Public and private families: a comparative thematic analysis of the intersections of social norms and scrutiny

ABSTRACT

Despite the increased diversification of Australian families, the nuclear family formed through reproductive heterosex continues to be treated as the norm. This paper argues that this norm impacts negatively upon families formed in other ways, by exposing them to increased scrutiny. Drawing on interviews with 60 participants from four cohorts (families formed through reproductive heterosex, intercountry adoption, long-term foster care, or surrogacy), a comparative thematic analysis is presented in which two key themes are elaborated: (1) the impact of government policies and practices, and (2) the degree to which families are treated as public property. Findings suggest that families formed through reproductive heterosex were the least regulated and scrutinised; families formed through either adoption or surrogacy received a considerable degree of regulation and scrutiny; and foster families were the most scrutinised and negatively impacted by government policies. The paper concludes by considering what is required to engender more inclusive and supportive responses to all families.

KEYWORDS:

• Family formation
• comparative analysis
• public and private
• social norms
• scrutiny
• wellbeing

Acknowledgements

We begin by acknowledging the sovereignty of the Kaurna people, the First Nations people upon whose land we live and work. We would like to thank all of the participants who generously gave their time and so openly spoke about their families.

Additional information

Funding

The research reported in this paper was funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant, [DP110101893]. Funding to support the writing of this paper was received as part of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship, [FT130100087].