Feminism and philosophy Gay and Lesbian Families as a Model

By saying that gay and lesbian couples provide a more just model of family life than heterosexual families, Okin begins to establish the differences between both heterosexual and homosexual relationships, and their effects on the family. Okin illustrates these differences in family life by discussing the traditional and more patriarchal view of the family that is characterized by the gendered division of labor in heterosexual relationships. Okins opinion that homosexual families provide a more just …

…the male providers of their family, leading to a vulnerability to whatever decision the male makes. Okin concludes that, "the typical, gender-structured family is far from the best kind of environment in which children can learn...to develop the sense of justice that they need in order to be good citizens..." (Okin 45). She discusses the significance of her ideas throughout her essay, the main points of her argument have been fully supported, and presented here.