Psychology

The experiences of sexual minority mothers with trans* children

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Eight nonheterosexual (i.e., bisexual, lesbian, bi/pansexual) mothers with trans* children between 6 and 11 years of age participated in semistructured interviews in which they discussed the intersections of their own sexual minority identities with their children's gender identities or expressions. Transfamily theory was utilized to understand how heteronormativity and cisnormativity operated in these families' lives. Initial lack of awareness among most of the mothers regarding trans* identities, as well as efforts by some to curb their children's gender expressions, paralleled previous reports on primarily heterosexual parents with trans* children. Having sexual minority identities and experience with LGBTQ communities was beneficial for some mothers but seemingly disadvantageous for others, in that some experienced blame for their children's trans* statuses, often due to the fact that these mothers identified as queer themselves. Findings reveal complexities in how participants were influenced by heteronormativity and cisnormativity and have implications for those looking to learn more about queer parents' experiences raising their trans* children.

Publication Title

Family Relations

Publication Date

2018

Volume

67

Issue

1

First Page

70

Last Page

87

ISSN

0197-6664

DOI

10.1111/fare.12226

Keywords

cisnormativity, LGBT families, queer parenting, transgender children

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS