Second-Wave Theories for Third-Wave Families? Feminist Perspectives on (Same-Sex) Marriage

Abstract

As discussed in Chapter 4, there are some reasons why access to the legal institution of marriage may be important or perhaps even necessary for same-sex couples. In particular, the symbolic value of state recognition for same-sex couples in the context of a history of criminalization of gay male and, to a lesser extent, lesbian sexual activities (see, for example, Weeks 1977; Waites, 2002) should not be underestimated. Further, it is argued that same-sex marriage may provide opportunities to transform or transgress the institution. Marriage and the (heterosexual nuclear) family form that it creates and supports have, however, long been the subject of criticism, most notably from feminists, as well as Marxists and socialists (see, for example, Engels, 1972), and gay liberation groups (see, for example, the Gay Liberation Front, 1971). Despite this history of critiquing marriage within these movements, there has been limited acknowledgment of, and even less engagement with, their ideas that marriage is a problematic institution from those advocating for same-sex marriage and similar forms of relationship recognition (see also Young and Boyd, 2006; Auchmuty, 2007). Indeed, as discussed in the previous chapter, some have made feminist arguments for same-sex marriage.