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Resources
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The following materials and links represent a diverse selection of resources which are critical to fully understanding the far reaching influence of marriage and family structure. Many of these publications are actually meta-studies (in-depth studies of multiple studies) of the outcome trends of various family structures, and are therefore indispensable to VMAC’s mission, and to understanding the ramifications of genderless marriage.
We strongly encourage the reader to take a moment to review a sampling of these materials to familiarize themselves with the scientific and statistical facts surrounding marriage, some of which are quite startling.
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Publications
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The Shift and the Denial
Scholarly Attitudes toward Family Change, 1977-2002.
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A timely and pioneering appraisal of shifting attitudes among top family and social science researchers regarding the importance of family structure to child well-being. Norval Glenn and Thomas Sylvester evaluate every scholarly article in the prestigious Journal of Marriage and Family between 1977 and 2002, carefully tallying how the majority view on the importance of family structure has changed greatly as more and better research has accumulated. Only eight pages, this is a must read to better understand what actually lies behind statements like “The majority of social science scholars believe...” From the Institute for American Values, New York, NY, Feb. 2008.
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French National Assembly, Report #2832
On Behalf of the Mission of Inquiry on the Family and the Rights of Children
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After a thorough review of social science data, the French government barred same-sex (i.e. genderless) marriage, as well as gay adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technologies to gay couples. What is unusual about France’s actions and this report is that the focus is on the rights of the child, rather than adult desires. This focus is well framed by the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, which demands that children be afforded "as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents." Although allowing something akin to civil unions, France enacted these restrictions primarily due to the compelling national and governmental interest to ensure that children have both a mother and a father, which is simply not possible among same-sex couples. We suggest a careful review of pps. 49-100. A two page summary is available here, and a larger 33 page summary is available here. Edited English translations, January, 2006
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The Princeton Principles
Marriage and the Public Good: 10 Principles.
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A thorough exploration of the social benefits which marriage provides. Includes a comprehensive and in-depth comparison of different family structures and their outcomes. Much of the data casts serious doubts on claims that family structure is irrelevant to child-rearing. Well written and researched, with copious references. We suggest special attention to pps. 15-27. From the Witherspoon Institute, Princeton, NJ, 2006, 47 pps.
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The Revolution in Parenthood
The Emerging Clash Between Adult Rights and Children’s Needs
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Discusses the growing clash between adult rights and children’s needs in the debate over the redefinition of family – especially in the context of same-sex unions. From eliminating the concepts of mother and father from birth certificates in Spain, to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) used in same-sex relationships, this report provides some disturbing images of where the zeal to reinvent family is leading us. This report frankly and honestly assesses the plight of those heard least in the debate over marriage and family - children - and provides a sobering inclusion of the emerging voices of children conceived by ART. Brief, thought provoking, and very informative. 41 pps. Institute for American Values, New York, NY, 2006, 42 pps.
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Family Structure and Children’s Educational Outcomes
Research Brief #1, Nov. 2005
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A very brief but thought provoking overview of the influence of family structure on various child outcomes such as education attainment, economic well being, psychological problems, incarceration, etc. Institute for American Values, New York, NY
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Family Matters
Family Structure and Child Outcomes
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As the title suggests, this well referenced work utilizes multiple studies to explore the correlation between family structure and child outcomes such as education attainment, economic well being, psychological problems, incarceration, etc. Alabama Policy Institute, Birmingham, Al, 2005, 43 pps.
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Why Marriage Matters
Twenty One Reasons...
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Twenty one conclusions drawn from the social sciences in a brief summary of the large body of scientific research on the importance of marriage. Numerous comparisons of the social outcomes of married heterosexuals compared to other family structures. National Marriage Coalition, Australia, 2002, 24 pps.
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Marriage: Has Canada forgotten that Children Have Human Rights?
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A thought provoking essay on genderless marriage and the rights of the child from a Canadian perspective. The author notes that, when enacting genderless marriage in 2005, the Canadian government flatly ignored the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially Article 3, which demands, “In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by … courts of law … or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration." Canada never truly considered same-sex marriage legislation in the context of the “best interests of the child.” Will Vermont follow Canada’s lead?
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Legal Discussions of Marriage Laws and Genderless Marriage
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Law Professor Monte Stewart has published numerous scholarly articles on the legal arguments surrounding same-sex (genderless) marriage, known in legal circles as “The War of the Ring.” Here are several articles which explore the legal facts of marriage, including two from Duke University’s Journal of Constitutional Law and Public Policy that are unusual in that they explore numerous facts the courts have conveniently ignored in this critical legal debate (elision is to leave out of consideration).
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Genderless Marriage, Insitutional Realities, and Judicial Elision
Duke University Journal of Constitutional Law and Public Policy
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Eliding in New York
Duke University Journal of Consititional Law and Public Policy
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Marriage Facts and Critical Morality
Marriage Law Foundation. An in depth exploration of the legal facts of marriage, and “critical morality,” which is not to be confused with religious or social morality. Prof. Stewart leverages a quotation to describe Critical Morality as “a fairly determinate, comprehensive, univocal set of criteria that a reflective mind could not fail to discern.”
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Links
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An excellent site, with past court cases and information for those interested in the legal aspects of marriage.
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Please visit periodically to stay informed of new materials and links.
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