Understanding and Managing Gender Identity Variance in Minors: A Qualitative Research on the Parental Role in Italy

Abstract

Identities that differ from what is expected of each gender challenge the crystallised binary form of social organisation. Furthermore, having a gender-variant child is an experience that confronts parents with something unknown to them that questions most of their assumptions. In the Italian context, there is a lack of awareness about the population of transgender and gender-variant minors, and what their or their families’ needs are. In the present study, we interviewed the parents of gender-variant minors from Italy and asked them to describe the ways they got to know their child’s gender identity and how they managed such a completely new situation. The interviews were transcribed literally and analysed through discourse analysis. We carried out descriptions of how parents configure this topic and the different positionings adopted thorough their experience of understanding and managing gender variance. Overall, we discussed and promoted parent-children interacting modalities aimed at co-constructing and sharing the process of gender identity development, instead of adopting self-referential or ideological positionings. The present article offers a qualitative exploratory study of gender-variant minors and their families in the Italian context. The limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are also presented.

Support for Mothers, Fathers, or Guardians of Transgender Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review on the Dynamics of Secondary Social Networks

“…The articles were published in 2009 (3.5%) [ 17 ], 2011 (3.5%) [ 18 ], 2013 (3.5%) [ 19 ], 2014 (7.1%) [ 20 , 21 ], 2015 (3.5%) [ 22 ], 2016 (7.1%) [ 23 , 24 ], 2018 (7.1%) [ 25 , 26 ], 2019 (17.8%) [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], 2020 (17.8%) [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], and 2021 (28.5%) [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. All articles (100%) were published in English, of which 17 (60.7%) [ 17 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 40 , 44 ] originated in America, 3 (32.1%) [ 20 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 41 , ...…”

“…The methodological quality of the articles included in the final sample of this review was assessed and they all showed congruence in the following aspects: philosophical perspective and research methodology; research methodology and research question or objectives; research methodology and data collection methods; participants and their voices adequately represented; compliance with ethical issues and conclusions of data analysis or interpretation [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

“…In the studies included in this review, the secondary networks determining support were healthcare services [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], schools [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 31 , 35 , 38 , 41 , 42 ], peer groups [ 31 , 36 , 37 , 41 ], parents’ work environment [ 25 , 32 ], and associations (third-sector networks) [ 35 ]. Other studies also mentioned the importance of support from religious institutions [ 19 , 35 ], and the non-recognition of religious leaders, whose micro and macro social aggressions were related to the lack of protection and risk of suicide of their children [ 25 , 41 ].…”

“…Studies have presented informational support from healthcare professionals for recognizing gender identity by parents [ 23 , 34 , 41 ]. In this process, therapists are a fundamental member of the support network for counseling, as long as they understand the needs of children and parents to develop their role [ 40 ].…”

“…Questioning the concepts of “being a man” or “being a woman”—with reference to a given social, cultural, and historical structure—demands an approximation with other experiences, criticalities, and exchanges of knowledge. A study carried out in Italy revealed that, for parents, being in the LGBT+ community was a means of obtaining information, but it did not contribute to the early identification of how their child was experiencing their gender identity [ 40 ]. In this regard, the knowledge produced in the LGBT+ community needs greater reach and a social structure that provides a legitimate recognition of gender variations as ways of being and existing.…”