Abstract
Qualitative research on LGBTQ-parent families and queer individuals and families of all kinds has burgeoned, to include narratives, interviews, diaries, emotion maps, participatory action research, and visual and performative methods—individually or in combination. In this chapter, we examine a range of qualitative methods, particularly from the lens of a qualitative multiple methods approach developed by Jacqui Gabb. We also address conceptual, theoretical, intersectional, and methodological tensions that remain or have emerged regarding how qualitative LGBTQ-parent family research is conducted, to what ends, and how it should be represented in publication, for researchers, for practitioners, and for participants themselves. Our goal is to show that qualitative LGBTQ-parent family research has come of age: a great deal of exciting research is appearing around the globe, and yet, this area also faces numerous challenges to retaining its cutting edge nature. Finally, we combine new conceptual areas with empirical exemplars on topics highly relevant to studying family relationships in the context of sexuality and other intersections: (a) era, age, and generation; (b) social class, sociocultural capital, and the economies of reproductive labor; (c) listening to children; and (d) situating sexual–maternal identities at home.
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Notes
- 1.
All studies were completed in the United Kingdom. The content and scope of these projects were discussed in full with all participants including children living in the household. Children’s age and maturity are important factors in making sense of family practices; the age of children is therefore included when citing extracts from their data. Pseudonyms are used for all participants.
- 2.
Perverting Motherhood? Sexuality and Lesbian Motherhood was ESRC-funded doctoral research completed in 1999–2002. Lesbian mothers (n = 18) and children (n = 13).
- 3.
Behind Closed Doors was an ESRC-funded project (RES-000-22-0854), completed in 2004–2005. Mothers (n = 9), fathers (n = 5), and children (n = 10).
- 4.
Enduring Love? was an ESRC-funded project (ESRC RES-062-23-3056), completed in 2011–2014. Women (n = 54), men (n = 43), and gender queer (n = 3). Seventeen of these couples identify as LGBQ and in four couples, one partner is trans. Due to the focus of this chapter, we will not refer to survey data (n = 5445), only qualitative data from couples (n = 50).
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Gabb, J., Allen, K.R. (2020). Qualitative Research on LGBTQ-Parent Families. In: Goldberg, A.E., Allen, K.R. (eds) LGBTQ-Parent Families. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35610-1_28
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