Queer Mothering and Motherhood: Examining Empowerment via Gender Roles

This essay explores the multifaceted dimensions of queer mothering and motherhood, examining the concept of empowerment through the lens of non-conforming gender practices. It delves into the historical association of mothering with female bodies and heteronormative culture, highlighting the marginalization of the LGBTQ community. The essay questions whether emerging forms of queer mothering truly represent empowerment or simply a new form of social surveillance. It analyzes the challenges faced by queer parents, including identity confusion and societal pressures to conform to mainstream norms. The essay further examines the complexities of homonormativity and homonationalism, as well as the absence of father figures in queer parenting models. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of societal support and inclusivity to ensure that queer parents and their children can fully realize their rights and experience genuine empowerment. Desklib offers a wealth of resources for students seeking to understand these complex social issues.

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
Name of the student
Name of the university
Authors note

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
Introduction
This paper is going to deal with the various version of motherhood and will explore on
the non-confirming gender practices as a form of empowerment. Traditionally the role of mother
and the act of mothering has been associated with female bodies; this kind of practices has lead
to the emergence of dominant culture where heteronormatitvity is celebrated. Thus, any kind of
discrepancy to the dominant mainstream culture is perceived as aberrant. People representing the
LGBQT community has been marginalized from the time immemorial (Gibson, 2014).
However, due to the increasing literature around this marginalized community has led
open innumerable reforms. Reforms are in the form of law, legislation, social and economic as
well. Now the central question is regarding the newer form of mothering that is emerging with
the ongoing trend. If at these newer form of mothering is empowering or just another form of
surveillance. In this paper, these ideas regarding how the newer form of mothering is
empowering will be discussed.
Main Body
It becomes very important to understand the place of the queer women who partakes in
the process of motherhood. The ideological status of queer women is regarded just as the
opposite of mothering. This is because it challenges the understanding of normalcy. As Lee
Edelman has argued that queer women has been considered as the cultural contradiction to
“Reproductive Futurity” (3-5). It is in this note one need to understand the idea of normalcy.
Studies have showed that the queer parents try various means and methods to develop the
attitude that can be identified with the mainstream culture. In doing this there may arise various
problems that might form the dilemma related to the identify confusion. Most of the research has

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
shown that the children who are raised in the queer parenting perform same as the children who
are nurtured by the heterosexual parents.
However, it is important to notice that these mothers are also trying to put themselves in
the cloth of the normal parents, to feel better about them. Thus, it is very important to notice that
one is enjoying the sense of identity in borrowed terms. With this point a point of enquiry arises
which will be explored further in the essay that question the relevance of the empowerment
exercised by this women.
The children borne by these parents go through the same crisis and usually suffer from
the identity confusion, experimentation with their sexuality or sometime their usual mental and
physiological health. Instead of feeling empowered with their newer forms of identity they battle
out the homophobic rhetoric by emphasizing on their commonality, thus there are constantly
under the process of normalization (Arnup, K. (1998).
However, it becomes important to notice the ways in which the normalizing trends are
resisted. Instead of focusing on the urges of these parents to fit in the normal and the dominant
role, the values and the relevant initiative that are taken by them to de-sex themselves, must be
analyzed carefully.
Studies across cultures have showed that queer parents have readily embraced normalcy
by de-sexualizing themselves. If the ultimate goal of parenting is defined in the context of
providing the unconditional love and support to the children then the queer parents are constantly
in negotiation to de-sexualize them and attain the dominant values present in the social
institutions.

