Family Secrets
eBook - ePub

Family Secrets

Gay Sons - A Mother's Story

  1. 258 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

Family Secrets

Gay Sons - A Mother's Story

About this book

As a clinical psychologist, Jean Baker had always considered herself open-minded and tolerant, but found she wasn't prepared for the revelation that her only two children were both gay. Family Secrets is an inspirational story of how she and her family learned to accept one another and overcome their internalized fears and prejudices as well as how they coped with a much greater challenge in their personal lives--HIV/AIDS. Family Secrets is more than a parenting memoir, however. It is a guide that draws upon research and scientific findings to capsize the myths and stereotypes that contribute to societal homophobia. It offers important insight into the developmental needs of gay children, and it discusses the issues faced by gay and lesbian youth and their families.Offering practical suggestions about how parents and schools can help gay, lesbian, and bisexual children grow up to be productive, psychologically healthy adults, Family Secrets discusses the effects of social prejudice and stigma on the social and emotional development of sexual minorities. As long as homophobia is running rampant in American society, gay children are going to be reluctant or afraid to confide in their parents, and parents will have trouble understanding and accepting homosexuality in their children. To end the secrecy and build open and healthy environments for all children and adolescents, this book discusses:

  • tactics for reducing homophobia in non-gay youths
  • promoting tolerance and understanding of sexual minorities at home and in school
  • the effects an AIDS death has on families
  • "coming out" about HIV/AIDS
  • discussing homosexuality with your children, regardless of whether or not they are gay or lesbian
  • sexual orientation and the interaction of biology with experienceBecause Family Secrets is written from the viewpoint of a parent/psychologist, it offers insights into the developmental needs of gay and lesbian children in a way that no other book has done. School counselors, psychologists, marriage and family counselors, teachers, school administrators, and the parents and siblings of gays and lesbians will all benefit from reading this honest, helpful, and encouraging book.

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Yes, you can access Family Secrets by Jean M Baker in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Social Sciences & Mental Health in Psychology. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication
  6. About the Author
  7. Table of Contents
  8. Preface
  9. Acknowledgments
  10. Chapter 1. Love Overcomes
  11. Chapter 2. Childhood
  12. Chapter 3. Adolescence
  13. Chapter 4. A Son Comes Out
  14. Chapter 5. Coming of Age
  15. Chapter 6. Columbia Years: 1981-1984
  16. Chapter 7. A Mother's Coming Out
  17. Chapter 8. Becoming a Writer
  18. Chapter 9. The Verdict
  19. Chapter 10. After the Verdict
  20. Chapter 11. Another Verdict
  21. Chapter 12. Forewarnings
  22. Chapter 13. Strange Interlude
  23. Chapter 14. Final Days
  24. Chapter 15. Grief, Loss, and AIDS
  25. Chapter 16. Memories and the Right to Die
  26. Chapter 17. Homosexuality: Facts, Fallacies, Feelings
  27. References
  28. Index