"I can't be a parent if I'm not there": Investigating how leave shapes parental identity experience among female same‐sex parents

This research explores how leave affected ten female same-sex parents’ experience of their parental identity. Semi-structured interviews with all participants and semi-structured two-week diaries (diary-interview method (DIM)) with four participants who were currently within their leave arrangements at the time of data collection shed light on parental identity experiences within the settings of shared parental leave, maternity leave, adoption leave, and ineligibility for leave. The data was analysed via in vivo coding. Findings suggest that leave affected participants’ parental identity experience in providing focus, physical presence, and time. These leave characteristics benefited participants’ visibility as parents to others and themselves. Participants’ shared parental identification as mothers highlighted the importance of equality within their parental identity experience. While equal leave arrangements facilitated an equal parental identity experience, the experience of ineligibility for leave was especially detrimental for one participant.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Sandler, Elisabeth Theresa

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Pralat, Robert

• parental identity
• leave
• LGBTQ+ parenting
• diary-interview method

Licence

• https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/d652eced-6fd6-4226-9ab1-37ea17fad15e/download
• https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.26001

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/278653