This thesis aims to explore the desire for parenthood among trans* people in Italy, analyzing its origins, development, and subjective meanings, as well as its relationship with the gender affirmation process and actual parenting experience. In recent decades, scientific interest in the experiences of transgender people has grown significantly, encouraging a progressive overcoming of pathologizing perspectives and greater attention to identity and relational processes. However, trans* parenting remains an underexplored area, especially in the Italian context. Within clinical psychology and family sciences, transparenting questions normative models of gender and kinship, highlighting the complexity of gender affirmation processes, parental desire, and the construction of parental identity. The study adopted a qualitative research design and involved thirteen transgender participants between the ages of 40 and 69, parents of at least one child, who have undertaken, completed, or intend to undertake a gender affirmation process. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, aiming to identify recurring themes in participants' narratives. Four main thematic areas emerge from the analysis. The desire for parenthood emerges as an emerging and non-linear process, influenced by life experiences, significant relationships, and contexts of social recognition. Participants describe parenthood as an identity-building space that transcends the binary categories of mother and father, prioritizing the roles of care and responsibility. In cases of biological parenthood with gestational experience, ambivalent experiences emerge, linked to body dysphoria and difficulties in accessing adequate health services. Family, social, and community support networks are key in supporting psychological well-being during and after transition and throughout the parenting journey. The results highlight how trans* parenthood is not a condition of fragility in itself, but a complex experience shaped by social and institutional factors. The study contributes to deconstructing stigmatizing narratives and highlights the need for inclusive clinical practices and policies. Future research could expand the sample and include the perspectives of children* and partners, further exploring relational processes over time.
La presente tesi si propone di esplorare il desiderio di genitorialità nelle persone trans* in Italia, analizzandone l’origine, lo sviluppo e i significati soggettivi, nonché la relazione con il percorso di affermazione di genere e con l’esperienza genitoriale concreta. Negli ultimi decenni l’interesse scientifico verso le esperienze delle persone transgender è cresciuto significativamente, favorendo un progressivo superamento di prospettive patologizzanti e una maggiore attenzione ai processi identitari e relazionali. Tuttavia, la genitorialità trans* rappresenta ancora un ambito poco esplorato, soprattutto nel contesto italiano. All’interno della psicologia clinica e delle scienze della famiglia, la transgenitorialità interroga i modelli normativi di genere e di parentela, mettendo in luce la complessità dei percorsi di affermazione di genere, del desiderio genitoriale e della costruzione dell’identità genitoriale. Lo studio adotta un disegno di ricerca qualitativo e ha coinvolto tredici partecipanti transgender tra i 40 e i 69 anni, genitori di almeno un* figli*, che hanno intrapreso, completato o intendono intraprendere un percorso di affermazione di genere. I dati sono stati raccolti attraverso interviste semi-strutturate e analizzati mediante un’analisi tematica, con l’obiettivo di individuare nuclei di significato ricorrenti nelle narrazioni dei partecipanti. Dall’analisi emergono quattro aree tematiche principali. Il desiderio di genitorialità si configura come un processo emergente e non lineare, influenzato da esperienze di vita, relazioni significative e contesti di riconoscimento sociale. I partecipanti descrivono la genitorialità come uno spazio identitario che supera le categorie binarie di madre e padre, privilegiando le funzioni di cura e responsabilità. Nei casi di genitorialità biologica con esperienza di gestazione, emergono vissuti ambivalenti legati alla disforia corporea e a difficoltà nell’accesso a servizi sanitari adeguati. Le reti di supporto familiari, sociali e comunitarie risultano un fattore centrale nel sostenere il benessere psicologico durante e dopo la transizione e nel percorso genitoriale. I risultati evidenziano come la genitorialità trans* non rappresenti una condizione di fragilità in sé, ma un’esperienza complessa modellata da fattori sociali e istituzionali. Lo studio contribuisce a decostruire narrazioni stigmatizzanti e sottolinea la necessità di pratiche cliniche e politiche inclusive. Future ricerche potrebbero ampliare il campione e includere le prospettive di figli* e partner, approfondendo i processi relazionali nel tempo.
Costruzione del desiderio genitoriale nelle persone trans* in Italia: uno studio qualitativo.
MARIOTTI, LUCIA
2024/2025
Abstract
This thesis aims to explore the desire for parenthood among trans* people in Italy, analyzing its origins, development, and subjective meanings, as well as its relationship with the gender affirmation process and actual parenting experience. In recent decades, scientific interest in the experiences of transgender people has grown significantly, encouraging a progressive overcoming of pathologizing perspectives and greater attention to identity and relational processes. However, trans* parenting remains an underexplored area, especially in the Italian context. Within clinical psychology and family sciences, transparenting questions normative models of gender and kinship, highlighting the complexity of gender affirmation processes, parental desire, and the construction of parental identity. The study adopted a qualitative research design and involved thirteen transgender participants between the ages of 40 and 69, parents of at least one child, who have undertaken, completed, or intend to undertake a gender affirmation process. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, aiming to identify recurring themes in participants' narratives. Four main thematic areas emerge from the analysis. The desire for parenthood emerges as an emerging and non-linear process, influenced by life experiences, significant relationships, and contexts of social recognition. Participants describe parenthood as an identity-building space that transcends the binary categories of mother and father, prioritizing the roles of care and responsibility. In cases of biological parenthood with gestational experience, ambivalent experiences emerge, linked to body dysphoria and difficulties in accessing adequate health services. Family, social, and community support networks are key in supporting psychological well-being during and after transition and throughout the parenting journey. The results highlight how trans* parenthood is not a condition of fragility in itself, but a complex experience shaped by social and institutional factors. The study contributes to deconstructing stigmatizing narratives and highlights the need for inclusive clinical practices and policies. Future research could expand the sample and include the perspectives of children* and partners, further exploring relational processes over time.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/33730