The links that prevent

In The Ties That Prevent, Sarah Schulman analyzes the reproduction of homophobia within the family circle, even though the latter should be the place of development and fulfillment for each individual. Drawing on both sociological theories and individual testimonies, the author dissects the mechanisms that lead families to exclude some of their members. Although homosexuality is increasingly represented in the media and popular culture, Sarah Schulman shows how it is often caricatured and pathologized. Thus, this visibility is not necessarily accompanied by better acceptance of homosexual people in the family circle. In a virulent plea to make homophobia a social issue that is no longer relegated solely to the private sphere, Sarah Schulman offers ways to put an end to the suffering endured by many homosexuals within the family home.