Choosing Children 2004 (first released in 1985)
Distributed by Frameline, 145 Ninth St., Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94103; 415-703-8650
Produced by Women’s Education Media Inc.
Directed by Debra Chasnoff and Kim Klausner
VHS, color, 45 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Gay and Lesbian Studies, Parenting
Date Entered: 04/29/2005
Reviewed by Beth Traylor, University of Wisconsin Libraries, MilwaukeeThe decisions involved in the choice to have children are explored through interviews with six lesbian women, their partners and their families. Each family had children through a variety of ways including adoption, artificial insemination, and naturally with male friends. The relationships between the women, their expectations of child rearing and their emotional needs are explored. These choices are juxtaposed with the legal issues involved with having children as a lesbian, including the rights of the father, the co-mother and the custody rights in the event that one of the partner’s dies. Suggestions are offered on ways to protect the rights of both mothers. Gender roles and society’s expectations for them are explored briefly. The public and legal perception of lesbians as parents as well as the prejudicial treatment received from medical professionals is also discussed. Candid interviews with the children in these families reveal that who is ‘mommy’ is less important than who loves and takes care of them.
This program, created in 1985, reflects its age in the slightly fuzzy quality of its picture. This program would be a good complement to more recent programs on lesbian families and parenting. Choosing Children would be a good addition to any public or academic library collection. Recommended.