“I Waited So Long for This Grandchild”: The Experience of Grandparents in Gay Father Surrogacy Families

Abstract

This study focuses on grandparents in gay father surrogacy families, using the Stress Process Model (SPM) and the Minority Stress Model as conceptual frameworks to explore their experience. Analysis of 10 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Israeli grandparents in gay father surrogacy families revealed that their grandparenting experience was shaped by unique stressors that were specifically related to their son’s family configuration, as well as by the universal rewards associated with grandparenthood. Three major challenges emerged from the interviews: challenges related to heteronormative beliefs privileging biogenetic kinship and motherhood; challenges related to overseas surrogacy; and sociopolitical challenges. These findings extend the conceptual framework of the Minority Stress Model, illustrating the intergenerational effect of distal minority stressors experienced by sexual minorities. The grandparents also described two types of grandparenting rewards that mitigated the impact of the stressors on their well-being: enhanced social and familial relationships; and emotional rewards. The findings stress the need for professionals working with non-heteronormative families to broaden their approach to include the unique needs of the grandparents in addition to those of the parents and children.

Keywords:

• Gay father families
• grandparenting experience
• minority stress
• intergenerational stressors
• stress mitigators
• kinship

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).