Canadians are currently engaged in a debate about legalizing same-sex marriage. Would this change in legislation present a challenge to the institution of marriage or to the family?
Sociologists may contribute to this debate at two levels: by considering the nature and role of marriage as a social institution and second, through research that examines the quality of same-sex relationships.
Studies of same-sex couples and families have asked about relationship satisfaction, issues of power and conflict, the practice of monogamy, and the consequences of same-sex parenting on children. While there are limits to our existing data and knowledge-base, we may ask whether our findings to date suggest that same-sex couples are able to carry out the responsibilities, obligations, and functions that sociologists associate with marriage.
Speaker: Dr. Muriel Mellow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at The University of Lethbridge. She holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from McGill University. She specializes in the areas of gender, work and family, is currently teaching the course on The Family in the Department of Sociology. She is engaged in research on the role of volunteers in hospitals and is working on a book about the challenges for clergy in balancing professional and personal lives.