Abstract
This study explores how Greek lesbian women envision parenthood and the motives that lie within their desire to have children. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to illustrate the inner experience of the participants, through analyzing the data obtained through individual interviews with 12 lesbian women. The analysis revealed three overarching themes: a) towards the prospect of remaining childless, b) being less confident about parenting skills, and c) dual rejection. This study’s results show that in a cultural context that promotes and advocates parenthood the prospect of remaining childless together with internalized heterosexism, can be significant expressions of minority stress, that challenge participants' desires and comfort with parenthood. This study emphasizes the need to avoid oversimplified and static explanations for lesbian women’s desire for parenthood and consider their choices within a wider and multifaceted context.
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Acknowledgements
Researchers would like to thank all participants and acknowledge the support of Ms. Stella Belia and “Rainbow families” Greece. The present work was conducted as part of the post-doctorate research fellowship of the author at the Department of Psychology of the Panteion University of Athens under the supervision of Prof. P. Kordoutis.
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Grigoropoulos Iraklis earned his PhD in Social Psychology from Aristotle University
Greece M.Sc. in developmental psychopathology- Medical school Aristotle University Greece and M.Sc. in counselling psychology—Manchester Metropolitan University UK.
Degree in Psychology—Aristotle University Greece.
He serves as a full time EDIP in the Early Childhood Education and Care Department of International Hellenic University teaching psychology courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate level
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Iraklis, G. Lesbian motherhood desires and challenges due to minority stress. Curr Psychol 42, 11133–11142 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02376-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02376-1