Homosexual men's experiences of paternal relationships during the sexual identity formation period

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Date
2018-06
Authors
Van der Merwe, Jaco
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: In this study, homosexual men’s experiences of paternal relationships during their sexual identity development period were explored. An array of published articles explored and attempted to understand the development of homosexual identities. To this day, dissimilar attitudes, conflicting opinions, and ambivalent beliefs about homosexual individuals continues globally. Little research has been done on the experiences homosexual men had with their fathers during their sexual identity formation period. This study is based on Vivienne Cass’s model of homosexual identity development. Cass hypothesises that homosexual men progress through six phases during their homosexual identity formation period: identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, identity acceptance, identity pride, and identity synthesis. A multiple case study design was employed, and seven participants were recruited using purposive, homogeneous sampling. An individual semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant, during which they had the opportunity to reflect on their paternal relationships during their sexual identity formation period. The data was analysed by using thematic analysis, by reconstructing their experiences into main and subthemes. From the data analysis, five main themes emerged: a) a developmental progression in homosexual identity formation; b) the role of paternal relationship in homosexual identity formation; c) discrepancies between anticipated and actual paternal responses within the process of disclosure; d) acceptance of homosexuality by both father and son, and e) stigma, prejudice, and discrimination influence the process of paternal disclosure. This research study aimed to fill the gap in the literature about father-son relationships during homosexual identity development. The findings can contribute to a growing body of literature on the applicability of Cass’s model of homosexual identity development for a South African population. The insights gained from the research findings emphasise the importance of inter- and intrapersonal conflicts during homosexual identity development, focussing specifically on the need for paternal support, understanding, and acceptance after homosexual identity disclosure.
Afrikaans: In hierdie studie is homoseksuele mans se ervarings van vaderlike verhoudings tydens die tydperk van seksuele-identiteitsvorming ondersoek. ‘n Verskeidenheid gepubliseerde artikels het die ontwikkeling van homoseksuele identiteite ondersoek en probeer verstaan. Tot vandag bestaan daar egter wêreldwyd uiteenlopende houdings, teenstrydige menings en ambivalente oortuigings oor homoseksuele individue. Beperkte navorsing bestaan oor die ervarings wat homoseksuele mans met hul vaders gehad het tydens hul seksuele identiteitsvorming. Hierdie studie is gebaseer op Vivienne Cass se model van homoseksuele-identiteitsontwikkeling. Cass hipotetiseer dat homoseksuele mans deur ses fases gaan tydens hul homoseksuele identiteitsvorming. Die ses fases is identiteitsverwarring, identiteitsvergelyking, identiteitsverdraagsaamheid, identiteitsaanvaarding, identiteitstrots en identiteitsintese. 'n Meervoudigegevallestudie-ontwerp is gebruik, en sewe deelnemers is gewerf deur doelgerigte, homogene steekproefneming. 'n Individuele, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud is met elke deelnemer gevoer, waartydens hulle die geleentheid gegun is om na te dink oor hul vaderlike verhoudings tydens die tydperk van hul seksuele identitieitsvorming. Die data is met behulp van tematiese analise ontleed, en die deelnemers se ervarings is in hoof- en subtemas vervat. Uit die dataontleding het vyf hooftemas ontstaan: a) ‘n ontwikkelingsprogressie in die vorming van homoseksuele identiteit; b) die rol van vaderlike verhouding in homoseksuele identiteitsvorming; c) proses van bekendmaking, met verskille tussen verwagte en werklike vaderlike reaksies; d) aanvaarding van homoseksualiteit deur beide vader en seun, en e) stigma, vooroordeel en diskriminasie beïnvloed die proses van die bekendmaking aan vaders. Hierdie navorsingstudie het probeer om die gaping in die literatuur oor vader-seunverhoudings tydens homoseksuele identiteitsontwikkeling te vul; en die bevindinge kan ook bydra tot die groeiende versameling literatuur oor die toepaslikheid van Cass se model van homoseksuele identiteitsontwikkeling op 'n Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking. Die insig verkry uit die navorsingsbevindings beklemtoon die belangrikheid van inter- en intrapersoonlike konflikte tydens ontwikkeling van ‘n homoseksuele identiteit, spesifiek met betrekking tot die behoefte aan vaderlike ondersteuning, begrip en aanvaarding na bekendmaking van homoseksuele identiteit.
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Keywords
Homosexual men, Sexual identity formation, Father-son relationship, Disclosure, Acceptance of homosexuality, Dissertation (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2018
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