Family portraits: an autobiographical writing experience in group with homoparental couples

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Andrea Caputo, Carmela De Giorgio, Maria Maddalena Zuccari
Publishing Year 2024 Issue 2024/3
Language Italian Pages 16 P. 77-92 File size 245 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2024-003008
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

More and more frequently, social and health services are faced with new family configura-tions that call into question the idea of a natural and immutable symbolic order that founded the family on marriage and filiation and these two on gender difference. Affective bonds and the concept of parenthood also take shape in relation to existing social and legal policies and, therefore, to the way in which the relationship between the public apparatus and private choic-es is expressed. This contribution intends to propose an in-depth analysis of the literature on the subject of homoparenting, as an umbrella definition that includes various family situations in which there is at least one parent with a homosexual orientation. In this regard, article 44 letter d of Law 184/1983 represents the legal framework within which, at the moment, it is possible to proceed with a form of legal recognition of homoparental families in the Italian context. Specifically, we propose an experience carried out by the Adoption Integrated Work-ing Group of ASL Roma 2 as part of the psychosocial evaluation paths activated with same-parent couples, based on the use of autobiographical writing in groups with the aim of high-lighting the levels of complexity and, at times, contradictory nature linked to the intersection between psychological, legal and social dimensions.

Keywords: homoparentality, autobiographical writing, group, adoption

  1. Adji A.N. (2023). From real life to story–and back again: using autobiographical fiction writing to understand self, others and family generations. New Writing, 20(4): 407-419.  DOI: 10.1080/14790726.2023.218706
  2. Aktürk S.O. and Dolgun G. (2022). Parenthood experiences of LGBT+ individuals: A systematic review. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 68: 490-497.
  3. Baiocco R. and Laghi F. (2013). Sexual orientation and the desires and intentions to become parents. Journal of Family Studies, 19(1): 90-98.
  4. Bandelli D. (2021). The Italian Case: A Strong Opposition in the Name of Women’s Sexual Identity and Motherhood. In: Bandelli D. (ed.). Sociological Debates on Gestational Surrogacy. Cham: Springer, pp. 105-121.
  5. Bastianoni P. and Baiamonte C. (2015). Le famiglie omogenitoriali in Italia: Relazioni familiari e diritti dei figli [Homoparental families in Italy: Family relationshipts and children’s rights]. Parma: Editori Junior.
  6. Bertini M. (2012). Psicologia della salute [Health psychology]. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
  7. Biasutti C.M. and Nascimento C.R.R. (2021). (Homo)Parenting: From the Adoption Process to the Child’s Arrival. In: Morais N.A.D., Scorsolini-Comin F. and Cerqueira-Santos E., editors, Parenting and Couple Relationships Among LGBTQ+ People in Diverse Contexts. Cham: Springer, pp. 251-272.
  8. Brodzinsky D. and Pertman A. (eds.) (2012). Adoption by lesbians and gay men: A new dimension in family diversity. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  9. Carone N., Baiocco R. and Lingiardi V. (2017). Single fathers by choice using surrogacy: Why men decide to have a child as a single parent. Human Reproduction, 32 (9): 1871–1879.
  10. Catarsi, E. (2009). Educazione familiare e autobiografie genitoriali. Rivista Italiana Di Educazione Familiare, 3 (1): 5–18. DOI: 10.13128/RIEF-306
  11. Cioffi A. and Cioffi F. (2019). Prohibiting medically assisted procreation to gay couples is not illegitimate. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 69: 101891.
  12. Cocker C. and Hafford-Letchfield T. (2021). LGBT+ Parenting. In: Dodd S.J. (ed.). International Handbook of Social Work and Sexuality. London, New York: Routledge, pp. 182-194.
  13. Demetrio D. (1995). Raccontarsi: L’autobiografia come cura di sé [Telling your story: Autobiography as self-care]. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
  14. Demetrio D. (2008). La scrittura clinica: consulenza autobiografica e fragilità esistenziali [Clinical writing: autobiographical counseling and existential fragility]. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
  15. Di Battista S., Paolini D. and Pivetti M. (2020). Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parents: Examining the Antecedents of Parenting Ability Evaluation. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 17(3): 273-291. DOI: 10.1080/1550428X.2020.183559
  16. Dotti Sani G.M. and Quaranta M. (2022). Mapping changes in attitudes towards gays and lesbians in Europe: An application of diffusion theory. European Sociological Review, 38(1): 124-137.
  17. Fabbri L. (2008). Il genitore riflessivo: la costruzione narrativa del sapere e delle pratiche genitoriali [The reflective parent: the narrative construction of parental knowledge and practices]. Rivista Italiana di Educazione Familiare, 1: 45-55.
  18. Farr R.H. and Vázquez C.P. (2020). Stigma experiences, mental health, perceived parenting competence, and parent–child relationships among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual adoptive parents in the United States. Frontiers in Psychology, 11: 445.
