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- Title
Lesbian families: cultural and clinical issues.
- Authors
Hall, Marny
- Abstract
The article suggests a multilevel approach in social work to address cultural and clinical issues associated with lesbian families. To counteract society's hostility toward homosexuality, effective social work with lesbian couples and families must include cultural as well as clinical work. This article suggests a multilevel approach, including self-exploration on the part of the worker, acquisition of specific clinical tools, and assumption of an advocacy stance with lesbian clients and other professionals. As the traditional nuclear family declines as the norm in the U.S. in numbers if not in influence, members of alternative families are appearing with greater frequency in the agency offices and clinical practice of social workers. Parenthood for same-sex couples and single gay people, most often lesbians, is currently under scrutiny as an alternative life style. Social workers are finding themselves in the roles of experts about the viability of such alternatives, and as such their influence can be profound. The growing number of occasions for social workers to take stands on such critical issues requires a professional community that is informed about problems unique to lesbian families. These issues, which social workers face in their contacts with lesbian clients as family members and as couples, are the focus of this article.
- Subjects
PSYCHIATRIC social work; LESBIAN families; SOCIAL workers; HOMOSEXUALITY; NUCLEAR families; SOCIAL services
- Publication
Social Work, 1978, Vol 23, Issue 5, p380
- ISSN
0037-8046
- Publication type
Article