Some critics maintain that same-sex parenting can have negative effects on children. Proving this notion wrong, a latest study shows that children raised by same-sex couples are more aware and good citizens than those brought up by heterosexual couples.
The research conducted by the Williams Institute studied the Dutch national survey of civic competence of children aged between 11 and 13. The children were divided into two groups; those of heterosexual couples and kids raised by same-sex couples.
"In light of the current international and sociocultural focus on the responsibilities of citizenship, these findings suggest that growing up in nontraditional families fosters a grounding in democratic principles," said Principal Investigator Henny Bos, PhD., a former visiting international scholar at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law in a press release. "President Barack Obama speaks frequently about the responsibilities of citizenship-the idea that countries work most effectively when we accept civic obligations to one another and to future generations."
For the study, children were asked a wide range of questions about accepting and contributing to a democratic society, taking shared responsibility, handling minor conflicts or conflicts of interest, and handling social, cultural, religious, and outward differences.
However, the researchers noted that previous studies on the families of the same-sex couples were based on convenience sample. But for this study, the researchers observed the same-sex families from the national data.
Overall, the findings from this study suggest that growing up in a nontraditional family may be associated with a greater appreciation of diversity and the development of good citizenship, the researchers noted.
