Reference no: EM133598583

Question: Two Mommies This scenario involves an openly lesbian couple who enroll their child in an infant/toddler care program. It focuses on differences of beliefs and attitudes among staff members concerning the definition of a legitimate family unit. It opens up the thorny issue of a teacher judging a family as engaging in "wrong" or unacceptable behavior because that behavior contradicts the teacher's personal beliefs. What do you think is the responsibility of a culturally responsive professional in such a situation? The Scenario For the first time, a family consisting of two female parents-both of whom are open about being lesbians-joins the infant/toddler care center. During the intake session, both women make it clear that they want to be acknowledged as the parents of the infant. They cross out "father" on the admission form and substitute "mother," so that there is a place for each woman to write down her name. They also ask permission to contribute a poster that shows "two-mommy families" and a few picture books with images of two-mommy and two-daddy families. The center director consents to their requests. However, when she informs the staff about the family, conflicting responses to having openly lesbian parents in the program necessitates a staff discussion.

Christine, the teacher in whose room the infant will be placed, is uncomfortable with the situation. She tells other staff members that she thinks it is wrong to encourage homosexuality, since she believes it is a sin. She wants the director to tell the family that only one parent can be considered the infant's mother, and that person is the only family member who should interact with the program. She also refuses to use the poster or picture books the family wants to contribute. Marie, an assistant teacher, agrees with Christine.

She even suggests that, to avoid problems, the director not admit the family into the program. She explains that since homosexuals cannot properly raise a child, she does not think the program should encourage homosexuality by accepting the infant. Rachel explains that she has no problem with a two-mommy family, but she is worried that admitting this family into the program will cause problems with other families. In the interests of keeping the peace, she reluctantly supports Christine's suggestion to identify only one person as the infant's mother and that no materials show two-mommy families. Carrie disagrees with the others. She takes the position that, as professionals, they have a responsibility to support all families equally and to make sure that all the infants and toddlers have their family visible in the program. She reminds her colleagues that the family composition and members' roles within families vary widely. Carrie further explains that she is not questioning her colleagues' personal beliefs, but argues that professionals need to act according to professional ethics and not just according to their personal beliefs. Sarah agrees with Carrie.

She reminds her colleagues of the following excerpt from the California Early Childhood Educator Competencies publication: "Cultural perspectives of children, families, staff, and colleagues vary widely on issues such as differences in individual children's learning, strengths, and abilities; gender identity and gender specific roles; family composition and member roles" (CDE 2011, 21). Sarah reminds staff that there was a time when many people considered all single mothers to be immoral and bad parents. Sarah further states that it is equally prejudicial to automatically assume that all two-mommy families are "bad." Carrie adds to Sarah's point declaring that child-rearing problems arise in families of all kinds of cultural backgrounds and configurations.120 Think About It...

After reading the "Two Mommies" scenario describe your thoughts on how this scenario is about cultural differences and how do you feel each of the staff reacted on their cultural responsiveness? Why?