DOCSLIB.ORG

Trans* Bodies Identities (Factor and Rothblum 2008)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Trans* Bodies Identities (Factor and Rothblum 2008) 1382 Trans* bodies identities (Factor and Rothblum 2008). However, owing to the limitations of some of the technical AARON H. DEVOR aspects of physical gender transitions, very few University of Victoria, Canada trans* people are able to live the entirety of their lives without some disclosure of their trans* identi- Gender-variant people live all across the globe. In ties. This is especially true in sexually intimate some cultures they are well integrated and enjoy situations involving close physical contact with, or considerable social acceptance, whereas in others observation of, physical bodies. Thus, while the there is little or no tolerance for significant gender physical changes undertaken by trans* and gender- nonconformity (Peletz 2006). The word trans* queer people are usually most deeply motivated by comes from English-speaking Euro-American cul- their gender identity needs, in many instances the tures and has begun to spread into other cultures, expression of their own sexuality, and that of their where it increasingly competes with indigenous partners, will also be impacted by the bodily ways of understanding the correspondences alterations they undertake to bring their gender between genders and bodies (Towle and Morgan identities and bodies into better alignment. 2002). According to GATE—Global Action for Trans* Equality (2014), trans* can be defined as: Contexts: gender assumptions those people who have a gender identity which is in everyday life different to the gender assigned at birth and/or those people who feel they have to, prefer to, or When trans* and genderqueer people transform choose to—whether by clothing, accessories, cos- their physical bodies, they do so within the con- metics or body modification—present themselves text of assumptions made by most members of differently to the expectations of the gender role society about the meanings attached to physical assigned to them at birth. This includes, among features of human bodies and the social statuses, many others, transsexual and transgender people, identities, and behaviors assumed to be naturally transvestites, travesti, cross dressers, no gender associated with them. In particular, most people and genderqueer people. assume that the possession of a penis and testicles defines a person as both male and a man, and that Trans* and genderqueer people in Euro- the actions of the hormones typically produced in American societies include a wide range of people such bodies will cause those people to be mascu- who, to varying degrees, feel that the sexes and line. Similarly, the possession of a vulva and genders to which they were assigned at birth do not vagina, and the actions of ovarian hormones are match well to their own gender and sex identities. assumed to produce female women who are They may identify themselves in a variety of ways, feminine. Conversely, all women are presumed with new gender and sexual identities and to be females who have vulvas, vaginas and cor- presentations constantly coming into use. Some responding internal organs; all men are assumed trans*, and most genderqueer people, actively wish to be males who have penises and testicles. Most to be easily identified as such; some prefer to appear often, when members of the public encounter cisgendered (not trans*) but are nonetheless recog- people whose masculinity or femininity is some- nizable as trans* due to aspects of their physical what less traditional than expected, they may presence; some trans* people are able to live very be assumed to be gay men, lesbian women, or comfortably and unrecognizably in their preferred bisexuals, but their essential maleness or female- gender. Many trans* and genderqueer people will ness is rarely questioned. However, when gender take steps to transform their bodies so as to bring presentations and genitals appear to be sending them into better alignment with their gender irreconcilable messages, genitals will trump The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality, First Edition. Edited by Patricia Whelehan and Anne Bolin. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1383 gender presentations as the defining factors in the communicate their gender identities. They may minds of most people (Kessler and McKenna make use of changes to deportment, body, facial, 1978). and head hair styles, clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, Trans* and genderqueer people negotiate their fashion accessories, body fat, or muscularity; they gender presentations within these everyday may strategically employ padding, concealment assumptions. Those who are most adept at suc- devices, sex toys, genital or breast prostheses, cessfully communicating their gender identities genital enhancement or diminishment devices, are those who are best able to make use of the tattooing, or piercings in order to present them- usual assumptions about the relationship between selves so as to be recognized in ways that are physical bodies and gender presentations. They appropriate to their gender identities. strategically deploy stereotypical masculinity or Some trans* and genderqueer people who feel femininity so as to cause observers to recognize that they are neither of the two most common- them as their desired gender and sex, because place genders, or that they are some mixture of observers generally assume that people possess the two, may combine any of the above tech- bodies that match their gender presentations in niques in unusual and