Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing Or Is It?

Published in

Clippings Autumn 2021

6 min readDec 4, 2021

Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing Or Is It?

Parenting for those who have chosen this path can be both fulfilling and challenging. Ask any parent who has dedicated their life to the nurturing of little ones. The excitement of watching baby’s first steps instantly replaced by a hyperactive toddler hurtling themselves all over the place. The cute babbling merging into baby’s first words as they attempt to communicate. The Unconditional love and hugs intermingled with tantrums as they test the boundaries of their family unit. The proud moment of their first day at school promptly swapped for the first day at High School. The emergence of teenage years coupled with confusion and attitude as they endeavour to make sense of physical and mental changes taking place. Friendship groups, first loves, the insecurities felt as they discover their own sexuality. In a blink of the eye school days are exchanged for college, university and the big wide world full of promise and adventure. Bewildered parents look back wondering where all the time has gone. The same parenting challenges will be experienced regardless of sexual orientation, however same sex parents will undoubtably face added pressures as they navigate their way through parenthood.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FACED BY SAME SEX PARENTS?

Prejudice seems to be the main concern for same sex parents and the fear of how their children’s emotional and social development will be affected. A child of same sex parents is twice as likely to suffer bullying at school, due to the lack of education and understanding of diverse family units. Teachers may equally be unsympathetic to the diversities of a child’s home life. Same sex parents often feel overlooked and ignored by their peers finding acceptance within the school community an up-hill battle. This lack of acknowledgement unquestionably has an impact on the child of a same sex parent. Feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth may develop due to the absence of respect shown to their parents. Children from same sex parents may equally find themselves ostracized from friendship groups due to discrimination and prejudices of other parents.

The Children’s Society reported 1 in 6 children between the ages of 5–16 will suffer with mental health issues.

The charity has seen a rise of 50% in the last three years of young people having mental health problems. According to the charity 5 out of 30 children in a classroom will most likely suffer with mental health later in life.

A national LGBT survey carried out by the Governments Equalities Office in 2018 reported over 68% of the LGBT population avoided physical contact with their same sex partner, for fear of a negative response. The report went on to say that, two in five of the LGBT community had experienced verbal persecution or physical violence. Alarmingly 24% of LGBT had sought help from mental health services. Sadly, many conceal their gender identity fearing rejection and disapproval. Research has shown that LGBT people are more likely to face discrimination and bullying in both education and the workplace. They are equally twice as likely to be victims of hate crime.

ARE SAME SEX PARENTS REPRESENTED FAIRLY WITHIN EDUCATION?

Research appears to indicate that LGBT students believe their needs are not being met within education, especially with regards to sex and relationships. 77% stated that gender and sexual identity had never been discussed within school. The government guidance regarding teaching (PSHE) stipulates “All schools should make provision for PSHE, drawing on good practice. Schools are also free to include other subjects or topics of choice in planning and designing their own programme of education.” For primary schools this also includes relationships education, whilst secondary school incorporates sex education as well. With the freedom for schools to plan and design their own programme of education. the question needs to be addressed as to why the needs of LGBT people are not being incorporated within the curriculum? According to government guidance schools are required to adapt their PSHE programme to reflect the needs of their pupils. The objective of PSHE is to ensure pupils are equipped with the necessary knowledge and understanding in order to make careful and knowledgeable decisions. Relationships and sex education is a major part of PSHE education.

The Office For National Statistics in 2018 reported there were an estimated 1.2 million people over the age of sixteen who identified as LGBT. In 2019 reports stipulated there were 212,000 same sex families living in the UK. In the light of this information, the question needs to be addressed by government as to why the needs of LGBT community are not being met within schools in regard to the PSHE programme? Comments would be welcomed by (Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP)

Children’s books have a major part to play in developing young children’s awareness of the world they are growing up in. But the question is, how well are the children of same sex parents being represented within school and the community. A recent conversation with a mother of a six- and twenty-year-old, confirmed there had been little change regarding the curriculum in schools and in particular literature. The same tired and outdated Biff and Chip books remain the principal reading programme within schools across the country. Token gestures of inclusive reading find their way into book corners of nurseries and Primary schools only touching the surface of the diverse culture we live in.

SO, WHAT’S THE ANSWER?

Unfortunately, until the government tackle the current discrimination found within schools, children of same sex parents and the LGBT community will see little change regarding how they are represented. It is not all doom and gloom however, Surveys such as the one carried out by the Governments Equalities Office can help identify the difficulties experienced by LGBT in particular that of same sex parents. With major issues highlighted activists may see a change for the better.

Thanks to the efforts of LGBT authors such as:

Leslea Newman, Michael Willhote Beth McMurry and many others, Same sex parents and their children can feel some form of representation in the community.

Education Is Key In Tackling Discrimination And Inequality.