Sex Researchers:

Background

Judith Stacey is sociology professor at New York University’s Center of the Study of Gender and Sexuality. Previously she had taught at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Davis. Dr. Stacey’s works focus on feminism, gender and cultural studies, and the political arena of the family and sexuality. She is most noted for her research with gay and lesbian families. Dr. Stacey has written four books, has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and lectured extensively throughout the country.

Theory/Research

Dr. Stacey’s work has mostly concentrated on the looking at changes in the family structure. Her writings explain and support the idea that the definition of a family has changed and should be embraced. Dr. Stacey has also been very vocal about same-sex marriage and gay family rights issues. Her most popular research has been the examination of 21 studies of children of gay or lesbian parents. Dr. Stacey believes the sexual orientation of a parent has no detrimental effect on offspring.

Results

Dr. Stacey’s analysis of studies concerning children of gay or lesbian parents concluded that the parent’s sexual orientation had little to do with successful child rearing. Results could not corroborate that children were harmed growing up in a gay or lesbian family. The study did show that children of gays tended to function as well as other children and boys raised by lesbian mothers tended to be less aggressive and more nurturing. Dr. Stacey’s works reiterates the idea of what the family looks like has changed and get used to it.

Commentary

As most will predict, allegiance to Dr. Stacey’s work comes primarily from the Feminist and GLBT community. Criticism of her work is usually found in the conservative and religious fields. Her viewpoints are frequently cited by both those promoting either a negative or positive perspective about the status of the family.

Resources

Blankenhorn, D. (2001). Strengthening America’s Families. Letters. The Nation. Retrieved from the American Values website: http://www.americanvalues.org/html/page124951.html

New York University Department of Sociology website: http://sociology.fas.nyu.edu/object/judithstacey

Stacey, J. & Biblarz, T. (2001). (How) does the sexual orientation of parents matter. American Sociological Review, 66(2), 159-183.

Stacey, J. 2004. Marital suitors court social science spin-sters: the unwittingly conservative effects of public sociology. Social Problems, 51(1), 131-145.

Stacey, J. 1993. Good riddance to “the family:”A response to David Popenoe. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55(3), 545-547.

Books by Judith Stacey

Stacey, J. (1996). In the Name of the Family: rethinking family values in the postmodern age. Boston: Beacon Press.

Stacey, J. (1990). Brave New Families: Stories of Domestic Upheaval in Late Twentieth-Century America. Basic Books.

Stacey, J. (1983). Patriarchy and Socialist Revolution in China. University of California Press.

Stacey, J., Bereaud, S. & Daniels, J. (Eds.). (1974). And Jill Came Tumbling After: Sexism in American Eduction. Dell.