fluid ways that disrupt stereotypical ways (Devor 1989). This is more common assumptions about the usual corre- easily accomplished in situations that involve nei- spondences between sexes and genders. Some ther disrobing nor physical contact that would people feel a periodic need to step outside of their expose nonstereotypical bodies. quotidian genders to inhabit other gender posi- When sex characteristics and gender presenta- tions for shorter periods of time. They may make tions are known to not align in typical ways, wholehearted attempts to present themselves as trans* and genderqueer people become much the other normative gender, they may make more vulnerable to a number of indignities and symbolic partial gestures in this direction, or they dangers (Lombardi 2009). They may be objecti- may make parodic or hyperbolic presentations fied or fetishized, have their gender identities that nonetheless serve as a valid and satisfying invalidated, be denied due respect, abused, vio- form of gender identity expression for them. lated, assaulted, or murdered. Some trans* and They can thus cause observers to better under- genderqueer people choose to brave some of stand that there are genders which lie outside of these risks because to do otherwise would be to the usual binary conceptualizations of gender and hide their gender identities. Others’ gender iden- that these kinds of enactments of genders are not tities are such that, under most circumstances, necessarily fixed. their gender presentations are sufficiently con- Other trans* and genderqueer people find that forming to normative expectations that their they need to alter their bodies in more long-lasting risks of adverse outcomes are low. However, every ways. Such alterations may involve treatment with trans* and genderqueer person, even those who sex steroid hormones, surgical sex reassignment most approximate cisgendered appearances, procedures, and ancillary procedures to feminize remains vulnerable to the entire catalogue of or masculinize facial features or body contours. invalidations and dangers should information These treatments and procedures are typically about their gender identity become known. combined with at least some of the techniques Hence, trans* and genderqueer people are con- described above. How they might be combined is tinually attempting to strike a balance between as varied as are the gender identities of the trans* true-to-themselves gender expressions and and genderqueer people who employ them. effective stigma management. The effects of sex steroid hormones (depending on one’s specific genital inheritance) can be quite dramatic. In trans-masculine-spectrum people Ways that trans* and genderqueer people (assigned as female at birth) the effects may include change their bodies lower pitch to the voice, thickening and increased oiliness of skin, growth of facial and body hair, loss Some trans* and genderqueer people find that it of head hair, increased muscularity, masculine is not necessary to permanently change their body fat distribution, cessation of menses, and bodies in substantial ways in order to effectively growth of clitoris. In trans-feminine-spectrum 1384 people (assigned as male at birth) the effects may significant minority of transmasculine people are include increased softness and decreased oiliness sexually attracted to men and identify themselves of skin, growth of breasts, slowed growth of facial as gay men, including many who do not have and body hair, slowed loss of head hair, decreased penises. Similarly, a significant proportion of muscularity, feminine body fat distribution, loss of transfeminine people are attracted to women and erectile function, decrease in testicular and penile identify themselves as lesbians, including many volume, decrease in fertility. who do not have vulvas and vaginas. Also, many Surgical interventions for trans-masculine- trans* and genderqueer people prefer sexual spectrum people include: breast reduction; partners who are themselves trans*, genderqueer, breast removal (mastectomy);
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 297489300-Oa
    Research Report What affective processes in school impede and support students to choose and sustain a (STEM) trajectory of study? 2020 Research Report of Phase 1: Student Survey Blue-Sky Science School (BSS)* conducted 2017 Author: Dr Melissa Joy Wolfe Email: [email protected] Faculty of Education, Monash University DET Ethics approval: 2017_003349 MUHREC ethics approval: Project Number: 8363 Funding: Monash University, Faculty of Education Dean’s ECR Project Award 2017 Monash University | Faculty of Education Project: ‘What affective processes in school impede and support students to choose and sustain a (STEM) trajectory of study?’ (Phase 1 Report: Survey) 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Aims and background: .................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Method ........................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Introduction (Situated Research) .................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Methodology (Survey) .................................................................................................................... 6 2. DEMOGRAPHIC (SELF-REPORTED) ....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction 2020
    Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction A guide for women affected by breast cancer Practical and support information For information & support, call Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction A guide for women affected by breast cancer First published June 2011. This edition July 2020. © Cancer Council Australia 2020. ISBN 978 1 925651 93 5 Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction is reviewed approximately every three years. Check the publication date above to ensure this copy is up to date. Editors: Ruth Sheard and Kate Murchison. Designer: Eleonora Pelosi. Printer: SOS Print + Media Group. Acknowledgements This edition has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative. We thank the reviewers of this booklet: A/Prof Elisabeth Elder, Specialist Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Sydney, NSW; Dragana Ceprnja, Senior Physiotherapist and Health Professional Educator, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Jan Davies, Consumer; Rosemerry Hodgkin, Consumer; Gillian Horton, Owner and Director, Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear, ACT; Ashleigh Mondolo, Clinical Nurse Consultant Breast Care Nurse, Mater Private Hospital South Brisbane, QLD; Dr Jane O’Brien, Specialist Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgeon, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, VIC; Moira Waters, Breast Care Nurse, Breast Cancer Care WA; Sharon Woolridge, Consumer; Rebecca Yeoh, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland. We are grateful to Amoena Australia Pty Ltd for supplying the breast form images on pages 14–16. The photographs on pages 35, 47 and 51 have been reproduced with permission from Breast Cancer: Taking Control, breastcancertakingcontrol.com.au © Boycare Publishing 2010, and the image on page 46 has been reproduced with permission from Dr Pouria Moradi, NSW.
    [Show full text]
  • Breast Prostheses Reconstruction Booklet
    Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction A guide for women affected by breast cancer Practical and support information For information & support, call Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction A guide for women affected by breast cancer First published June 2011. This edition June 2017. © Cancer Council Australia 2017. ISBN 978 1 925651 01 0 Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction is reviewed approximately every three years. Check the publication date above to ensure this copy is up to date. Editor: Jenny Mothoneos. Designer: Paula Marchant. Printer: SOS Print + Media Group. Acknowledgements This edition has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils as part of a National Publications Working Group initiative. We thank the reviewers of this booklet: A/Prof Elisabeth Elder, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Clinical Associate Professor, University of Sydney, NSW; Jo Cockwill, Consumer; Suzanne Elliott, Consumer; Bronwyn Flanagan, Breast Care Nurse, Brightways, Cabrini Hospital, VIC; Maina Gordon, Consumer; Gillian Horton, Owner and Corsetry Specialist, Colleen’s Post-Mastectomy Connection, ACT; Kerry Nash, Sales and Marketing Manager, Amoena Australia, NSW; A/Prof Kerry Sherman, Macquarie University and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW. We are grateful to Amoena Australia Pty Ltd for supplying the breast form images, which appear on pages 14–16. The breast reconstruction images on pages 37, 45, 48, 51 have been reproduced with permission from Breast Cancer: Taking Control, breastcancertakingcontrol.com © Boycare Publishing 2010. This booklet is funded through the generosity of the people of Australia. Note to reader Always consult your doctor about matters that affect your health.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019-03-16 5C8d88baaba5e Oren-Gozlan-Current-Critical-Debates-In-The-Field-Of
    CURRENT CRITICAL DEBATES IN THE FIELD OF TRANSSEXUAL STUDIES Current Critical Debates in the Field of Transsexual Studies introduces new thinking on non-conforming gender representation, addressing transsexuality as a subjective experience that highlights universal dilemmas related to how we conceive identity and exploring universal questions related to gender: its objects, objections, and obstacles. This book seeks to disassemble prejudicial orientations to the challenges and the everydayness of transsexuality and build new understanding and responses to issues including: medical biases, the problem of authenticity, and the agency of the child. Oren Gozlen leads an examination of three central pressures: transformation of a medical model, the social experience of becoming transgender, and the ques- tion of self-representation through popular culture. The chapters reframe several contemporary dilemmas, such as: authenticity, pathology, normativity, creativity, the place of the clinic as a problem of authority, the unpredictability of sexual- ity, the struggle with limits of knowledge, a demand for intelligibility, and desire for certainty. The contributors consider sociocultural, theoretical, therapeutic, and legal approaches to transsexuality that reveal its inherent instability and fluidity both as concept and as experience. They place transsexuality in tension and transition as a concept, as a subject position, and as a subjectivity. The book also reflects the way in which political and cultural change affects self and other representations of the transsexual person and their others, asking: how does the subject metabolize the anxieties that relate to these transformations and facilitations? How can the subject respond in contexts of hostility and prohibition? Offering a much-needed interdisciplinary exploration, Current Critical Debates in the Field of Transsexual Studies will appeal to psychoanalysts and psychotherapists as well as psychologists and scholars of gender studies, cultural studies and sociology.
