Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Dec;23(6):853-60.
doi: 10.1037/a0017198.

Experiences of familial acceptance-rejection among transwomen of color

Juline A Koken  1 , David S Bimbi, Jeffrey T Parsons
Affiliations

Experiences of familial acceptance-rejection among transwomen of color

Juline A Koken et al. J Fam Psychol. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Because of the stigma associated with transgenderism, many transwomen (biological males who identify as female or transgender) experience rejection or abuse at the hands of their parents and primary caregivers as children and adolescents. The Parental Acceptance-Rejection (PAR) theory indicates that a child's experience of rejection may have a significant impact on their adult lives. The purpose of this study was to conduct a qualitative analysis of adult transwomen of color's experiences with caregivers, guided by PAR theory. Twenty transwomen of color completed semi-structured interviews exploring the reaction of their parents and primary caregivers to their gender. While many participants reported that at least one parent or close family member responded with warmth and acceptance, the majority confronted hostility and aggression; reports of neglect and undifferentiated rejection were also common. Many transwomen were forced out of their homes as adolescents or chose to leave, increasing their risk of homelessness, poverty, and associated negative sequelae. Future research is needed to explore how families come to terms with having a transgender child and how best to promote acceptance of such children.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Bockting WO, Gurak L, Miner M, Robinson B, Rosser BR, Raman S, et al. Gender identity and HIV risk: Reaching the transgender community via the Internet; Paper presented at the 14th International AIDS Conference; Barcelona, Spain. Jun, 2002.
    1. Bockting WO, Robinson BE, Forberg J, Scheltema K. Evaluation of a sexual health approach to reducing HIV/STD risk in the transgender community. AIDS Care. 2005;17:289–303. - PubMed
    1. Clements K, Wilkinson W, Kitano K, Marx R. HIV prevention and health service needs of the transgender community in San Francisco. The International Journal of Transgenderism. 1999. pp. 1–2. Retrieved from http://www.symposion.com/ijt/hiv_risk/clements.htm.
    1. Cole SW, Kemeny ME, Taylor SE, Visscher BR. Elevated physical health risk among gay men who conceal their homosexual identity. Health Psychology. 1996;15:243–251. - PubMed
    1. Connolly CM. A process of change: The intersection of the GLBT individual and his or her family of origin. In: Bigner JJ, editor. An introduction to GLBT family studies. Haworth Press; New York: 2006. pp. 5–21.

Publication types