Parenting a Gender Nonconforming Child: Implications for Therapy

Abstract

Parents who are raising children who do not conform to societal gender norms are in need of support and advocacy, as they are not receiving enough in the current social climate. The focus of this single case study is on a parent's experiences raising her gender nonconforming child, and on her perception of the elements of the mental health field that are conducive to the well-being of her family. Interviews took place via online chat sessions. A queer feminist framework guided all aspects of this study. Results support current literature demonstrating that parents of gender nonconforming children are in need of support as their decisions are subject to much scrutiny because of the pervasiveness of gender norms and associated stereotypes. Despite this need, mental health clinicians are largely not prepared to work with this population. Implications for training and practice are discussed.