The Emotional Experience of Motherhood in Planned Lesbian Families in the South African Context: "… Look How Good a Job I'm Doing, Look How Amazing We Are"

Between Abnormal "Otherness" to Groundbreaking "Uniqueness": The Family-Construction Process of the GLBT Family

The GLBT family is a new postmodern phenomenon demonstrating the accomplishments of marginal groups seeking acceptance within mainstream society. The article is based on a qualitative phenomenological study conducted in Israel during 2012, providing a theoretical model combining a vast number of GLBT parenting options ranging from surrogacy, sperm donation, adoption, and co-parenting. The research consisted of 50 personal interviews that concentrated on the family experiences of couples of gay men and lesbian woman who opted to bring a child into their families. Analysis of the data points to a process of empowerment where societal norms in respect to gender, parenting, and family are deconstructed and then reconstructed. The theoretical model conceptualizes three parenting challenges that highlight the respondent's family experience: "Otherness," belonging, and self-actualization. Research shows that every period of family life addresses a different segment, where one of the three challenges becomes the dominant experience.

Mothers in same-sex relationships-Striving for equal parenthood: A grounded theory study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To get a deeper understanding of how mothers in same-sex relationships think and reason about their parenthood in terms of gender equality, and how they experience early parental support from child healthcare professionals.

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing amount of research on how women in same-sex relationships experience healthcare services when forming a family. Yet there is limited knowledge of what kind of early parental support these women may request.

DESIGN

Grounded theory. Follows guidelines for qualitative research (COREQ).

METHOD

Twenty women ranging from 25 to 42 years of age participated in semi-structured interviews. Data collection and analysis took place in parallel, as recommended in grounded theory methodology.

RESULTS

The results are described by the core category Same-sex mothers request professional support to achieve equal parenthood, which includes five categories: (a) equality in everyday life, (b) diversity in mother and child attachment, (c) justification of the family structure, (d) ambivalent thoughts about their child's future and (e) a special need for networking and request for professional support. These findings provide a deeper understanding of how same-sex mothers experience their parenthood and the parental support that is offered.

CONCLUSION

Child healthcare professionals need to be sensitive and recognise both mothers as equal parents and offer early parenting groups where two-mother families feel included and supported.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Healthcare professionals need to be aware of diverse family formations and meet each parent as a unique individual without heteronormative assumptions. Same-sex mothers must be treated as equal parents and acknowledged as mothers. Healthcare professionals should offer inclusive and supportive parental groups to same-sex families. They should also inform and support nonbirth mothers about the possibility to breastfeed.