The Other Mothers: Two Women's Journey to Find the Family That Was Always Theirs
An LGBTQ memoir about one couple's struggles to defy the patriarchy and redefine the nuclear family, The Other Mothers dives into the history and social challenges queer couples face when trying to make a family.

Jenn Berney was one of those people who knew she was destined for motherhood—it wasn't a question of if, but when. So when she and her wife Kelly decided to start building their family, they took the next logical step: they went to a fertility clinic. But they soon found themselves entrenched in a medical establishment that didn't know what to do with people like them. With no man factoring into their relationship, doctors were at best embarrassed and at worst disparaging of the couple.

Soon Jenn found herself stepping outside of the system determined to disregard her. Looking into the history of fertility and the LGBTQ+ community, she saw echoes of her own struggle. For decades queer people have defied the patriarchy and redefined the nuclear family—and Jenn was walking in their footsteps.

Through the ups-and-downs of her own journey, Jenn reflects on a turbulent past that has led her to this point and a bright future worth fighting for. With clarity, determination, and hope, The Other Mothers gives us a wonderful glimpse into the many ways we can become family.

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The Other Mothers: Two Women's Journey to Find the Family That Was Always Theirs
An LGBTQ memoir about one couple's struggles to defy the patriarchy and redefine the nuclear family, The Other Mothers dives into the history and social challenges queer couples face when trying to make a family.

Jenn Berney was one of those people who knew she was destined for motherhood—it wasn't a question of if, but when. So when she and her wife Kelly decided to start building their family, they took the next logical step: they went to a fertility clinic. But they soon found themselves entrenched in a medical establishment that didn't know what to do with people like them. With no man factoring into their relationship, doctors were at best embarrassed and at worst disparaging of the couple.

Soon Jenn found herself stepping outside of the system determined to disregard her. Looking into the history of fertility and the LGBTQ+ community, she saw echoes of her own struggle. For decades queer people have defied the patriarchy and redefined the nuclear family—and Jenn was walking in their footsteps.

Through the ups-and-downs of her own journey, Jenn reflects on a turbulent past that has led her to this point and a bright future worth fighting for. With clarity, determination, and hope, The Other Mothers gives us a wonderful glimpse into the many ways we can become family.

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The Other Mothers: Two Women's Journey to Find the Family That Was Always Theirs

The Other Mothers: Two Women's Journey to Find the Family That Was Always Theirs

by Jennifer Berney
The Other Mothers: Two Women's Journey to Find the Family That Was Always Theirs

The Other Mothers: Two Women's Journey to Find the Family That Was Always Theirs

by Jennifer Berney

Paperback

$16.99 
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Overview

An LGBTQ memoir about one couple's struggles to defy the patriarchy and redefine the nuclear family, The Other Mothers dives into the history and social challenges queer couples face when trying to make a family.

Jenn Berney was one of those people who knew she was destined for motherhood—it wasn't a question of if, but when. So when she and her wife Kelly decided to start building their family, they took the next logical step: they went to a fertility clinic. But they soon found themselves entrenched in a medical establishment that didn't know what to do with people like them. With no man factoring into their relationship, doctors were at best embarrassed and at worst disparaging of the couple.

Soon Jenn found herself stepping outside of the system determined to disregard her. Looking into the history of fertility and the LGBTQ+ community, she saw echoes of her own struggle. For decades queer people have defied the patriarchy and redefined the nuclear family—and Jenn was walking in their footsteps.

Through the ups-and-downs of her own journey, Jenn reflects on a turbulent past that has led her to this point and a bright future worth fighting for. With clarity, determination, and hope, The Other Mothers gives us a wonderful glimpse into the many ways we can become family.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781728222837
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication date: 02/02/2021
Pages: 336
Sales rank: 1,036,782
Product dimensions: 8.40(w) x 5.50(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

I.

Prologue 1

1 Certainty 8

2 Accidentally on Purpose 23

3 Ways of Saying Yes 32

4 Body Lore 42

II.

5 Positions 49

6 The Short List 53

7 Binders Full of Men 73

8 Donor Match 97

III.

9 A Secret 105

10 She's Not My Mother 108

11 An Egg in the Dark 118

12 A Body Alone 125

13 Stories and Maps 136

14 Screw Fate 144

IV.

15 The Meaning of Soon 173

16 Accoutrements 186

17 Last-Ditch Efforts 195

18 I Worry 212

19 This Is a Test 218

20 Homecoming / Distance 241

21 Setting the Table 241

22 Legalities 256

23 Delivery 261

24 Becoming Family 279

Epilogue 297

Reading Group Guide 303

A Conversation with the Author 305

Resources 311

Notes 313

Acknowledgments 319

About the Author 321

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