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Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care

Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care In the overview to Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care, Perrin aptly describes the book as an "idiosyncratic amalgam of the issues I consider important for practitioners of child health care to contemplate." She explains that she undertook the project after awakening to the widespread maltreatment of nonheterosexual people. As Dewitt adds in the foreword, this is not an academic treatise but a practical synthesis of Perrin's research and experience with the topic. In its writing, Perrin beautifully exemplifies the pediatrician engaged in matters of social justice. The book features 7 chapters on the topics of stigma, homonegativity in medicine, developmental considerations, adolescents, children whose parents are lesbian or gay, opportunities for professional involvement, and resources. The text ultimately invites pediatricians to address the issues in the context of communities, hospitals and clinics, practice, research, and professional education. Given the emphasis on the pediatrician's role in caring for homosexually orientated youths, a more specific title for the volume might be Homosexuality in Pediatric and Adolescent Care Practice. In undertaking this project, Perrin faced the tough challenge of distilling a huge body of information into a brief text for practitioners. Certainly, this book would have been easier to write a decade ago, before the veritable explosion of research on the topics it treats. Nowadays, an understanding of homosexuality spans the disciplines of genetics, neuroendocrinology, child development, psychology, sociology, and law, to name just a few. Perrin successfully captures the highlights of the relevant research in thorough, succinct, and carefully referenced chapters, and her synopses generally coincide with other experts' opinions. Yet, some areas of the book would benefit from elaboration. For example, the critical chapter on developing a homosexual orientation argues against biological determinism but falls short of proposing alternative sociocultural factors that influence the expression of identity. Other sections might leave readers hungry for more information about common issues that face clinicians caring for gay and lesbian youth, such as sexually transmitted disease and human immunodeficiency virus counseling and testing, pitfalls in the diagnosis and treatment of the so-called gender identity disorder of childhood, disclosing sexual orientation, overcoming the "internalized homophobia" that leads young people to self-compromising attitudes and behaviors, and helping children develop their social assets instead of focusing on liabilities. However, readers with an interest in learning more about such specific areas are provided plenty of titles to cross-reference and ponder. Admirably, the chapter on homonegativity within medicine recognizes the plight of gay and lesbian medical students and physicians. Undoubtedly, some of the books' most interested readers will be physicians who are wrestling with the issue of homosexuality within themselves or their own families. In general, the book is well written, easy to read, and ambitious in its scope. It will be a useful resource for medical students, residents, and clinicians looking for a practical synopsis of an ever-expanding body of information. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine American Medical Association

Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care

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Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care

Abstract

In the overview to Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care, Perrin aptly describes the book as an "idiosyncratic amalgam of the issues I consider important for practitioners of child health care to contemplate." She explains that she undertook the project after awakening to the widespread maltreatment of nonheterosexual people. As Dewitt adds in the foreword, this is not an academic treatise but a practical synthesis of Perrin's research and experience with the...
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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
1072-4710
eISSN
1538-3628
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.157.3.303-a
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In the overview to Sexual Orientation in Child and Adolescent Health Care, Perrin aptly describes the book as an "idiosyncratic amalgam of the issues I consider important for practitioners of child health care to contemplate." She explains that she undertook the project after awakening to the widespread maltreatment of nonheterosexual people. As Dewitt adds in the foreword, this is not an academic treatise but a practical synthesis of Perrin's research and experience with the topic. In its writing, Perrin beautifully exemplifies the pediatrician engaged in matters of social justice. The book features 7 chapters on the topics of stigma, homonegativity in medicine, developmental considerations, adolescents, children whose parents are lesbian or gay, opportunities for professional involvement, and resources. The text ultimately invites pediatricians to address the issues in the context of communities, hospitals and clinics, practice, research, and professional education. Given the emphasis on the pediatrician's role in caring for homosexually orientated youths, a more specific title for the volume might be Homosexuality in Pediatric and Adolescent Care Practice. In undertaking this project, Perrin faced the tough challenge of distilling a huge body of information into a brief text for practitioners. Certainly, this book would have been easier to write a decade ago, before the veritable explosion of research on the topics it treats. Nowadays, an understanding of homosexuality spans the disciplines of genetics, neuroendocrinology, child development, psychology, sociology, and law, to name just a few. Perrin successfully captures the highlights of the relevant research in thorough, succinct, and carefully referenced chapters, and her synopses generally coincide with other experts' opinions. Yet, some areas of the book would benefit from elaboration. For example, the critical chapter on developing a homosexual orientation argues against biological determinism but falls short of proposing alternative sociocultural factors that influence the expression of identity. Other sections might leave readers hungry for more information about common issues that face clinicians caring for gay and lesbian youth, such as sexually transmitted disease and human immunodeficiency virus counseling and testing, pitfalls in the diagnosis and treatment of the so-called gender identity disorder of childhood, disclosing sexual orientation, overcoming the "internalized homophobia" that leads young people to self-compromising attitudes and behaviors, and helping children develop their social assets instead of focusing on liabilities. However, readers with an interest in learning more about such specific areas are provided plenty of titles to cross-reference and ponder. Admirably, the chapter on homonegativity within medicine recognizes the plight of gay and lesbian medical students and physicians. Undoubtedly, some of the books' most interested readers will be physicians who are wrestling with the issue of homosexuality within themselves or their own families. In general, the book is well written, easy to read, and ambitious in its scope. It will be a useful resource for medical students, residents, and clinicians looking for a practical synopsis of an ever-expanding body of information.

Journal

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine – American Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 2003

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