    [Show full text]
  • Prosthetic Realities, Prosthetic Futures: Challenging the Status Quo of External Breast Prosthesis Design
    University of Plymouth PEARL https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk 04 University of Plymouth Research Theses 01 Research Theses Main Collection 2021 Prosthetic Realities, Prosthetic Futures: Challenging the status quo of external breast prosthesis design Brave, Rosie http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/17279 University of Plymouth All content in PEARL is protected by copyright law. Author manuscripts are made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the details provided on the item record or document. In the absence of an open licence (e.g. Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher or author. PROSTHETIC REALITIES, PROSTHETIC FUTURES: Challenging the status quo of external breast prosthesis design by ROSIE BRAVE A thesis submitted to the University of Plymouth in partial fulfilment for the degree of RESEARCH MASTERS School of Art, Design & Architecture June 2021 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without the author's prior consent. ii “Nobody can control cultural processes. But designers can and should become cognizant of the conversations that enable them to create their designs, continue well after they have done their part, and ultimately impact a culture.” - Krippendorff (2007) iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe a debt of thanks to all the participants in this research project, to Sam and Sue Jackman, my very patient husband, my supervisors, the technicians who helped me begin my journey with casting and mould making, 3D design software and 3D printing, and to all the many other people who have given time, information or feedback to help me develop this project.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Resource
    • Making Us Visible • Promoting Access to Breast Health and Breast Cancer Services for Lesbian and Bisexual Women A guide to delivering a workshop for health care and social service providers to increase their knowledge, skills and sensitivity in working with lesbian and bisexual women in the area of breast health and breast cancer By Cheryl Dobinson, Project Coordinator About the Making Us Visible project: “Making Us Visible: Promoting Access to Breast Health and Breast Cancer Services for Lesbian and Bisexual Women” was a two-year innovative health promotion project launched in September 2004 at Sherbourne Health Centre in Toronto. The project goals were to increase the capacity of lesbian and bisexual women to respond to the risk of breast cancer and to increase the capacity of the breast cancer community to respond to the needs of lesbian and bisexual women. Making Us Visible addressed lesbian and bisexual women’s breast health through two volunteer programs designed to increase community involvement and understanding. One program focused on developing culturally appropriate educational materials and the other on creating a series of volunteer-led breast health events for lesbian and bisexual women. The project also worked to increase accessibility of breast cancer services through offering a support group for lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer as well as developing a training program to increase knowledge and sensitivity for peer support volunteers when working with lesbian and bisexual women who have had a breast cancer diagnosis. This training was further developed into a workshop for a broad range of health care and social service providers and piloted throughout Ontario.
