The desire to found a family is a gender
neutral one. Pregnancy does not fall into this category - in our culture it
is considered to be an exclusively female activity.
This study focuses on female to male
transsexuals (FTM) who chose to bear a child, while being conscious of their
transsexual male identity, and who therefore transitioned shortly
afterwards.
Problems this group has to face include:
finding a supportive environment, defining the individual perception of
masculine identity and handling the organisational aspects of transitioning.
These consist in dealing with therapists
and or medical caregivers who are required to write or approve the necessary
referrals for name change, hormones or surgeries. Additionally meeting the
standards legally required for a name/gender change can be complicated as
those frequently request permanent sterilisation or a non-marital status.
Several FTM who transitioned either during
or after pregnancy (max 3 years afterwards) have been interviewed,
particularly in respect to the response of their social environment. The
request of permanent sterility for FTMs who wish to change their gender
legally is discussed from a feminist and human rights perspective and from
the male self perception of the FTMs involved in the study.
