ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how collective memory work (CMW) revealed the impact of positive and negative parental responses and provided recommendations for the field of counselling, in an effort to increase resources for counsellors supporting families dealing with gender nonconformity. Rebecca Eaker requested her peers and colleagues spread the word about the details of her study—including the need for adults with a history of gender nonconformity during childhood or adolescence. Prior to the focus group session, participants wrote one to two double-spaced pages about two particular memories from the childhood interactions they had with their parents as a result of their demonstration of gender nonconformity. They wrote about positive emotions associated with the love they have for their parents and other family members. The chapter concludes with a personal reflection regarding the importance and process of examining subjectivity and reflexivity in CMW, especially as the researcher identifies as the cisgender parent of a gender nonconforming child.
