Abstract
ABSTRACT Gay-fatherhood raises questions about hegemonic gender norms and traditional family systems in different contexts and countries. This study explores gay fathers’ desires, motivations, and experiences of having a child. Participants’ challenges and concerns regarding having and raising children also were explored. Data were obtained through in-person interviews of 11 self-identified gay fathers. The data were then analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) analysis. The analytical results identified three themes that shed light on participants’ desires and experiences of parenthood. These were: (1) innate motives to parent and gender role strains, (2) enacted stigma (i.e., acts of rejection due to sexual orientation and traditional gender roles), and (3) children’s social rejection due to their parents’ sexuality. The findings of this study stress the influence of contextual factors (stigma) and intrapersonal factors (internalized anti-gay prejudice) in participants’ health and well-being. This study potentially tries to expand cultural awareness of research in this field.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call