När jämställdhet blir problemet
Adoptionshandläggning för samkönade par
This study shows how social workers reason about the concepts of gender, gender roles and equality and if these arguments reinforce heteronormativity that could affect the ability of same-sex couples to adopt children. The reasoning regarding equality indicates a difference between heterosexual couples and same-sex couples. What emerges in the study is that the social workers reasoning can be explained with that they have been imbued by heteronormativity. Heteronormativity becomes a contributing part of how same-sex couples are seen in the adoption process. Arguments for equality, which erase stereotypes, do not apply in the same way for same-sex couples as for heterosexual couples. Regarding same-sex couples the equality is based on stereotyped gender roles that reinforce the heteronormativity. This implies a paradox between arguments for equality, which reinforce heteronormativity, and the possibility for same-sex couples to adopt children.