Welcome session

Introduction to the summer school: key topics and features
Constructing the group as a learning environment

LGBT+ families: diversities, experiences and challenges
Joanna Mizielinska, Agata Stasinska, Institute of Psychology – Polish Academy of Sciences

The first working session aims to explore the plurality of LGBT+ families, their various configurations, constitution processes, challenges, and the different forms of discrimination LGBT+ families and children may experience. Through analysis of different cases participants will gain the awareness of the social roots of heteronormative framework and its power in assimilating family diversity and will begin to understand their professional responsibility in tackling prejudices and stereotypes.

Networking: experiences of grassroots partners
Staff from NGOs and public organizations working with LGBT+ families: Tolerado (Poland), Casal Lambda (Spain), Agenzia Sanitaria e Sociale – Regione Emilia Romagna (Italy)

Starting from the experiences the organizations will share, participants will understand the functioning and main characteristics of LGBT+ NGOs in different European countries as well as the principles and practices of networking between professionals, NGO and public bodies.
This will facilitate participants in becoming able to identify key actors in different contexts, building effective relationships both with the LGBT community and other professionals, activate formal and informal resources in order to better meet the families’ needs.

Gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and social norms
Federica de Cordova, Giulia Selmi, Chiara Sità, University of Verona

Using an active methodology this lecture will address the connection among sexed bodies, emotions and roles, deepening the social process of construction of gender binarism, providing theoretical frames and research evidence to interpret gender relationships and parental roles.In particular, the lesson will explore how such socio-cultural process affects non-heterosexual parenthood, and its impact on people’s actual lives and agency.

Reshaping reproduction and family bonds
Beatriz San Roman, Patricia Aljama, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona

The lectures will explore the sex/gender system and the process of social construction of gender differences, connecting it with heteronormativity; the differences between gendered parental roles and parenting functions; the connection between stereotypes, social models and inequality; the way ARTs and new family configurations design kinship, family ties and meanings attached to family and belonging.
The lectures will be followed by a workshop where participants will ground on this knowledge and their previous experiences to critically reflect on their own stereotypes and models, to analyze the ways gender stereotypes shape mainstream meanings and practices on families and parenting, to start thinking about transforming professional practice and work environment in order to minimize the impact of stereotyped vision on gender and family relationships.

Workshop: dealing with gender, sexuality and family diversity in professional practice

UNIVR and UAB teams

The workshop will address some of the topics developed during the morning session; using active methodologies the participants will be engaged in translating the theoretical issues into their own professional practice, pinpointing strengths and criticalities.

Parenthood and gender transition: transgender parents and parents of transgender children

Giulia Giardina, Giovanni Papalia,Sat-Pink Verona and Padua

The workshop aims to explore the different configurations of families that include transgender people, specifically those in which there are transgender children or transgender parents, deepening the needs and difficulties that these individuals face during the transition process. In groups, participants will be presented with different real case scenarios and will be asked to produce a range of responses based on the analysis of their needs. This will raise the awareness about the fragilities, the requests and the challenges of the families with transgender members. The aim of the workshop is also to counteract the lack of information about transition and parenthood, from the creation of a parental project for transgender future parents to the support destined to transgender children from their parents.

Equity and inclusion practices in working with LGBT+ families – First session
Tarah Fleming, Start Dialog, USA

The two sessions will go deeper into the discrimination and micro-aggression processes that are experiences by minority groups and the inclusive practices involving LGBT+ families (affirmative models, anti-bias approaches, critical reflective practice), through the analysis of the role of professionals and public spaces in building equity and inclusion towards all identities (understood in an intersectional perspective).

Participants will become aware of privilege and the power dynamics that inform their work and will be able to critically assess their current materials and methods’ implicit family models in order to develop, implement and disseminate LGBT-inclusive strategies in their workplace. They  will experience the role of prejudices and stereotypes in understanding specific needs and situations. They will be able to handle different questions coming from families or kids (i.e. the origins of the children who have two same-sex parents, or a trans parent, etc.) and to intervene in a group dynamic (i.e. in a classroom facing bullying behavior).

Understanding families: “family as practices” – First session
Stephen Hicks, University of Manchester

The sessions will explore the perspective of “family practices” and its impact on professional attitudes and tools. Participants will explore the potential of learning from family stories, recognize the families’ perspectives and needs, understand how language, artifacts, strategies, norms, routines can create or reduce barriers to inclusion and participation in the relationship between families and services. Family and parenting will be understood as cultural and historical constructions that cannot be assessed on the basis of a single dimension. Participants will work on their perspectives and attitudes in meeting parents and children and assessing their needs; they will discuss ways to apply correct strategies to face different family needs and to influence other professionals and institutions to understand family diversities.

Equity and inclusion practices in working with LGBT+ families – Second session
Tarah Fleming, Start Dialog, USA

The two sessions will go deeper into the discrimination and micro-aggression processes that are experiences by minority groups and the inclusive practices involving LGBT+ families (affirmative models, anti-bias approaches, critical reflective practice), through the analysis of the role of professionals and public spaces in building equity and inclusion towards all identities (understood in an intersectional perspective).

Participants will become aware of privilege and the power dynamics that inform their work and will be able to critically assess their current materials and methods’ implicit family models in order to develop, implement and disseminate LGBT-inclusive strategies in their workplace. They will experience the role of prejudices and stereotypes in understanding specific needs and situations. They will be able to handle different questions coming from families or kids (i.e. the origins of the children who have two same-sex parents, or a trans parent, etc.) and to intervene in a group dynamic (i.e. in a classroom facing bullying behavior).

Understanding families: “family as practices” – Second session
Stephen Hicks, University of Manchester

The sessions will explore the perspective of “family practices” and its impact on professional attitudes and tools. Participants will explore the potential of learning from family stories, recognize the families’ perspectives and needs, understand how language, artifacts, strategies, norms, routines can create or reduce barriers to inclusion and participation in the relationship between families and services. Family and parenting will be understood as cultural and historical constructions that cannot be assessed on the basis of a single dimension. Participants will work on their perspectives and attitudes in meeting parents and children and assessing their needs; they will discuss ways to apply correct strategies to face different family needs and to influence other professionals and institutions to understand family diversities.

Final workshop and assessment
The last working session will be devoted to a workshop where the summer school concepts, perspectives and tools will be used to analyze cases and controversial issues.