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Mamma, mamma, barn - En rättshistorisk analys av samkönade par och föräldraskap i Sverige

Ståhlgren, Ebba LU (2024) JURM02 20242
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
Since 2003, same-sex couples in Sweden have been able to be considered as
adoptive parents and thus become legal parents. This was, however, controversial
and many of the consultation bodies and speakers in the Riksdag were
critical of the proposal. They emphasized that too little research had been presented, that children need a mother and a father, and that different-sex couples
might find it more difficult to adopt as other countries would view the decision
with disapproval. In 2005, same-sex couples were given access to statefunded
assisted reproduction. The consultation bodies and members of the
Riksdag were divided on this issue. Approximately half supported the proposal,
while others criticized, among other things, that it... (More)
Since 2003, same-sex couples in Sweden have been able to be considered as
adoptive parents and thus become legal parents. This was, however, controversial
and many of the consultation bodies and speakers in the Riksdag were
critical of the proposal. They emphasized that too little research had been presented, that children need a mother and a father, and that different-sex couples
might find it more difficult to adopt as other countries would view the decision
with disapproval. In 2005, same-sex couples were given access to statefunded
assisted reproduction. The consultation bodies and members of the
Riksdag were divided on this issue. Approximately half supported the proposal,
while others criticized, among other things, that it could be burdensome
for children to grow up in a different family structure, that it could extend
waiting times for different-sex couples, and that the issue had not been sufficiently
investigated. It took until 2022 before a presumption of parenthood
was introduced. This time, most of the consultation bodies and members of
the Riksdag approved, with arguments concerning the positive aspect that
more children could have two legal parents when they are born. However,
criticism was expressed against the annulment rules, which were considered
too extensive.

Using a legal historical method and a norm-critical perspective, the essay examines
the Swedish legal development regarding same-sex couples and
parenthood. This includes looking at central interests and reoccurring arguments.
The analysis discusses these aspects in relation to the changes described
above. The conclusions drawn are that the legal development regarding
same-sex couples' parenthood took place gradually over the years. The
development became less controversial over time and the direction increasingly
pointed towards gender neutrality in the legislation. Central interests
were the best interests of the child, norms and criticism of the regulatory system.
Recurring arguments concerned the research basis, the best interests of
the child and what types of family constellations that society should encourage. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Sedan 2003 har samkönade par i Sverige kunnat prövas som adoptivföräldrar
och därmed bli juridiska föräldrar. Det var dock kontroversiellt och många av
remissinstanserna och talarna i riksdagen var kritiska. De framhöll att för lite
forskningsunderlag presenterats, att alla barn behöver en mamma och en
pappa samt att olikkönade par kanske skulle få svårare att adoptera då andra
länder skulle se ogillande på beslutet. 2005 gavs samkönade par tillgång till
statligt finansierad assisterad befruktning. Remissinstanserna och riksdagsledamöterna var gällande denna fråga delade. Ungefär hälften tillstyrkte förslaget, medan andra kritiserade bland annat att det skulle kunna vara belastande
för barn att växa upp i en annorlunda... (More)
Sedan 2003 har samkönade par i Sverige kunnat prövas som adoptivföräldrar
och därmed bli juridiska föräldrar. Det var dock kontroversiellt och många av
remissinstanserna och talarna i riksdagen var kritiska. De framhöll att för lite
forskningsunderlag presenterats, att alla barn behöver en mamma och en
pappa samt att olikkönade par kanske skulle få svårare att adoptera då andra
länder skulle se ogillande på beslutet. 2005 gavs samkönade par tillgång till
statligt finansierad assisterad befruktning. Remissinstanserna och riksdagsledamöterna var gällande denna fråga delade. Ungefär hälften tillstyrkte förslaget, medan andra kritiserade bland annat att det skulle kunna vara belastande
för barn att växa upp i en annorlunda familjebildning, att det inte fick påverka
olikkönade par genom förlängd kötid samt att frågan inte var tillräckligt utredd.
Därefter dröjde det till 2022 innan en föräldraskapspresumtion infördes.
Denna gång tillstyrkte de flesta remissinstanser och riksdagsledamöter med
argument så som att det är positivt att fler barn kan få två juridiska föräldrar
redan när de föds. Kritik framfördes dock mot hävandereglerna, som ansågs
vara för extensiva.

Med en rättshistorisk metod och ett normkritiskt perspektiv undersöker uppsatsen
den svenska rättsutvecklingen gällande samkönade par och föräldraskap,
vilka intressen som varit centrala och vilka argument som varit återkommande.
I analysen diskuteras dessa aspekter i förhållande till ovan beskrivna
förändringar. Slutsatserna som dras är att rättsutvecklingen gällande
samkönade pars föräldraskap skedde stegvis under årens gång. Utvecklingen
blev allt mindre kontroversiell över tid och riktningen pekade alltmer mot
könsneutralitet i lagstiftningen. Intressen som varit centrala var barnets bästa,
normer och kritik mot regelsystemet i sin helhet. Återkommande argument
handlade bland annat om forskningsunderlaget, barnets bästa samt vilka typer
av familjekonstellationer som samhället bör uppmuntra. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Ståhlgren, Ebba LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Mom, mom, child - A legal historical analysis of same-sex couples and parenthood in Sweden
course
JURM02 20242
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
rättshistoria, familjerätt
language
Swedish
id
9180039
date added to LUP
2025-01-15 14:44:06
date last changed
2025-01-15 14:44:06
@misc{9180039,
  abstract     = {{Since 2003, same-sex couples in Sweden have been able to be considered as
adoptive parents and thus become legal parents. This was, however, controversial
and many of the consultation bodies and speakers in the Riksdag were
critical of the proposal. They emphasized that too little research had been presented, that children need a mother and a father, and that different-sex couples
might find it more difficult to adopt as other countries would view the decision
with disapproval. In 2005, same-sex couples were given access to statefunded
assisted reproduction. The consultation bodies and members of the
Riksdag were divided on this issue. Approximately half supported the proposal,
while others criticized, among other things, that it could be burdensome
for children to grow up in a different family structure, that it could extend
waiting times for different-sex couples, and that the issue had not been sufficiently
investigated. It took until 2022 before a presumption of parenthood
was introduced. This time, most of the consultation bodies and members of
the Riksdag approved, with arguments concerning the positive aspect that
more children could have two legal parents when they are born. However,
criticism was expressed against the annulment rules, which were considered
too extensive.

Using a legal historical method and a norm-critical perspective, the essay examines
the Swedish legal development regarding same-sex couples and
parenthood. This includes looking at central interests and reoccurring arguments.
The analysis discusses these aspects in relation to the changes described
above. The conclusions drawn are that the legal development regarding
same-sex couples' parenthood took place gradually over the years. The
development became less controversial over time and the direction increasingly
pointed towards gender neutrality in the legislation. Central interests
were the best interests of the child, norms and criticism of the regulatory system.
Recurring arguments concerned the research basis, the best interests of
the child and what types of family constellations that society should encourage.}},
  author       = {{Ståhlgren, Ebba}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Mamma, mamma, barn - En rättshistorisk analys av samkönade par och föräldraskap i Sverige}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}