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
This kind of budding forms of parenting are not only restricted to the local or the
particular form of social institution but it also has larger and wider appeal. Owing to these set of
transformation the LGBQT community is become more market oriented and earning the status of
neoliberal. It cannot only provide empowerment to the queer parents but it can also exercise a
wider national recognition. Duggan accurately has mentioned the significance of these budding
from of parenting styles. He states that the new forms of homonormativity indentify LGBQT
rights. Thus homonationalism has become the fundamental way in which it can be resist as well
as challenge the functioning of heternormativity, which works by having the conjunction with
racism, capitalism, imperialism, sexism, ableism and the other forms of material inequity. In this
way, newer forms of parent promotes empowerment and also challenges the dominant cultural
forms.
The most pronounced problem in queer parenting is concerned with the missing status of
father. What relevance does the father role play in this kind of parenting? There is strict
adherence to the notion that fathers are no longer needed for a successful parenting. The most
affected are the children because they grow in the absence of any father figure. Thus fathers are
really imagined and men are included in the process of decision making. This kind of family
structure also nurtures certain values that are inherent to it but these values in turn challenge the
true nature of empowerment.
Before proceeding further it is very important to understand what does empowerment
actually means. Empowerment not necessarily advocates on the principle of living secluded or
being at the high level of power hierarchy. Neither does it mean to gain prominence in the
economic or political sense.

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
Empowerment refers the true ability of exercising the decision-making power in any
particular situation. Thus participation in parenting does not identify with the exclusion of the
father role. This kind of relationship also brings perils upon their children and thus brings into
notice the importance of normalcy.
While considering the various nuances that is presented in the queer community it
becomes important for the reader to learn about the diversity that is only within the queer
mothers. Children of the queer mother are raised from different situation. It is important to
realize that queer mothers are not a homogeneous category they also include variety of other
dimension.
Some of them are still suffering in a heterosexual marriage whereas some have come out
of their closet while some are still suffering against their identity confusion. Studies involving
queer community insists on their inclusion but in reality, things are quite different. The children
raised by the queer parents are often accused of comments and receive ostracization from the
mainstream culture.
The empowered status of them cannot just stay in term of paper work. The mindset of the
people needs to be welcoming enough. Empowerment cannot exist on its own other social
institutions also needs to support or encourage such behavior. The problem is that still feeds on
to their stigma are encouraged in many other forms.
Lack of recognition of the popular media or their absence in the book s they study affect
the understanding ability of the children. In this way, the children themselves feel that they do
not belong to the community. Thus, the entire understand of the empowerment fails to develop
due to lack of support from other independent forms of social institutions.

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
This kind of crisis needs to be addressed with proper sensitivity because the emerging
kind of mothering status will no longer affirm to the set of identities in strict term. With the age
of globalization the cultural influences run deeper the identity are becoming more flexible. These
newer kind of parenting will enhance the understanding of how identity can be malleable across
political boundaries. It can argued that these kind of parenting will also raise issue of identity
self-destruction.
However, it is again important for one to exercise her own choice and the rights will
follow later. In this way these woman who practice queer parenting are being symbolized as
empowered mothers. These women are not only defying their traditional heterosexual norm but
they are also raising issue that values the emotional over their bodily limitation. In this way these
kind of parenting harps on the value of empowerment and their egalitarian access to every form
of life possible.
Again, it is interesting to see how the division of work within the house is equally shared.
These kind of newer patterns of housework advocated on how equally the burden of house
chores can be shared without any predefined notion to it. The division of work within the lesbian
couples preaches the egalitarian approach to the pattern of work without following any gender
stereotype. Thus as argued before in the paper their inclination towards normalcy is not very
true.
This is because they in their aim of normalization also create newer version of role and
performances. Thus, it can be said that this kind of parenting are empowering and it raises
important agenda against the mainstream cultures.

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
However, it is also important to realize the cultural and the social hindrance that obstruct
the full utilization of their rights. Occasional ostracization or sexual comments can be
demotivating for the child thus before the reforms in form of paper work reformation should be
initiated within the mind.
Queer parenting is one of the major taboos in the present society and it has been one of
the major factor that have impacted the children. Queer parenting is one of the major issues that
have impacted the life of the children. The perception of the society is that it impacts the sexual
orientation of the child.
However, it is not mandatory that it is going to impact their sexual orientation. There is
another major factor that is associated with the queer parenting is that the children are going to
suffer more child abuse compared to the heterosexual parents.
However, the significant misconception of the people that is associated with the
perception of the people (Mendez, 2017). There has been one of the most significant impact on
the parenting of the child is that queer parenting projects is that the care for the children. There
has been significant impact on the parenting of the children.
The studies reveal there has been significant issue that the media comprises in not
projecting the benefits of the queer parenting. The media has to play a significant role in
minimizing the taboo of the society that is associated with the queer parenting.
There has to be significant impact on the society of queer parenting (Blackwell et al.,
2016). Children wellbeing is one of the major factor that is associated with the parenting of the
child. The parents has to incorporate the measure that will be affecting the aspects of the swell

