Parenting a child with gender identity issues

Much of the literature on children and young people with gender identity issues focuses on aetiology. Within such studies, parents are often pathologised and implicated in 'causing' their child's gender identity issues. There is very little research specifically with parents exploring their experience of having a child with gender identity issues. As such, this study interviewed twelve parents about their experience of having a child with gender identity issues and adopted a grounded theory methodology. Parents talked about their experiences within the framework of a 'journey' and identified a number of contexts which they found themselves interacting with. Throughout the 'journey' parents identified a number of issues, challenges and dilemmas that they had to manage. The findings of the study highlighted the complexity of the situation that the parents were faced with and the isolation that they felt in dealing with these issues. The analysis suggested that placing the parent and their family within a wider social, cultural and temporal context may allow for their issues to be responded to in a more holistic and thoughtful way. The results of the study intimate a number of recommendations for future research and suggestions for services that work with parents