Abstract
CONTEXT: The primary purpose of this research was to investigate attitudes towards same-sex parenting in an Irish context and to focus on gender and personality differences in participant’s attitudes. In reviewing the current literature in the area there was none to be found within an Irish context, this void creates an opportunity to investigate attitudes towards same-sex parenting in an Irish context. Camilleri and Ryan (2006) believed that attitudes towards homosexual parenting need to be investigated because these attitudes impact on law and policy changes in relation to homosexual issues. METHOD: Quantitative analysis was used. The research design was quasi-experimental design, the independent variables (IV) were personality and gender and the dependent variable (DV) was attitudes towards same-sex parenting. 161 participants completed a questionnaire booklet. RESULTS: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. It was found that male participants had more negative attitudes than females towards same-sex parenting. CONCLUSION: The main finding of the current research has been that there are gender differences in attitudes towards same-sex parenting. It was found that male participants have more negative attitudes towards same-sex parenting. The researcher believes that through education of homosexual parenting negative attitudes can be dealt with.