    [Show full text]
  • Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage and the Corporate Equality Index
    Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage and the Corporate Equality Index www.hrc.org/transbenefits 1 CEI 2O12 TRANSGENDER-INCLUSIVE HEALTH CARE coVERAGE Contents 3 Introduction 4 Gender Identity and Gender Transition-Related Health Care: Understanding This Condition 6 The CEI Criteria and Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage 6 Baseline Coverage for Credit 7 More Comprehensive Coverage for Workforce 9 Businesses That Offer Atleast One Transgender-Inclusive Heath Care Coverage Plan 10 Understanding Your Plan: Examining Exclusions, Eliminating Them and Affirming Coverage 10 Insurance Exclusions 11 Negotiating Coverage: Tools for Success 11 Standards of Care: World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) 12 Questions for Insurance Carriers – Affirming Coverage and Adherence to WPATH 13 Ensuring Coverage of Specific Services 14 FAQ: Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage 14 What do I need to know for my “elevator pitch” with leadership to get the coverage at my employer? Can you summarize it in five points? 14 Why should we be covering this. Isn’t it a choice to change genders? 14 Are these cosmetic surgeries? We don’t cover those. 15 What types of services and procedures are medically necessary parts of sex reassignment? 15 Won’t these changes to our plans be very expensive? 15 Our insurance carrier representative has told us that few if any plans ever cover services for sex reassignment. Is this true? 15 What carriers are administering plans with coverage of sex reassignment surgeries and procedures? 16 We never list out every treatment that is covered by our plan. Why do we need to explicitly state coverage here? 17 Which other employers are currently offering transgende-inclusive health plans? 17 We are self-insured.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Reassignment Surgery
    bmchp.org | 888-566-0008 wellsense.org | 877-957-1300 Medical Policy Gender Reassignment Surgery Policy Number: OCA 3.11 Version Number: 7 Version Effective Date: 11/01/16 + Product Applicability All Plan Products Well Sense Health Plan Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan New Hampshire Medicaid MassHealth NH Health Protection Program Qualified Health Plans/ConnectorCare/Employer Choice Direct Senior Care Options ◊ Notes: + Disclaimer and audit information is located at the end of this document. ◊ The guidelines included in this Plan policy are applicable to members enrolled in Senior Care Options only if there are no criteria established for the specified service in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) national coverage determination (NCD) or local coverage determination (LCD) on the date of the prior authorization request. Review the member’s product-specific benefit documents at www.SeniorsGetMore.org to determine coverage guidelines for Senior Care Options. Policy Summary Gender reassignment surgery is considered medically necessary as one treatment option for a member seeking treatment for gender dysphoria when the Plan’s medical criteria are met, as specified in this Plan policy. Gender reassignment surgery may include more than one (1) surgical procedure and is part of a complex treatment plan involving medical, surgical, and behavioral health interventions to achieve the desired outcomes for the individual. Plan prior authorization is required for gender reassignment surgery. It will be determined during the Plan’s prior authorization process if the procedure is considered medically necessary for the requested indication. See the Massachusetts definition of medical necessity for members enrolled in Qualified Health Plans, ConnectorCare, and/or Employer Choice Direct products (specified in the Definitions section of this Plan policy with applicable source).
    [Show full text]
  • Guidelines for Medical Necessity Determination for Gender-Affirming Surgery
    Guidelines for Medical Necessity Determination for Gender-Affirming Surgery This edition of the Guidelines for Medical Necessity Determination (Guidelines) identifies the clinical information that MassHealth needs to determine medical necessity for gender-affirming surgery (GAS). These Guidelines are based on generally accepted standards of practice, review of the medical literature, and federal and state policies and laws applicable to Medicaid programs. Providers should consult MassHealth regulations at 130 CMR 415.000: Acute Inpatient Hospital Services, 130 CMR 433.000: Physician Services, 130 CMR 410.000: Outpatient Hospital Services, 130 CMR 450.000: Administrative and Billing Regulations, Subchapter 6 of the Acute Outpatient Hospital Manual, and Subchapter 6 of the Physician Manual for information about coverage, limitations, service conditions, and other prior-authorization (PA) requirements. Providers serving members enrolled in a MassHealth-contracted accountable care partnership plan (ACPP), managed care organization (MCO), One Care organization, Senior Care Options (SCO), or a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) should refer to the ACPP’s, MCO’s, One Care Organization’s, SCO’s, or PACE’s medical policies for covered services. MassHealth requires PA for GAS. MassHealth reviews requests for PA based on medical necessity. If MassHealth approves the request, payment is still subject to all general conditions of MassHealth, including member eligibility, other insurance, and program restrictions. Section I. General Information Sex and gender are two different constructs. Sex is a biological construct based on chromosomes and anatomy. Gender is a social construct and refers to attitudes, feelings, and behaviors often associated 1 with a person’s assigned gender.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Reassignment Surgery Product Applicability
