Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Alston-Stepnitz, Kimberly C

Titel

Who's the father? The invisibility of natal female genderqueer parents

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Erscheinungsjahr

2015

Link zum Volltext

• ProQuest

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• There has been a significant gap in the literature regarding the lived experiences of genderqueer parents. Despite numerous studies on lesbian and gay parents, and fewer studies on transgender parents and genderqueer individuals, studies related to how gender non-conformity and parenting intersect from a qualitative perspective are lacking. This study sought to investigate the experiences of natal female genderqueer parents (NFGPs) through the qualitative methodology of Thematic Analysis. Three semi-structured focus groups were conducted with twenty total participants who identified as NFGPs. Eight themes emerged from the focus group transcripts: NFGP experiences in social realms, how children of NFGPs perceive gender, how gender identity intersects with other cultural factors, alternative family structures, gender role modeling, NFGP naming, how NFGPs experience their bodies, and experiencing healing through parenting. These themes have been described and discussed as they relate to the existing literature. Clinical applications and suggestions for future research are also discussed. This study suggests that NFGPs often feel invisible due to the lack of space that exists for genderqueers (as neither cisgender nor transgender.) This invisibility often extends into parenting realms; space has been carved out for mothers and fathers, but not for primary parents who do not identify as such. This manifests through the difficulty NFGPs experience in finding a parent name that honors both their gender identity and parenting identity while remaining legible as a parent to the outsideworld. NFGP-s also describe that others often suggest that they should provide their children with "male role models," which denies the NFGP's experience of their own masculinity as well as any desire the NFGP might have to occupy a more "fatherly" role. This act also misperceives how they wish to be seen in their parenting role and might even miss how they relate to their child(ren), all while implying that a male role model must be cisgender. This study suggests that gender is a social construct-that is constantly being upheld, purported to be essential in every facet of life. This has implications for everyone, but creates a unique experience for NFGPs, which this study has sought to uncover through giving NFGPs a voice. What has been highlighted is the need for increased recognition of genderqueer parents within research and by the dominant culture. Specifically, these findings impact understandings of parenting dynamics, practices, pressures to provide children with outside role models, and the need for creating new language regarding identities and labels for NFGPs. These are important because these parents are in critical roles of providing and modeling support and acceptance for their children. Overall, gaining a better working knowledge of the experiences of genderqueer parents is crucial to supporting them and their families through clinical practice, within communities and the greater general public.