Queer Kinship on the Edge? Families of Choice in Poland explores ways in which queer families from Central and Eastern Europe complicate the mainstream picture of queer kinship and families researched in the Anglo-American contexts.
The book presents findings from under-represented localities as a starting point to query some of the expectations about queer kinship and to provide insights on the scale and nature of queer kinship in diverse geopolitical locations and the complexities of lived experiences of queer families. Drawing on a rich qualitative multi-method study to address the gap in queer kinship studies which tend to exclude Polish or wider Central and Eastern perspectives, it offers a multi-dimensional picture of ‘families of choice’ improving sensitivity towards differences in queer kinship studies. Through case studies and interviews with diverse members of queer families (i.e., queer parents, their children) and their families of origin (parents and siblings), the book looks at queer domesticity, practices of care, defining and displaying families, queer parenthood familial homophobia, and interpersonal relationships through the life course.
This study is suitable for those interested in LGBT studies, sexuality studies, kinship and Eastern European studies.
Author(s): Joanna Mizielińska
Series: Transforming LGBTQ Lives
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 222
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction
Queer kinship/family theoretical framework
Current Dilemma? Assimilation vs. Subversion Is not the Same Everywhere
When East Meets West: CEE and Anglo-American hegemonies
Where and When Is CEE? Space and Time Revisited
De-Centring Western Sexualities – Revisited
Semi-Peripheral Position of CEE and Postcolonial/Decolonial Discourses
Polish Context and the Question of Queer Families
Polish Familism
Polish Heteronormativity and Conservatism
The Process of Emancipation of Non-Heterosexual People in Poland
Legal Situation of Queer Families
Structure of the Book
Notes
Chapter 2: Polishing Queer Relational Trajectory
Introduction
The Formative Phase and Contexts for Entering into Relationships
From “Friend” to “Lover”: Pathways to Enter into Non-Heterosexual Relationships
Partner as a Biographical Caretaker
Stabilisation Phase. Multiple Paths and Dimensions of Stabilisation
Moving in Together as Doing Family
Home, Sweet Home? The Different Meaning of (Queer) Domesticity
The Importance of Home in Strategies of Becoming a Couple
The Taboo of a Non-Heterosexual Household
Regulating Property as a Formal Family Proclamation
Formalisation of a Relationship as Tactics to Gain Recognition
Implementation of Reproductive Plans
Conclusions
Notes
Chapter 3: Ain’t We a Family?
Introduction
“Families against Everything” 1 – Meanings of “Family”
Partner as a Family
Practical vs. Theoretical Family
Family and Kinship Practices
Creating a Shared Household
Family Rituals and Spending Time Together
Support, Care, Responsibility, Reciprocity
Emotional Closeness
The “Gray Zone” of the Family
“An Alien Family” 4
Friends as Family
“Well, but This Is Only a Pet” 5 – The Role of Animals
Conclusions
Notes
Chapter 4: Communicating Vessels: Relations with Families of Origin
Introduction
Family Stickness
Practices of Disclosures and Recognition as a Family
Familial Homophobia and Rejection
Transparent and Family Closet or Selective Disclosure
Silence, Guessing, and Strategic Omission
Changes in Time: From Rejection to Moderate Acceptance and Recognition
Mutual Dependencies and Family Practices
The Need for Family Support
Acts of Care and Protection Towards the Family of Origin
Conclusions
Notes
Chapter 5: Queer(ing) Parenthood
Introduction
Queer Parenthood in Numbers
Mothers “Under Censorship” 3 and the Primacy of Motherly Love
Lesbian Step Families
Lesbian Planned Families
Paths of Gay Fatherhood
Illegitimate Parents, or Living in Uncertainty
Tactics of Resistance
Family Contracts and Formal Solutions
Protective and Fictive Marriages
Building a Support Network
“Buying” Security and Recognition
Being Like Others
“Stolen Moments” of Passing as a Family
Queering Baptism
Migrations
Conclusions: Queering Parenthood in Poland?
Notes
Chapter 6: Queer Spawn Talks Back
Introduction
Children’s Family Picture
She Is Not Entirely Ours Nor Is She Entirely Alien 3 – Social Motherhood through Children’s Eyes
Mourning the Social Mother?
Children’s Reaction to Their Parents’ Coming Out
Trajectories of Unnamed Experience and Sudden Change
Familial Homophobia
Disclosure to Peers
Religious Education as Lessons of Intolerance and Discrimination 6
Community and Private Schools as Protection against Homophobia
Conclusions
Notes
Chapter 7: Conclusions
Beyond “Either/Or” Paradigm or What (Queer) Resistance Might Mean?
Tactics as the Art of the Weak
Note
Appendix: Methodology
The Research Sample
Ethics and Positionality
Bibliography
Index