  19. Garro M., Alonso E.A. and Quatrosi G. (2022). Italian gay fathers for surrogacy and research visibility. Gazzetta Medica Italiana. Archivio per le Scienze Mediche, 181(11): 907-908.
  20. Ghinassi S., Elmi B., Fioretti C., Smorti A. and Tani F. (2021). Thinking for three: Mothers’ and fathers’ narratives on transition to parenthood. The Open Psychology Journal, 14(1): 53-61. DOI: 10.2174/187435010211401005
  21. Gianino M. (2008). Adaptation and transformation: The transition to adoptive parenthood for gay male couples. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 4 (2): 205–243. DOI: 10.1080/15504280802096872.
  22. Goldberg A.E. (2012). Gay dads: Transitions to adoptive fatherhood. New York, NY: New York University Press.
  23. Golombok S. (2015). Modern families: Parents and children in new family forms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 
  24. Grigoropoulos I. (2023). Gay fatherhood Experiences and challenges through the lens of minority stress theory. Journal of homosexuality, 70 (9): 1867-1889. DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2022.204313
  25. ILGA World (2020). State-sponsored homophobia 2020: Global legislation overview update. -- Retrieved from: https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf
  26. Kirubarajan A., Patel P., Leung S., Park B. and Sierra S. (2021). Cultural competence in fertility care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people: A systematic review of patient and provider perspectives. Fertility and Sterility, 115 (5): 1294-1301.
  27. Leal D., Gato J. and Tasker F. (2019). Prospective parenting: Sexual identity and intercultural trajectories. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 21 (7): 757-773. DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2018.151598
  28. Leal D., Gato J., Coimbra S., Freitas D. and Tasker F. (2021). Social support in the transition to parenthood among lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons: A systematic review. Sexuality Research & Social Policy: A Journal of the NSRC, 18 (4): 1165–1179. 
  29. Lelleri R., Graglia M. e Pietrantoni L. (2006). Modidi: Sesso e salute di lesbiche, gay e bisessuali oggi in Italia. Principali risultati sociosanitari [Modidi: Sex and health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in Italy today. Main socio-health results]. Bologna: Arcigay.
  30. Lenti L. (2020). Diritto di famiglia e servizi sociali [Family law and social services]. Torino: Giappichelli.
  31. Luzzatto L., Cimmino D., Delvento E. e Iocca S. (2017). Scrivere di Sé per incontrare l’Altro: Valutare l’opportunità di adottare in piccoli gruppi di coppie. MinoriGiustizia, 2016/4: 147-161. DOI: 10.3280/MG2016-00401
  32. Messina R. and D’Amore S. (2018). Adoption by lesbians and gay men in Europe: Challenges and barriers on the journey to adoption. Adoption Quarterly, 21 (2): 59–81.  DOI: 10.1080/10926755.2018.142764
  33. Mira A. (2021). Engaged detachment: camp and homosexual subjectivity. Estudios LGBTIQ+ Comunicación y Cultura, 1 (1): 5-14.
  34. Monaco S. and Nothdurfter U. (2023). Discovered, made visible, constructed, and left out: LGBT+ parenting in the Italian sociological debate. Journal of Family Studies, 29 (2): 471-488. DOI: 10.1080/13229400.2021.193529
  35. Parisi R. and Grilli S. (2020). New relatedness between public and intimate sphere in Italy: An ethnographic analysis of the public and institutional debate on same-sex unions. In: Duysens F., Razy E. and Sarcinelli A.S. (eds.). Espaces pluriels de la parenté: Approches ethnographiques des (re) configurations intimes et publiques dans le monde contemporain. Belgium: Academia L’Harmattan, pp. 179-190.
  36. Perillo P. (2017). Memorie familiari e genitorialità in trasformazione: raccontare le pedagogie della famiglia [Family memories and parenting in transformation: recounting family pedagogies]. Rivista Italiana di Educazione Familiare, 1: 55-76.
  37. Rouse S.V., Chu L.E. and Gash J.A. (2021). It gets better: Themes of redemption in the coming out narratives of LGBTQ+ adults. Psy Chi: Journal of Psychological Research, 26 (3): 319-329.
  38. Sakellariou P., Combalbert N. and Taillandier-Schmitt A. (2021). Homophobie intériorisée, homoparentalité et développement de l’enfant: Une revue systématique de la littérature. Neuropsychiatrie de l’Enfance et de l’Adolescence, 69 (7): 369-379.
  39. Siciliani J.M., Barrios Tao H. and Cuesta Rivas J. (2019). The biographical approach of Duccio Demetrio: Two fundamental aspects. Revista Lasallista de Investigación, 16 (2): 267-276. 
  40. Tabacchi A. (2023). Children outside the birth family: the challenge of preserving and narrating the life story between distances and presences. Proposals for educational support. Journal of Inclusive Methodology and Technology in Learning and Teaching, 3 (1). -- Retrieved from: https://www.inclusiveteaching.it/index.php/inclusiveteaching/article/ view/50/61
  41. Valtonen J. (2022). The Health Benefits of Autobiographical Writing: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. In: Jones T. and Pachucki K. (eds.). The Medical/Health Humanities-Politics, Programs, and Pedagogies. Cham: Springer, pp. 193-211.

Andrea Caputo, Carmela De Giorgio, Maria Maddalena Zuccari, Ritratti di famiglia: un’esperienza di scrittura autobiografica in gruppo con coppie omogenitoriali in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 3/2024, pp 77-92, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2024-003008