“It’s Total Erasure”: Trans and Nonbinary Peoples’ Experiences of Cisnormativity Within Perinatal Care Services in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Transgender and nonbinary (trans) people can face unique barriers to accessing gender-inclusive perinatal care. The present study explored trans people’s experiences of perinatal care in Aotearoa New Zealand. A thematic analysis of 17 interviews with trans people and their whānau identified seven themes regarding the operation and impact of cisnormativity on participants’ family-building journeys. Findings indicate that cisnormativity manifests as an erasure of gender diversity and creates barriers to affirming and safe care. Importantly, participants’ constant negotiation of cisnormativity in perinatal care had enduring impacts on their well-being. Addressing cisnormativity is fundamental to securing trans reproductive justice.

Keywords:

• Transgender
• pregnancy
• LGBTQ
• cisnormativity
• perinatal

Acknowledgements

This project has been expertly guided by our takatāpui trans parent advisor Scout Barbour-Evans. Thanks to Gender Minorities Aotearoa and Intersex Aotearoa for their additional guidance with this project.

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1 In this article, we use the term trans to include all people whose gender is different from the gender they were assigned at birth, including binary trans and nonbinary people. We recognize that this umbrella term encompasses a diversity of experiences and that not all people in this group use the term trans to describe their gender.

2 Whānau (plural) or whanau (singular) is a Māori concept that is often translated to “family”; however, its meaning is broader than Western understandings of family. Whānau can be self-determined and can include people who are not biologically related.

3 Takatāpui is a Māori identity (indigenous to Aotearoa New Zealand) that originally translated to “intimate partner of the same sex.” In recent years, takatāpui has been reclaimed and expanded to describe Māori of diverse genders, sexualities, and sex characteristics (Kerekere, 2017).

4 Te Tiriti o Waitangi is an agreement negotiated between the British Crown and Indigenous Māori leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand in 1840. It established the modern state of Aotearoa New Zealand. The document outlines the terms and conditions of British settlement and assures tino rangatiratanga (Māori sovereignty) for the indigenous people of Aotearoa.

5 Pākehā is an indigenous term in te reo Māori describing people who are non-Māori, living in Aotearoa New Zealand. The term usually applies to people of European descent but depending on context can include people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

6 Trying to conceive.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand under Grant ref 20/1498.