Understanding the experience of parents of pre-pubescent children with gender identity issues

Article

Gregor, C., Hingley-Jones, H. and Davidson, S. 2015. Understanding the experience of parents of pre-pubescent children with gender identity issues. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. 32 (3), pp. 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-014-0359-z
TypeArticle
TitleUnderstanding the experience of parents of pre-pubescent children with gender identity issues
AuthorsGregor, C., Hingley-Jones, H. and Davidson, S.
Abstract

Whilst in recent times there has been an increasing interest in the popular media in families with gender variant children, there is still a paucity of academic research into the experience of parenting a pre-pubescent child with gender identity issues. Gender dysphoria in young children engenders emotive reactions in adults meaning that social workers need to be aware of the various discourses surrounding gender identity in order to work sensitively with families affected. This research explores highly sensitive and intimate aspects of family life, requiring parents to talk and think about difficult issues and explores how it might feel for families to parent a child with gender identity issues. The psychosocial research method of Free Association Narrative Interviews was used in order to gather the data which was then coded and analysed drawing on a constructivist version of grounded theory. Five key themes relating to the process of mourning emerged from the data: loss, uncertainty, ambivalence, being unable to think and acceptance. Recommendations for both social work and clinical practice are also offered

PublisherSpringer
JournalChild and Adolescent Social Work Journal
ISSN0738-0151
Electronic1573-2797
Publication dates
Online12 Dec 2014
Print30 Jun 2015
Publication process dates
Deposited28 Apr 2015
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10560-014-0359-z

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-014-0359-z
LanguageEnglish
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