The meaning behind the journey towards acceptance: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of accounts of parents of transgender women

• Main Authors: Igual, Nina Angelica L., Penalosa, Ma. Katrina Anne R., Roldan, Jonna Feliz C., Velasco, Maybelle A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Children of transgender parents > Philippines; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10456
• Institution: De La Salle University

The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning Filipino parents of transgender women give to their journey towards acceptance. The researchers of this study also intended to explain gender differences in how these parents give meaning in their separate journeys. The study was done in a qualitative approach. The participants obtained data through recorded interviews with parents of transgender women. The researchers used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) for data analysis. The researchers, in result, found that Filipino parents of transgender women understand that their children's identity were out of their control but were in the hands of a higher being. The parents realized that there is a need for them to accept their children because their children's choices are beyond their control. The parents also found their children's identity as beneficial to the family and the transgender themselves for reasons that the transgender is able to financially aid their families, as well as saving themselves from having a reckless son lifestyle. The researchers found that gender differences were evident in the way parents cope with their child's new identity and future. In result, it appears that Filipino parents of transgender women accept their children's identity due to the fact that it does not harm their well-being as well as it molds their children to be better individuals.