Dr. Sara DiazWGST 202: Gender, Difference, and PowerGonzaga University

Love in The Family

bell hooks on Love

“When we know what love is, when we love, we are able to search our memories

and see the past with new eyes; we are able to transform the present and dream the

future. Such is love’s power. Love heals.” (p. 255)

Interracial Marriages

• History tied to anti-miscegenation laws.• 1967 Loving v State of Virginia overturned

remaining bans on mixed-race marriages. • About 9.5% of marriages are interracial (2010)• Mixed-raced opposite-sex marriages follow

interesting gender patterns (2000):• 73% of black-white couples were black

husband/white wife• 75% of white-Asian couples were white

husband/Asian wife

Same-Sex Families

• Nearly 1 million self identified same-sex households (2010)• Many raising children

• Same-sex families live in 99.3% of the counties across the US!

•More likely to be interracial (~20.6%)

Civil Unions vs. Marriage

• Civil Unions /Domestic Partnership - legal recognition of relationship

• Not usually recognized beyond state/municipality

• Civil unions, unlike marriage are not recognized by the federal government.

Defense of Marriage Act

• Passed in 1996 (signed into law by Bill Clinton)

• June 2013 Section 3 ruled unconstitutional by SCOTUS• Federal Govt wouldn’t recognize same-sex

marriages sanctioned by the states

• Section 2 still stands• States don’t have to recognize same-sex

marriages from other states

Alaska Hawaii

Marriage Equality Map

Ban Overturned/Pending Appeal

Bans – Law Suits FiledMarriage Legal

Ban on SS Marriage

Legalization likely following 10/6 & 10/7 Precedents

Alaska Hawaii

Non-Discrimination Laws

No Protection

Non Discrimination includes Housing, Employment, Public

Accommodation, and Insurance

No Insurance Non-discrimination

Excludes Transgender on One Element

Excludes Transgender Across the Board

Alaska Hawaii

Marriage -> Discrimination

LGBT Family Law

Alaska HawaiiFoster Care ProtectedFoster Care Ban

Joint/ Second Parent Adoption Protected

Joint/Second Parent Adoption Ban

Stepparent Adoption ProtectedStepparent Adoption Ban

Alaska Hawaii

Interracial Opposite-Sex Couples

25%+20-25%15-20%10-15%5-10%0-5%

Alaska Hawaii

Interracial Same-Sex Couples

25%+20-25%15-20%10-15%5-10%0-5%

Loving Across the Boundary

•What does Ann Filemyr count among her gains and losses as a result of her interracial lesbian relationship and family life? •What has she learned about racism?• How does Filemyr define family?• How are sex and love related to that

definition?

Response Question

According to hooks how did the history of slavery affect loving within African American families?

bell hooks on Love • Historical Trauma affects many communities that have

experienced long term oppression.• Mental Health

• Situational to long term/chronic mental illness• Physical Health

• African American babies are born w/ higher cortisol levels than white babies AND African babies

• Spiritual Health• Ability to be vulnerable

• Emphasis on material survival long after stability is secured

• Outward expression and effects of Internalized Oppression• Affects Interpersonal relationships and ability to be inwardly

loving