Third-year family science doctoral student Pond Ezra was awarded the 2024 National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Student Award last month for their work aiming to increase the representation of transgender people in family science in general, in particular in the realm of parenting. The award is given yearly to one student across the country for their contribution to family science research.
As an undergraduate, Ezra saw their life experiences as a trans person were not well represented in studies, if at all. There was little mention of transgender people and their family dynamics in textbooks, lectures or case studies. Yet Ezra entered the health field in the hopes of helping to normalize the portrayal of transgender people and ensure inclusion of all excluded groups.
“To have my professors and graduate directors actually nominate me and say that my work is worth being represented is really important. It makes me feel like I'm doing something good for my community,” they said.
“This award is really special because it shows that the idea of families is shifting and becoming more inclusive, something I didn’t think was possible when I first started.”
Associate Family Science Professor Jessica Fish praised Ezra for their award and dedication to inclusivity.
“This award is a well-earned recognition of Pond's early and expanding contributions to the family science field,” Fish said. “I'm excited to see their research program grow in the years to come.”
Ezra’s research, “Inclusive Paternity: Expanding Family Science to Include Gender Diverse Fathers,” explains how the scope of fatherhood is traditionally seen as a role limited to people assigned male at birth. To expand understanding of fatherhood, Ezra uses the term “seahorse dads” to describe fathers, assigned female at birth, who get pregnant and give birth after transitioning. Male seahorses go through pregnancy and birth.
For Ezra, it’s important to expand traditional gender norms in family science as a way to ensure that everyone is represented and can access health care, regardless of their gender or gender expression.
“It can be hard to be trans, but that does not mean we can’t also experience joy and create families of our own,” Ezra said. “This is a type of liberation that I think hasn't been talked about that much in family science or other disciplines in public health.”
– Sumaya Abdel-Motagaly ‘26