ePub Ties That Bind: Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences by Sarah Schulman in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Wonderful BookBy DrassieThe book is excellent for the most part. The topic is very important and Schulman is a wonderful writer. I admire her honesty. It must have taken courage to write this book considering the amount of silence regarding the homophobia that exists in the family; not to talk of the one in society. I enjoyed reading it. It's very compelling; but I noticed a few subjective parts that did not need to be included. You should read it anyway and make up your own mind. After all; people are entitled to their opinions. I recommend it to people who want an in depth analysis of homophobia in the family and its relation to society. I would read another book by Sarah Schulman 'cause I enjoyed this one.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Bold; confident; and controversial...By L. AlessioMs. Schulman's approach is left of mainstream and different from much of the literature and advice given to those dealing with familial homophobia. Her approach is that all too frequently; it is the LGBT individual who has to do the work of healing family bigotry; and this is not only unjust; but of questionable value. Her approach comes at the problem from the belief that it is the family that needs the intervention. A survivor (barely!) of such familial failure; I found the author's approach eye-opening; affirming and unlike much of what I had read before; experienced in my work counseling gay men; or discovered in my own journey to a healthy life.Ms. Schulman suggests; quite strongly; (and validly) an alternative to that standard advice given when one's family of origin is dysfunctional: develop a "chosen" family of friends and loved ones. Standard; but again; Ms. Schulman rightly believes that every individual has entitlement to a loving supportive family; and a person who does not; should be supported by others who can arrange an intervention to set right the blood family. Oh; if that could only happen every time; how much pain and loss would we avoid.From a practical standpoint; I wish the author had explored not just the need for intervention; but both alternatives to intervention and methodology of intervention from the standpoint of the individual experiencing familial abuse. How does a victim; already disempowered by the loss of family support; and who; very likely; has little social support find the resources and stratagem to implement an intervention with a dysfunctional family? The author is entirely right that it is the family that needs the therapy or intervention; but realistically; I wish Ms. Schulman had gone a few steps further. For example; how might a teen or even an adult; whose familial structure has been for a long time (or a lifetime) heterocentrist; begin? In truth; interventions are sometimes neither possible; nor successful.Further in the book; the author reveals some of the prejudices with which she has dealt in her professions; which some may feel takes the book's titled direction a bit astray.I found the book otherwise excellent.That said; the author has the gift of presenting her arguments clearly and interestingly; passionately; but not pompously. Thank you for this valuable voice against this all-too-common problem.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. an excellent book for allBy ronald heydonThis book should be read by all young people growing up in a repressive environment.Especially important for the youth; when they have no-one to turn to for explanations.The arguments are basic; the explanations clear and this text could easily be read by heterosexuals as well as gays.In fact it is important reading for heterosexuals in particular; to understand their own behavior within the family.