Being an XY female: an analysis of accounts from the website of the androgen insensitivity syndrome support group.

Abstract

We report an investigation of the experience of being an XY female through the analysis of accounts posted on an Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome support group website. We investigated management of narrative identity following diagnosis, focusing on barriers and aids to narrative revision. Barriers included the sense of stigma arising from secrecy imposed by doctors and families in a society assuming binary sex and gender. Women were assisted in deriving new meaning from their condition by finding that others share a collective narrative of XY womanhood. The results of this research have implications for the medical and psychological management of XY females.

• Authors: Cameryn C Garrett, Maggie Kirkman
• Journal: Health care for women international (Health Care Women Int) Vol. 30 Issue 5 Pg. 428-46 (May 2009) ISSN: 1096-4665 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19350438 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adaptation, Psychological
• Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome (psychology)
• Anecdotes as Topic
• Female
• Gender Identity
• Humans
• Internet (statistics & numerical data)
• Life Style
• Male
• Self Concept
• Self-Help Groups (statistics & numerical data)
• Social Perception
• Stereotyping
• Transsexualism (psychology)