Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in Czechia
This mixed‐methods article focuses on childlessness and barriers to parenthood among non‐heterosexual men in Czechia. On the quantitative sample of 419 men (165 gays, 125 bisexuals, and 129 heterosexuals with same‐sex romantic/sexual attraction), recruited on a representative online panel, we map th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cogitatio
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Social Inclusion |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/5246 |
| _version_ | 1818081001291644928 |
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| author | Hana Hašková Hana Maříková Zdeněk Sloboda Kristýna Pospíšilová |
| author_facet | Hana Hašková Hana Maříková Zdeněk Sloboda Kristýna Pospíšilová |
| author_sort | Hana Hašková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This mixed‐methods article focuses on childlessness and barriers to parenthood among non‐heterosexual men in Czechia. On the quantitative sample of 419 men (165 gays, 125 bisexuals, and 129 heterosexuals with same‐sex romantic/sexual attraction), recruited on a representative online panel, we map the parenting desires, intentions, and perceived barriers to parenthood. Our analysis identifies a substantial group of gay men without parenting desires and intentions compared to heterosexuals and bisexuals, and the lack of legal recognition of same‐sex families as a crucial barrier to gay parenthood. The qualitative enquiry, based on semi‐structured interviews with 23 self‐identified gay men aged 25 to 47 years, explores how they reflect on (not) becoming parents and contextualises those reflections. The deployed concept of “parental consciousness” captures the variety of considered pathways to gay parenthood and proves itself useful in understanding the low parenting desires and a generational shift among Czech gay men. We argue that men able to come out in their early adulthood in the post‐socialist context tend to have more diversified perspectives on possible pathways to parenthood. Among gaymen without children, we identified three distinct perceptions of the state: given childlessness, chosen childfree life, and a life stage/indecision. The informants pursuing parenthood have seen identity‐specific barriers to parenthood as crucial, which is discussed in the context of state selective regulations of the relational lives of persons with non‐normative identities. Although Czech gay men’s parental consciousness has increased, legal conditions remain crucial for increasing their real‐life options. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:59:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99691172eccd4e169e60410335f83abb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2183-2803 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:59:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Cogitatio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Inclusion |
| spelling | doaj.art-99691172eccd4e169e60410335f83abb2022-12-22T01:37:03ZengCogitatioSocial Inclusion2183-28032022-08-0110312413710.17645/si.v10i3.52462529Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in CzechiaHana Hašková0Hana Maříková1Zdeněk Sloboda2Kristýna Pospíšilová3Department of Gender and Sociology, Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech RepublicDepartment of Gender and Sociology, Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech RepublicDepartment of Gender and Sociology, Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech RepublicDepartment of Gender and Sociology, Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech RepublicThis mixed‐methods article focuses on childlessness and barriers to parenthood among non‐heterosexual men in Czechia. On the quantitative sample of 419 men (165 gays, 125 bisexuals, and 129 heterosexuals with same‐sex romantic/sexual attraction), recruited on a representative online panel, we map the parenting desires, intentions, and perceived barriers to parenthood. Our analysis identifies a substantial group of gay men without parenting desires and intentions compared to heterosexuals and bisexuals, and the lack of legal recognition of same‐sex families as a crucial barrier to gay parenthood. The qualitative enquiry, based on semi‐structured interviews with 23 self‐identified gay men aged 25 to 47 years, explores how they reflect on (not) becoming parents and contextualises those reflections. The deployed concept of “parental consciousness” captures the variety of considered pathways to gay parenthood and proves itself useful in understanding the low parenting desires and a generational shift among Czech gay men. We argue that men able to come out in their early adulthood in the post‐socialist context tend to have more diversified perspectives on possible pathways to parenthood. Among gaymen without children, we identified three distinct perceptions of the state: given childlessness, chosen childfree life, and a life stage/indecision. The informants pursuing parenthood have seen identity‐specific barriers to parenthood as crucial, which is discussed in the context of state selective regulations of the relational lives of persons with non‐normative identities. Although Czech gay men’s parental consciousness has increased, legal conditions remain crucial for increasing their real‐life options.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/5246barriers to gay parenthoodchildlessnessczechiagay menparenting desires and intentions |
| spellingShingle | Hana Hašková Hana Maříková Zdeněk Sloboda Kristýna Pospíšilová Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in Czechia Social Inclusion barriers to gay parenthood childlessness czechia gay men parenting desires and intentions |
| title | Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in Czechia |
| title_full | Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in Czechia |
| title_fullStr | Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in Czechia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in Czechia |
| title_short | Childlessness and Barriers to Gay Parenthood in Czechia |
| title_sort | childlessness and barriers to gay parenthood in czechia |
| topic | barriers to gay parenthood childlessness czechia gay men parenting desires and intentions |
| url | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion/article/view/5246 |
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