How Immigration and Family Estrangement Shape Queer Youth's Kin Networks

• In Event: 30269 - Inequality in the Transition to Adulthood

Abstract

For youth, particularly those on the verge of adulthood, kin networks are important for launching them into a successful adult life by providing instrumental and emotional support for this major life transition. However, there is limited scholarship on the kin networks of LGBTQ+ youth, who often face challenges in the transition to adulthood. This paper draws on the Family, Housing, and Me (FHAM) Project, a longitudinal study of 83 LGBTQ+ youth in South Texas and the Inland Empire of California. Preliminary analysis of the data showed major differences in the size of the kin networks of Texas and California youth. While these differences seemed regional at first, in this paper we analyze the way that kin networks can be impacted by queer-based family rejection, family instabilities like divorce and estrangement, and immigration. This analysis showed several surprising findings about the kin networks of LGBTQ+ youth. Family instabilities such as divorce and estrangement do not necessarily lead to reduced family networks. When queer-based family rejection results in parental estrangement, youths’ non-parental networks often become larger rather than smaller. Estrangement that’s not based on queer family rejection, on the other hand, can reduce family networks, particularly with youths’ paternal side of the family. Additionally, remarriage greatly extends kin networks for some youth. Immigration and geographical separation between queer youth and their extended family members can result in reduced kin networks. Barriers to visitation and communication limit the connection available between the youth and their non-parental family members. Particularly, linguistic boundaries prevent youth from receiving full support from extended family, lessening their access to familial bonds. Additionally, cultural disconnect in regard to political, religious, or social ideologies decrease the youths’ comfortability with open queer expression with their international networks. However, some exceptions in the data find that differences in culture and familial separation can allow for increased sympathy and understanding.

Authors

• Amy L. Stone, Trinity University

• Otis McCandless-Chapman, Trinity University

• Brandon Andrew Robinson, University of California-Riverside