Promoting the health of gender variant children in Italy: Parents' experience with supportive networks

Objective: The aim of this research was to explore the ways in which Italian parents of gender variant (GV) children construct their experience of seeking medical–psychological support and their experience with local services. Background: We refer to gender variance in minors as the process of identification with a gender, other than the one assigned at birth. Parents taking care of their GV children often search for professional support to better understand them and promote their overall well-being. International research has shown that parents often meet health professionals who are ill-equipped to support them. Method: We interviewed 26 parents in Italy with children who are GV. Through discourse analysis, with a focus on Harré's discursive positioning, we discuss how throughout their experience, parents have turned to information from professionals who were mostly uneducated about gender variance, and therefore, unable to help. Results: A mostly adequate support was received when the parents eventually turned to specialized services for transgender and GV people; however, the fundamental source of support and empowerment is the informal relational network of services and “gender” families. Conclusion: Parents' reports show that in Italy, health professionals and services addressing gender variance are highly heterogeneous and patchy, thus necessitating a specific training for professionals on the needs of transgender people. Implications: This study is particularly important in the current context of the medicalization of children who are GV, as it offers valuable insights into the experiences of families navigating the complex and often stigmatized world of gender identity development.