with the concept of display work. It draws upon a study that examines the family lives of lesbian couples who had their first and subsequent children in the context of their current relationship. Respondents identify having children as a point at which their own parents (and other members of their families of origin) are potentially called upon to negotiate new kin relationships. The lesbian parents' child may also be a grandchild, a nephew or niece, a cousin. I utilize the concept of display work to examine respondents' accounts about how they negotiate recognition and validation as a lesbian parent family with their family of origin and how their families of origin `come out' (or not) within their own social networks.

Key Words: coming out • display • family • family practices • lesbian parents

Sociology, Vol. 42, No. 6, 1183-1199 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0038038508096940


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?