When lesbians become mothers: Identity validation and the role of diversity climate

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of lesbian couples as they move through the different stages of pregnancy and re-enter the workforce after maternity leave. The study draws on semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted at three points in time: middle and late pregnancy and after the return to work. The findings suggest that the transition to motherhood is a complex process for lesbian women and that this experience differs for the birth versus the non-birth mother depending on whether there is a positive or negative diversity climate in their workplace. Our analysis revealed that the birth mother is better equipped to ‘claim’ her maternal identity and feels ‘validated’ as she discloses her pregnancy, transitions to motherhood, and returns to work, whereas the non-birth mother experiences greater difficulty. We also found that the ability to disclose and feel validated as a new mother freely at work was tied to the level of ‘outness’ at work and thus, experiences differed depending on how the interviewees perceived the diversity climate in their organization.