Same-Sex Couples: Frontiers in Measurement and Analysis

Wednesday, March 26, 2014
8:30 am - 2:45 pm
Room 201 Bowen-Thompson Student Union

Scholarly and media attention to same-sex relationships has skyrocketed in recent years. This emphasis reflects the greater visibility and acceptance of same-sex relationships along with a shifting legal climate moving towards broad legalization of same-sex marriage.  Yet social science research has not kept pace with the patterns and implications of same-sex relationships in the contemporary context.  The goal of the symposium is to move forward our understanding of the measurement of same-sex couple and the assessment of their quality and stability. The Center for Family and Demographic Research and the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at BGSU will host three distinguished scholars who will discuss their research findings as well as reflect on the challenges and opportunities related to new research on same-sex couples.

Agenda

Guest Speakers:

"Measuring Same-Sex Couples in US Census Bureau Data: Challenges and Solutions"
Gary J. Gates , PhD 
Williams Distinguished Scholar
The Williams Institute
UCLA School of Law
View webcast

"Challenges and Opportunities in Studying the Longest "Legal" Same-Sex Couples in North America"
Esther Rothblum, PhD
Professor of Women’s Studies
San Diego State University
View webcast

"Marital Dynamics and Health: Gay, Lesbian and Heterosexual Couples"
Debra Umberson, PhD
Centennial Professor in Liberal Arts and Professor of Sociology
University of Texas at Austin
View webcast