Doctoral Dissertation Research: Child Custody and Judicial Constructions of Parenthood

马萨诸塞州阿默斯特大学的乔亚·米斯拉·克里斯蒂娜·托马斯美国家庭生活在过去的50年里发生了巨大的变化。离婚率和非婚生育率有所上升；男女同性恋伴侣和家庭也得到了更多的接受。法院在确定父母身份方面发挥了关键作用，特别是在儿童监护权纠纷的对抗性背景下。虽然研究人员已经研究了父母的性别或性取向如何影响监护权决定，但本文将通过研究父母的性别和性取向如何影响子女监护权决定中的父母身份的司法构建来填补这一重大空白。利用法律研究数据库，调查人员确定了1996年至2008年期间所有50个州和哥伦比亚特区关于同性恋和双性恋父母的州级司法意见。这175个案件与涉及异性恋父母的类似儿童监护权案件相匹配，得出总共350个法庭案件。将完成对这350个案例的定性文本分析，比较异性恋和同性恋父母以及母亲和父亲。本研究将研究两个研究问题：在同性父母和异性父母的司法监护判决中，父母的性别和性取向如何在法院构建“父母”和“家庭”的过程中发挥作用？在母亲与父亲以及男女同性恋父母与异性恋父母的比较中，有没有出现任何有意义的差异或相似之处？法院拥有巨大的权力来影响对家庭的文化定义，这项研究将帮助我们理解法院是如何划定合法父母的界限的。这些发现将为理解家庭中的权力和不平等提供重要的见解，这些权力和不平等对美国家庭具有真正的后果。此外，通过学术报告和文章，调查员将向更广泛的受众传播这项研究，包括政策制定者、法律专业人员和家庭从业人员。最后，本研究将为未来的儿童监护权政策、子女抚养费政策以及其他影响家庭的政策提供参考。

SES-0902860Joya MisraKristina ThomasUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmerican family life has changed significantly in the past fifty years. Rates of divorce and non-marital childbearing have increased; gay and lesbian partnerships and families have also gained greater acceptance. The courts have played a crucial role in defining parenthood, particularly in the adversarial context of child custody disputes. While researchers have examined how parental gender or sexual orientation affects custody decisions, this dissertation will fill a significant gap by examining how both the gender and sexual orientation of the parent affects judicial constructions of parenthood in child custody decisions. Using a legal research database, the investigator has determined the universe of state-level judicial opinions regarding gay, lesbian, and bisexual parents in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 1996 through 2008. These 175 cases were then matched to similar child custody cases involving heterosexual parents, resulting in 350 total court cases. A qualitative textual analysis of these 350 cases will be completed comparing both heterosexual and homosexual parents as well as both mothers and fathers. This research will study to two research questions: In judicial custody decisions of same-sex parents and heterosexual parents, how does the gender and sexuality of the parent play a role in the courts' constructions of "parent" and "family?" In a comparison of mothers to fathers, as well as gay and lesbian parents to heterosexual parents, do any meaningful differences or similarities emerge? The courts hold enormous power to influence the cultural definitions of family and this research will help us understand how courts draw the boundary lines of legal parenthood. Findings will provide important insights into understanding power and inequality in the family, which have real consequences for American families. In addition, through scholarly presentations and articles, the investigator will disseminate the research to a broader audience, including policymakers, legal professionals, and family practitioners. Finally, this study will inform future child custody policy, child support policy, and other policies that affect families.