Alternative Title

Experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming birth parents

Publication Date

2015

First Advisor

Hannah Karpman

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Transgender parents, Lesbian parents, Pregnancy-Psychological aspects, Childbirth

Abstract

To most people, the ability to carry and bear children is one that is inextricably linked with femininity and womanhood. However, some individuals who gestate and give birth to a child do not identify as women or as feminine. At the forefront of disentangling these two concepts from pregnancy and birth are gender non-conforming individuals, including masculine identified women, transgender men, and folks who identify as outside the gender binary of man/woman, who have chosen to carry and bear children. Beyond the narratives of a few well known transmen (e.g., Thomas Beatie) and masculine-of-center lesbians (e.g., A.K. Summers) who have given birth, there is precious little empirical information about the pregnancy and birth experiences of gender non-conforming individuals. In order to better understand and serve this population, I conducted semi-structured interviews with transgender and gender non-conforming individuals who had given birth at least once within the past ten years or who were currently in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, surveying their experiences of conception, pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, with particular focus on interactions with healthcare and social work professionals. Preliminary results of the interviews showed that the conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming birth parents were diverse and in many ways were similar to the experiences of cisgender individuals, though also included experiences of dysphoria, stigmatization, fear of discrimination, and incredible resilience. More empirical research, both qualitative and quantitative, into the experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming birth parents is needed in order for healthcare and social work professionals to better serve individuals in this community.

Rights

©Lauren Ambrosini.

Language

English

Comments

iv, 72 pages. Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-66)

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