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Mothers in same‐sex relationships—Striving for equal parenthood: A grounded theory study

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  • Heléne Appelgren Engström
  • Elisabet Häggström‐Nordin
  • Catrin Borneskog
  • Anna‐Lena Almqvist

Abstract

Aims and objectives To get a deeper understanding of how mothers in same‐sex relationships think and reason about their parenthood in terms of gender equality, and how they experience early parental support from child healthcare professionals. Background There is an increasing amount of research on how women in same‐sex relationships experience healthcare services when forming a family. Yet there is limited knowledge of what kind of early parental support these women may request. Design Grounded theory. Follows guidelines for qualitative research (COREQ). Method Twenty women ranging from 25 to 42 years of age participated in semi‐structured interviews. Data collection and analysis took place in parallel, as recommended in grounded theory methodology. Results The results are described by the core category Same‐sex mothers request professional support to achieve equal parenthood, which includes five categories: (a) equality in everyday life, (b) diversity in mother and child attachment, (c) justification of the family structure, (d) ambivalent thoughts about their child's future and (e) a special need for networking and request for professional support. These findings provide a deeper understanding of how same‐sex mothers experience their parenthood and the parental support that is offered. Conclusion Child healthcare professionals need to be sensitive and recognise both mothers as equal parents and offer early parenting groups where two‐mother families feel included and supported. Relevance to clinical practice Healthcare professionals need to be aware of diverse family formations and meet each parent as a unique individual without heteronormative assumptions. Same‐sex mothers must be treated as equal parents and acknowledged as mothers. Healthcare professionals should offer inclusive and supportive parental groups to same‐sex families. They should also inform and support nonbirth mothers about the possibility to breastfeed.

Suggested Citation

  • Heléne Appelgren Engström & Elisabet Häggström‐Nordin & Catrin Borneskog & Anna‐Lena Almqvist, 2019. "Mothers in same‐sex relationships—Striving for equal parenthood: A grounded theory study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(19-20), pages 3700-3709, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:28:y:2019:i:19-20:p:3700-3709
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14971
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael B Wells & Sarah N Lang, 2016. "Supporting same‐sex mothers in the Nordic child health field: a systematic literature review and meta‐synthesis of the most gender equal countries," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3469-3483, December.
    2. Michael Rosenfeld, 2010. "Nontraditional families and childhood progress through school," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 47(3), pages 755-775, August.
    3. Esther Hjälmhult & Kari Glavin & Toril Økland & Sidsel Tveiten, 2014. "Parental groups during the child's first year: an interview study of parents' experiences," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(19-20), pages 2980-2989, October.
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