Wednesday, March 11, 2009

DIVERSITY BY WHO'S DEFINITION?

"Do you care about diversity?" asked a Momversation post recently.  

Momversation.com is kind of a cool (but overly commercialized) site that allows panelists (popular mom bloggers) to chime in on a variety of topics via vlogs.

And as I read the responses, because of course I, too, care about diversity, I realized that there was something missing.

My response to the post follows:
So, I know that diversity in this particular post is more specifically geared toward racial diversity, but when I searched for "gay" or "lesbian" on the momversation site, this was the only real post to which I was directed, which, I have to say is a little disconcerting as a lesbian mother of two 5-year-olds who also happens to be Latina.

And I guess I'm wondering why that is -- why lesbian moms don't appear to have much of a presence on mainstream sites and blogs. Not that we're being EXcluded by anyone, but I guess I'm wondering if there's a general feeling out there from lesbian moms that they would not be as accepted, that their opinions would not be considered as valid, that their contributions to raising our next generation of children would not be as appreciated, let alone welcomed by the straight parenting community?

And so they relegate themselves to gay blogs and communities, creating a sort of plastic bubble around their lives and the experiences of their children, insulated from threats of discrimination and bigotry, that I wonder how could that actually not be more detrimental to a child once they hit public school age and begin to realize for themselves that they are actually in a minority?

And I could just be making sweeping generalizations here, and I apologize in advance if I've offended anyone by doing so, but I think that that's actually intrinsic to this problem. There is just no real lesbian mother voice to speak of -- or listen to -- or learn from -- or share with. Although another commenter began to touch on sexuality as a piece of the diversity conversation, but it never went any further, and I do think it warrants more than that. Is actually crucial to include in conversations about parenting and motherhood and what it means to be a woman.

And not just from the perspective of being gay and raising children in a world that doesn't fully accept us. But also from the perspective of straight parents who's children may be exhibiting "signs" or who may even have children strong enough, brave enough, or raised in an environment open enough to allow them to come out to them.

I love the momversations on this site. I'm a new convert, for sure, but an old blogger. And except for the fact that my partner is also a woman, I can relate to, have experienced personally, or would like more information about almost every single topic discussed on this site to date. And have been blogging about them for years.

We are more alike than we are different. But our differences, like the differences between races, can enrich our culture and broaden our horizons in ways I think we haven't even begun to contemplate because the discussion, just begging to be had, just hasn't...yet.
And, so, I guess what I wanna know is...am I wrong???

3 comments:

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

If I've learned anything, I've learned we are all more alike than different when it comes right down to it!

No you aren't wrong!

Jo Anna Guerra said...

Yay! Not totally crazy. Always good to know.

Thanks, MamaGeek.

Jo Anna Guerra said...

Hi Richmond. Welcome to our blog and thanks for commenting. Hope to see you around here more often. :)