The procreative identities of men in same‐sex relationships choosing surrogacy: A new theoretical understanding

Abstract

The growing visibility of same‐sex two‐parent families and the increased use of surrogacy have expanded LGBT parenting scholarship to include experiences of gay and other men in same‐sex relationships. Yet, even with the growth of research over the past decade on gay and other sexual minority men's parenting experiences, such studies are still undertheorized. The purpose of this article is to conceptualize an enhanced family theory model that addresses the evolution of the procreative identities of men in same‐sex relationships who decide to have children via surrogacy. This framework will identify the unique issues and factors that support same‐sex partnered men's (a) procreative consciousness; (b) procreative responsibility; and (c) procreative transitioning, including barriers that may exert a long‐term impact on fathers in same‐sex relationships. As scholarship on fatherhood among gay, bisexual, and other men expands, the development of a family studies model that examines surrogacy trajectories in the context of men's same‐sex relationships, from considerations of procreation to post‐birth experiences, can enhance family studies theory and research.

Does Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Make Gay Men Want to Have Children? Findings from a Panel Study in Taiwan

“…This study enriches the procreative identity framework (Berkowitz & Marsiglio, 2007 ), originally proposed to describe how cisgender heterosexual men make reproductive decisions and react to pregnancy loss, miscarriage, and abortion. Fantus and Newman ( 2022 ) have revisited this framework by accounting for sexual minority men’s distinctive experiences, suggesting that gay men’s procreative consciousness is widely tied to individual life events, romantic interpersonal relationships, and sociohistorical contexts. Building on this framework, the current study with Taiwanese gay men in same-sex relationships delineates the role of sociocultural factors in fostering men’s desire for parenthood, identifying that gay men’s procreative consciousness partly depends on their attitudes towards marriage.…”

A relational investigation of Israeli gay fathers’ experiences of surrogacy, early parenthood, and mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Certainly, there is some evidence that heteronormativity (i.e., a hierarchy in society that privileges heterosexual ways of behaviour and frequently a central assumption of hegemonic masculinity) and attendant stigma are key sources of distress for gay fathers [42,43], particularly for those at the intersection of constructions of race and single fatherhood [44]. Moreover, gay fathers' encounters of homophobia-in the form of daily microaggressions, the complexities of disclosure of surrogacy, and repeatedly having to "come out" due to heteronormative biases-may also contribute to experiences of distress [10]. Thus, more needs to be done to understand the ways in which gay fathers' experiences of surrogacy and early parenthood both require a negotiation with others when it comes to masculinity, as well as the potentials to challenge hegemony [44,45].…”

“…For instance, research has shown how some men struggle to negotiate the identity "gay father", particularly when faced with heterosexist norms and feelings of internalised shame [47]. Third, the route to gay fatherhood via surrogacy presents unique logistical, legal, and emotional challenges [10,39]. For instance, surrogacy often involves lengthy wait times, high levels of uncertainty, and cycles of hope and disappointment if arrangements fail [48].…”

“…This is particularly important not only because comparisons of gay fatherhood to heterosexual families reinforces heterosexuality as the preferred mode, but also because it renders invisible pathways into-and trajectories of-parenthood among gay men [8,9]. Fortunately, an emergent body of research has sought to centre experiences of gay fatherhood via surrogacy [10]. In particular, this body of work has highlighted the range of experiences, issues, and factors that affect gay fatherhood prior to deciding to have children (i.e., procreative consciousness), during and immediately after birth (i.e., procreative responsibility), and in the months after the birth of a child (i.e., procreative transitioning).…”

“…In particular, this body of work has highlighted the range of experiences, issues, and factors that affect gay fatherhood prior to deciding to have children (i.e., procreative consciousness), during and immediately after birth (i.e., procreative responsibility), and in the months after the birth of a child (i.e., procreative transitioning). Such work, and the theoretical modelling of Fantus and Newman [10], has served to highlight the wide range of unique experiences, issues, and factors that shape gay men's procreative identities in the context of surrogacy. To date, however, much of the extant research on gay fatherhood has tended to focus on issues of resilience, with much less work considering experiences of psychological distress [11].…”