Comments on: More Problems with U.S. Census and Same-Sex Families http://www.mombian.com/2009/03/10/more-problems-with-us-census-and-same-sex-families/ Sustenance for Lesbian Moms Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:47:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dana http://www.mombian.com/2009/03/10/more-problems-with-us-census-and-same-sex-families/comment-page-1/#comment-88480 Dana Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:17:52 +0000 http://www.mombian.com/?p=3715#comment-88480 Oh, very good points, S. But I agree: "Other relative" to indicate one's own child is still insulting, and bad demographics. And yes, it's very odd they don't indicate the second adult's relationship with the child. I suppose they're presumed a parent if they're an opposite-sex adult married to Person 1--but that seems archaic in this day and age, as you say. Oh, very good points, S. But I agree: “Other relative” to indicate one’s own child is still insulting, and bad demographics. And yes, it’s very odd they don’t indicate the second adult’s relationship with the child. I suppose they’re presumed a parent if they’re an opposite-sex adult married to Person 1–but that seems archaic in this day and age, as you say.

]]> By: S http://www.mombian.com/2009/03/10/more-problems-with-us-census-and-same-sex-families/comment-page-1/#comment-88466 S Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:51:46 +0000 http://www.mombian.com/?p=3715#comment-88466 Not to be nit-picky, but there actually is an appropriate answer the non-biological parent could check off: "other relative." It doesn't convey much useful information to the census bureau, and it's insulting that you can't check off a box showing you're a legally-recognized parent, but it would be technically correct. In 2000, the census form included a blank where people could write in what that "other relative" was -- strange that they would take out that space for 2010. (Also strange is that they removed the option to indicate someone is a foster child.) They'd be much better to have an option like "child by birth" rather than "biological child," to denote someone who became a legal parent by virtue of the child having been born into that person's custody. Because even a heterosexual couple who used donor sperm to conceive the kids wouldn't technically qualify to check off "biological child" either, if the dad is Person 1 filling out the form. To your other point, since families like yours and Cat Cora's presumably fill out one census form for the whole household, and the census doesn't even how ask the children are related to the second adult in the household, then the census won't actually get forms where both moms list themselves as the biological parent. It will just get a list of how the children are related to whichever of you chooses to be Person 1. Which is actually an enormously inaccurate way to gather data about family structure, and not just because of gay/lesbian issues. A family composed of children living with one biological parent and one stepparent, or one biological parent and one adoptive parent, can look exactly the same as a family whose children are living with two biological parents, if a bio parent is listed as Person 1. Alternatively, if the stepparent or adoptive parent is Person 1, then you lose all record that the child is living with any bio parents. Not to be nit-picky, but there actually is an appropriate answer the non-biological parent could check off: “other relative.” It doesn’t convey much useful information to the census bureau, and it’s insulting that you can’t check off a box showing you’re a legally-recognized parent, but it would be technically correct. In
2000, the census form included a blank where people could write in what that “other relative” was — strange that they would take out that space for 2010. (Also strange is that they removed the option to indicate someone is a foster child.)

They’d be much better to have an option like “child by birth” rather than “biological child,” to denote someone who became a legal parent by virtue of the child having been born into that person’s custody. Because even a heterosexual couple who used donor sperm to conceive the kids wouldn’t technically qualify to check off “biological child” either, if the dad is Person 1 filling out the form.

To your other point, since families like yours and Cat Cora’s presumably fill out one census form for the whole household, and the census doesn’t even how ask the children are related to the second adult in the household, then the census won’t actually get forms where both moms list themselves as the biological parent. It will just get a list of how the children are related to whichever of you chooses to be Person 1. Which is actually an enormously inaccurate way to gather data about family structure, and not just because of gay/lesbian issues. A family composed of children living with one biological parent and one stepparent, or one biological parent and one adoptive parent, can look exactly the same as a family whose children are living with two biological parents, if a bio parent is listed as Person 1. Alternatively, if the stepparent or adoptive parent is Person 1, then you lose all record that the child is living with any bio parents.

]]> By: Polly http://www.mombian.com/2009/03/10/more-problems-with-us-census-and-same-sex-families/comment-page-1/#comment-88429 Polly Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:22:27 +0000 http://www.mombian.com/?p=3715#comment-88429 Wow. And damn. And lord, the work we have to do. Good thing love and paternal protectiveness are such powerful motivators. Wow. And damn. And lord, the work we have to do.

Good thing love and paternal protectiveness are such powerful motivators.

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