Introductory: week 1

    This week's topic focused a lot on the study of family dynamics, specifically those of homosexual and intact biological families as well as the effect these dynamics had on child rearing. After looking over all the readings, it made a lot of sense as to why the means by which data is collected as well as what data is being collected is so important. If we looked at just the title of a study or the end result, such as the APA's statement that "children of gay marriages are at no disadvantage compared to heterosexual families," we would be inclined to believe it regardless of whether it's correct or not. In this case, as we looked and read further into the article individually and as a class it's easy to find that the statement is false. Many of the studies provided as evidence weren't tested against a control group, or an intact biological family, that being a family with a mother and father in a loving environment. The tests were either done without any control or against groups of single mothers, which are situations already shown to rear children at a disadvantage. The studies also neglected diversity in their test groups, be it of ethnicity or economic class, creating another inaccurate measure regardless of whether the test groups were put against a control group. What was being studied was also skewed, few to none of these studies actually looked at how the children turned out. Many looked at the parent's opinion on how they were raising their kids as well as psychologist perspectives on the children, but the children themselves were not taken into account. The studies were faulty and the data is skewed, yet the results have had a huge impact on politics and the law, which is a little scary that it wasn't looked into further prior to law being affected. 

    After the discussion on this first article about the APA, Brother Williams showed us more reliable data with greater and more diverse data. The results found that the most successful families in producing well reared adults were those on intact biological families, those being made up of a mother and father providing a healthy environment for children to learn and grow. While it was good to see more accurate data, it was also disheartening to see the faulty studies having so much more traction than more accurate data. During lecture, Brother Williams discussed the why behind these studies being supported despite the possibly harmful outcome, in the end it just came down to the fact that it's loud and popular and that's just where the world is going.

My personal opinions on the matter; 

    The opinions of the world can be very appealing to some, especially to those who bear the trials that come with feelings of homosexuality. We as human beings are meant to want love, a home, and a family, it's just how we're made. I can't imagine the struggle that individuals given this trial face, especially those of my own faith, but I don't think trying to change the family and push for situations where children will not be reared in a way that gives them the best chance of success is the way to go about helping anyone. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, it is my belief that, "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity," (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). I think the way our Creator intended the family unit will result in the best outcome for children, simply because it was designed by a perfect being who made each of us knows a whole lot more than we do.