Same-sex parenting: an anthropological study of bringing up children in non-heteronormative settings

The project focuses on the analysis of the development of gender roles, partner relationship dynamics, and family structures, with particular attention to families in which two adults of the same sex jointly raise children. It addresses two distinct types of families: those formed through same-sex partnerships, and those constituted through kinship ties—most commonly mother–daughter tandems in which childcare is supported by grandmothers. While parenting within same-sex partnerships is a relatively recent phenomenon in Latvia, same-sex, two-generation family structures are a more widespread, though largely unacknowledged, form of child-rearing. In official statistics, such families are typically classified as “single-parent families,” which represent the most common type of household with minor children.

By focusing on these family forms, the project aims to achieve three main objectives:

1. To contribute to the theorisation of gender and family relations within a broader European context. This enables an exploration of sexual and emotional relationships within families, as well as the organisation of partnerships and childcare in the absence of publicly recognised role models in society.
2. To develop an evidence base and policy-relevant recommendations for the support of non-heteronormative families, and to identify gaps in existing support mechanisms.
3. Through the use of participatory research methodologies, to empower stakeholders and potential co-researchers from the target group to deepen their understanding of more inclusive approaches to families and family-related rights.