Lesbian Mother–Heterosexual Daughter Relationships: Toward a Postmodern Feminist Analysis

Abstract

Although many studies have examined the overall adjustment of children of lesbian mothers as a group, an investigation of the unique relationships between lesbian mothers and their heterosexual daughters has been neglected. This article presents a postmodern feminist analysis of the relationship between lesbian mothers and their heterosexual daughters. Postmodern feminism is used to analyze the extant literature on lesbian-led families and the traditional psychological theories on mother-daughter relationships. The dominant discourses and binary constructs that define lesbian mother–heterosexual daughter relationships are revealed, thereby laying the groundwork for an examination of these relationships on their own terms.

KEYWORDS:

• lesbian
• mothers
• heterosexual
• daughters
• postmodern feminism

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Freda Ginsberg and Patricia Healy for their feedback and support in writing this article.