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
being of the child. Children well-being is one of the major concerns when it comes queer
parenting.
However, the parents need to incorporate the terms that will be required to do so. The
children might be facing the bullying from the society for being parented by the LBQT. The
children might also face the problems such as discrimination from the society.
Thus, it is one of the major factor for the media to minimize reduce the taboo of the queer
parenting. The community of LBQT can help this by projecting the non-traditional families and
communicate this being more acceptable. There has to be a significant importance that will be
liable for the increasing the acceptance of this type of society.
However, there are benefits associated with as there has to be the parenting is more
supportive and the children are being raised at the right standards. Queer parenting can also
impact the development of the society by reducing the negative attitude towards the non-
traditional families.
There has to be significant impact that is associated with providing the right balance to
the society. The queer parenting can impact the society by developing the aspect that are
associated with the development of culture to accept the non-traditional families.
From the above paper we can conclude that the queer parenting, queer mothers are almost
similar to the heterosexual mothers. The paper tried to find out the social as well as the cultural
emphasis on the economic status and the interactions with the other segments in the society.
The research paper also tied to find out their personality trait so as to portray out the
angularity and the variations which are faced by the LBQT people along with the other segments

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
in the society. It studied about their lifestyle and various culture patterns to have a better
understanding of them as well as bring out the deviation among them.
The unique challenges which are faced by the gay male parents are the arise from the
negative attitudes from the society towards the intimate relationship of the queer parenting. They
also face various other negative societal attitudes towards the nature of the relationship they have
with each other, the methods they have becoming a successful parent as well as the relationship
they share with their children.
The LBQT community, which is also referred to as the gay community, consists of
different kinds of supportive persons, organizations, as well as subcultures, which are united by a
very well defined culture. The LBQT community generally celebrates pride, individuality as well
as sexuality in their own way.
Their should be a support by the people in the society which is necessary I helping the
LBQT people in maintain the lifestyle. A support system is generally recommended to help the
people in need. It is almost found that there is an utmost need of the homosexuals for the
parenthood with a review to extend the linkage as well as the identity as a legacy.
The LBQT people are very much harassed by the public, the police men as well as they
are verbally assaulted in the society as well as in the roads and traffics. They also face various
types of difficulties in their workplace as they are mostly denied from getting job in a good
organization, in many cases they are also fired from the job and are prevented from living in a
neighborhood. This type of treatment results in the development of the “internalized stigma”.
In the above paper as discussed about the various problems which are faced by the LBQT
people in the society, it was found that the problems only occurs among the same sex people in

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
the society. Unfortunately, the domestic violence of the victims of the same sex couples do not
receive the help from the society as well as the government.
Conclusion
This only happens due to the lack of the legal recognition of the government policies.
This is also found that due to the lack of special recognition from the society as well as the
government they suffer physical, emotional as well as various other psychological mistreatment
by the partners of the same sex. Due to this reason, they are left in a feeling of misused, or they
suffer deeply in fear, isolation as well as guilt. However, the newer forms of studies that are
emerging in the field of LGBQT studies enhances the proliferation of interests in empowerment.
These kind of changes that are occurring are informed with gender and role fluidity. The new
kind of transformation that it is harboring needs operational and legal support. It is important to
understand that even the cultural and social transformation is taking place, without the help of
the legal framework the change could not retain a dominant grip in global cultural. In this way, a
sustainable and egalitarian future can be accessed.

Running head: MOTHERING AND MOTHERHOOD
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