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Questioning the Goal of Same-Sex Marriage
Citation
Richardson-Self, LV, Questioning the Goal of Same-Sex Marriage, Australian Feminist Studies, 27, (72) pp. 205-219. ISSN 1465-3303 (2012) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Taylor & Francis
DOI: doi:10.1080/08164649.2012.678572
Abstract
The prominent call to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia raises questions
concerning whether its achievement will result in amplified societal acceptance of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, and on what grounds this acceptance will take
place. Same-sex marriage may not challenge heteronormative and patriarchal features
typically associated with marriage, and may serve to reinforce a hierarchy that promotes
traditional marriage as the ideal relationship structure. This may result in only assimilationist
acceptance of LGBT people. However, the consequence of inclusion to marriage ought
to reflect social acceptance of LGBTs as people worthy of equal treatment in dignity and
in rights, regardless of perceived differences or similarities to a supposed majority standard.
This article argues that justice would be best served by introducing and promoting a
variety of State-sanctioned unions whilst simultaneously introducing same-sex marriage.
This ‘pluralisation strategy’ would increase awareness and legitimacy of other relationshiprecognition
options, promoting respectful acceptance of LGBT and heterosexual people
alike.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Human Society |
Research Group: | Gender studies |
Research Field: | Feminist theory |
Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
Objective Group: | Ethics |
Objective Field: | Social ethics |
UTAS Author: | Richardson-Self, LV (Dr Louise Richardson-Self) |
ID Code: | 102251 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 1 |
Deposited By: | School of Humanities |
Deposited On: | 2015-08-06 |
Last Modified: | 2015-09-01 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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