Respecting Gender Identity in Healthcare
Using someone’s preferred name and pronouns shows respect for their identity, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Unfortunately, not everyone follows this practice, often holding on to outdated norms or ignoring individual identities.
Bennett Kaspar-Williams’ Experience
Bennett Kaspar-Williams, 37, from Los Angeles, welcomed their son Hudson in October 2020 with their husband Malik. Despite identifying as male and using he/him/his pronouns (now identifying as non-binary with both he/him/his and they/them pronouns), Kaspar-Williams faced challenges. Nurses misgendered them, referring to them as a mother instead of a father.
Transition and Parenthood
Kaspar-Williams began their transition in 2014 after realizing they were transgender in 2011. The couple decided to start a family, and Bennett paused testosterone therapy to allow their ovaries to function again. Though Bennett had top surgery, they hadn’t had lower body procedures. After careful consideration, they were comfortable with the idea of carrying a child. It didn’t take long for Bennett to become pregnant naturally.
Challenges with Misgendering
During pregnancy, Kaspar-Williams faced constant misgendering. Despite specifying their gender on medical forms, they were still called “mom” by the nursing staff. This continued after Hudson’s birth. Bennett highlighted the discomfort of being misgendered while navigating a system centered around the concept of motherhood.
Reframing Gender and Parenthood
Kaspar-Williams spoke out about disconnecting womanhood from motherhood, emphasizing that not all women become mothers, and not all who carry children are mothers. They believe that defining womanhood by motherhood is a false equivalency. Their journey reflects the need to separate gender from reproductive roles and respect individual identities.
A Personal Journey
Bennett and Malik are proud parents of their now 3-year-old son. Through their story, they advocate for recognizing and respecting individual self-identification in all aspects of life, including childbirth.
Your Thoughts?
What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments!
