Perspectives from lesbian women: their experiences with healthcare professionals when transitioning to planned parenthood

Lesbian women experience challenges within the healthcare arena related to their sexual orientation and its acceptability within society. But what happens when lesbians have children together? How do healthcare professionals respond to this difference? And what is the impact of this on lesbian coupl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diversity and equality in health and care 2013-12, Vol.10 (4), p.213-222
Main Authors: O'Neill, Kristal R, Hamer, Helen P, Dixon, Robyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceptability
Confidentiality
Couples
Data collection
Families & family life
Family structure
Gays & lesbians
Gender
Health care
Health professionals
Heteronormativity
Homophobia
Lesbianism
Lesbians
Maternal child nursing
Medical personnel
Mothers
Parenthood
Parents & parenting
Professional ethics
Queer theory
Sexual orientation
Women
Womens health
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Summary:Lesbian women experience challenges within the healthcare arena related to their sexual orientation and its acceptability within society. But what happens when lesbians have children together? How do healthcare professionals respond to this difference? And what is the impact of this on lesbian couple relationships? This study explored the perspectives of lesbian women transitioning to planned parenthood in relation to their experiences with healthcare professionals in a heteronormative healthcare system. Eight women in three New Zealand cities were interviewed as part of a wider study of lesbian women’s experiences of planned parenthood and the impact of the transition to parenthood on couple relationships. Qualitative data were analysed using a general inductive approach. Queer theory was used as a theoretical framework to interpret the findings. The participants’ experiences of healthcare professionals’ responses ranged from positive andaffirming to insulting and homophobic. Recommendations are made in relation to educating healthcare professionals about the validity of the lesbian-led family and increasing their awareness when dealing with this unique family structure.
ISSN:2049-5471
2049-548X