Nonbinary Young Adults Without Children Explore Past, Present, and Future Family Relationship Intentions Through Family Maps

Abstract

Minimal research has explored how nonbinary people narrate past and present family relationships and their family building desires, despite growing awareness of the distinct needs of nonbinary people. Five nonbinary young adults (aged 22-30 years) participated in a semi-structured interview and family mapping exercise (FME). Visual and verbal qualitative findings were analyzed using thematic analysis with a life course theory lens (Elder, 1998). All participants reported challenging relationships with their family of origin, emphasizing experiences of emotional distance and invalidation plus concealment of their gender identity. Friends and chosen family networks – particularly within the LGBTQ+ community – compensated for emotional needs left unmet by family of origin. Most participants envisaged a childfree future family life and were not currently interested in parenting. Parenthood was conceptualized as a series of challenges linked to a complex array of life course considerations, particularly in relation to family background and risks associated with gender dysphoria, misgendering, and other challenges related to being a nonbinary parent. Although their current conditions did not support nonbinary parenthood, most participants considered that parenthood might be a future option if their context and circumstances changed.