(HuffPo) Longest-ever study of lesbian families (24 years and counting) shows child abuse rate of 0%

[Lyric]

Los Angeles, CA -- The Williams Institute, a research center on sexual orientation law and public policy at UCLA School of Law, has announced new findings from the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS), the longest-running study ever conducted on American lesbian families (now in its 24th year). In an article published today in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, the 17-year-old daughters and sons of lesbian mothers were asked about sexual abuse, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior.

The paper found that none of the 78 NLLFS adolescents reports having ever been physically or sexually abused by a parent or other caregiver. This contrasts with 26 percent of American adolescents who report parent or caregiver physical abuse and 8.3 percent who report sexual abuse.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/10/lesbians-child-abuse-0-percent_n_781624.html?ref=fb&src=sp#sb=566668,b=facebook

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NOTE: This does not mean that no lesbian has ever abused a child. It simply means that the overall incidence of child abuse in lesbian families is shockingly low--MUCH lower than in "traditional" families.

What do you all think of this? Why do you think that lesbian families have such a drastically reduced level of child abuse?

I'm leaning toward three major factors: less fundamentalist religious influence, less conservative ideological influence, and the fact that these children are FAR more likely to be "wanted", rather than accidents that result from a birth control failure.

[tabatha]

1. Because statiscally, historically men have been more abusive

parents than women.

[Control-Z]

7. I tend to agree with you.

Having grown up in an abusive home, it seems the most obvious possibility to me. My father was the abuser. Although my mother died when I was 7, my memories of her are only loving and gentle, and unfortunately that she was also abused by my father.

[AzNick]

2. How about male/male couples?

Not that I believe they are more likely than male/female couples to abuse a child.

I believe the contrary. But it is likely to be more than 0%.

Has this study even been done?

And yes, I am LGBT.

[Lyric]

3. I don't think so, not yet.

But if I could hazard a guess, I'd say that the statistical incidence would probably also be much lower than "traditional" families--and for largely the same reasons.

I am a lesbian parent myself.

[AzNick]

23. Has there been any "gayness contamination" studies?

I am joking, of course.

[krispos42]

4. So that's why the righties are so against it...

...it works better than "traditional" marriage and they don't want that getting out.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. The planned birth factor is one theory posited by the authors.

Another is slightly higher maternal ages on average than the general population, which suggests parents who were more mature and financially stable.

[eridani]

6. Because lesbians who get pregnant really want to be moms

Accidental pregnacy is pretty rare.

[BurtWorm]

8. That's because they spare the rod . All their kids are spoiled.

:patriot:

[tabatha]

9. That makes no sense.

Do you have data?

[BurtWorm]

11. Sarcasm.

[jpgray]

12. I have his data here, and they drip red with the cruelty of stereo mothering

:sarcasm:

:hi: :D

[Lyric]

13. "Stereo mothering" OMG.

I love that phrase! Rhythm and I are stealing that one, lol.

:hi:

[Rhythm]

14. And it gets even better later... Dual Mothers-in-law!!!

*evil laughter* :evilgrin:

[TheMadMonk]

16. What's the penalty for bigamy? ^^^^^^ /nt

[BurtWorm]

10. .

[TexasObserver]

15. recommend

[tblue37]

17. Also that a fair amount of child abuse is committed by the male spouse or partner

of a woman who has children from another relationship. That is actually an evolutionary adaptation in many animals. For example, a male lion who takes over a pride will kill the young of the females and then imrpegnate the females himself. Evolutionarily, male animals get more genes into subsequent generations if they kill off the young of the previous male and then impregnate the females--and if they don't "waste" resources helping care for the young that don't share their genese.

Humans carry that evolutionary heritage, too. I am not saying that all men, or even most, would do that, but genes that promote such behavior are conserved by evolution, for obvious reasons, so it is not surprising that children are more likely to be seriously abused by a male partner of their mother who is not their biological father. In a lesbian couple, of course, this isn't an issue at all.

That wouldn't remove all instances of child absue, but it would surely eliminate a significant number of them.

[tomm2thumbs]

18. sounds to me like the facts speak for themselves, no?

Lesbians are better at getting their kids to keep secrets...

:sarcasm:

[gaspee]

19. No male parent?

Just a guess. Both of my male parents (biological and step) are abusers. Verbal and physical, not sexual. I have had quite a few friends over the years who are survivors of physical and emotional abuse and not one of them had an abusive mother. Just food for thought.

[Rhythm]

21. I am the product of 'traditional' parents... mom was abusive for most of my childhood

Mom had a hormone-imbalance-driven psychosis that went undiagnosed until i was in high school.
Dad was too busy working two jobs (paying child support for kids of 2 previous marriages) to know what was going on most of the time, but when she did act out when he was there, he put a stop to it immediately.


Coming from that background and trauma, i try my hardest EVERY DAY not to be her... to end the cycle, so that LyricKid and our nephews grow up to be well-adjusted people.

[grahamhgreen]

20. Less testosterone, more estrogen.

[Hydra]

22. This is great news

And it's logical- The Lesbian Parents wanted to have the kids, and are probably much better prepared than most when they take the plunge.

That's always been my biggest question- why are we keeping kids that need to be adopted away from willing, able and prepared prospective parents just because it won't be "traditional"?

First smile since I logged in to DU :D