Narratives of gender identity in families of Italian transgender assigned females at birth: a qualitative analysis

Introduction: Families of transgender and gender non conforming youth present unique problems and requests, on which research is recently growing. In recent years the ratio between assigned females at birth (AFAB) and assigned males at birth (AMAB) adolescents and young adults shifted in favor of the first group. Thus, our research focused on young adult AFAB people (aged 18-25) and their families, investigating the themes emerging around the transition. Aim of this study was to analyze how the development of a gender non conforming identity is narrated by the parental couples and by their offspring, to see how those narrations met and diverge on the main themes, needs and critical points. Method: We interviewed the families using two semi-structured interviews, one dedicated to the parental couples and one to the sons. We analyzed the interviews with Thematic Analysis to explore the prevalent themes. Results: We reached ten families, which presented a wide range of reactions to the disclosure of the transgender identity; common themes emerged from the parents: a feeling of social isolation and fear regarding the future of their sons, both for the difficulties encountered in regards of the health system and for the challenges that society poses to gender non conforming people in addition to a sense of guilt for the suffering that the child has been through. In the sons group the prevalent themes ranged from the fear to disclose the perceived identity to the family to the changes ensued by hormonal therapy and social reactions inside and outside the family. Conclusions: With this research we had the opportunity to reflect on the history and current situation of Italian families of transgender young adult people, obtaining a clear picture of the challenges these families face and their needs to better support their children in the transitioning process.