    bmchp.org | 888-566-0008 wellsense.org | 877-957-1300 Medical Policy Gender Reassignment Surgery Policy Number: OCA 3.11 Version Number: 4 Version Effective Date: 08/01/16 + Product Applicability All Plan Products Well Sense Health Plan Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan New Hampshire Medicaid MassHealth NH Health Protection Program Qualified Health Plans/ConnectorCare/Employer Choice Direct Senior Care Options ◊ Notes: + Disclaimer and audit information is located at the end of this document. ◊ The guidelines included in this Plan policy are applicable to members enrolled in Senior Care Options only if there are no criteria established for the specified service in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) national coverage determination (NCD) or local coverage determination (LCD) on the date of the prior authorization request. Review the member’s product-specific benefit documents at www.SeniorsGetMore.org to determine coverage guidelines for Senior Care Options. Policy Summary Gender reassignment surgery is considered medically necessary as one treatment option for a member seeking treatment for gender dysphoria when the Plan’s medical criteria are met, as specified in this Plan policy. Gender reassignment surgery may include more than one (1) surgical procedure and is part of a complex treatment plan involving medical, surgical, and behavioral health interventions to achieve the desired outcomes for the individual. Plan prior authorization is required for gender reassignment surgery. It will be determined during the Plan’s prior authorization process if the procedure is considered medically necessary for the requested indication. See the Massachusetts definition of medical necessity for members enrolled in Qualified Health Plans, ConnectorCare, and/or Employer Choice Direct products (specified in the Definitions section of this Plan policy with applicable source).
    [Show full text]
  • Queer! Narratives of Gendered Sexuality: a Journey in Identity
    Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses Spring 6-20-2013 Queer! Narratives of Gendered Sexuality: A Journey in Identity Kym Bradley Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Gender and Sexuality Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Bradley, Kym, "Queer! Narratives of Gendered Sexuality: A Journey in Identity" (2013). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1069. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.1069 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Queer! Narratives of Gendered Sexuality: A Journey in Identity by Kym Bradley A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology Thesis Committee: Randy Blazak, Chair Peter Collier Lindsey Wilkinson Portland State University 2013 © 2013 Kym Bradley Abstract My project looks at current conceptualizations of identity relating to gender and sexuality in order to understand how queer individuals enact gender as connected to their non-normative sexuality. I will use the notion of "desire" through Butler's (1990) notion of performativity as a part of iterability that reproduces an opposition between what is intended and how it is perceived. This approach creates space to problematize the status of identities that posits the conception of fluidity and dialectic as attached to notions of gendered sexualities - the understanding that sexuality interacts with gender and that these two notions are not compartmentalized.
    [Show full text]
  • Heterosexuality, Femininity, and Transwomen's Fear
    HETEROSEXUALITY, FEMININITY, AND TRANSWOMEN’S FEAR “Doing Fear.” The Influence of Hetero-femininity on (Trans)women’s Fears of Victimization Jill E. Yavorsky1 & Liana Sayer2 1University of North Carolina Charlotte 2University of Maryland The authors wish to thank the anonymous reviewers and editors, including special issue editor Dr. Nancy Fischer, for valuable comments and suggestions on this paper. 1 HETEROSEXUALITY, FEMININITY, AND TRANSWOMEN’S FEAR ABSTRACT Through 26 in-depth interviews with male-to-female transsexuals (transwomen), this study examines transwomen’s perceptions of safety, pre- and post-transition. The majority reported higher levels of fear and believed they would be unable to fight off an attacker post-transition even though most were large-statured and were socialized as males. Exposure to heterosexual practices and to cultural messages depicting women as physically weak and sexually vulnerable, and transwomen’s embodiment of hetero-femininity play a central role in increasing their fears. Their experiences as women are powerful enough to override decades of prior male experiences and expose the socially-constructed nature of fear and bodily agency. Keywords: transgender; heterosexuality; embodiment; gender and fear; transsexual; femininity 2 HETEROSEXUALITY, FEMININITY, AND TRANSWOMEN’S FEAR “Doing Fear.” The Influence of Hetero-femininity on (Trans)women’s Fears of Victimization Heterosexuality is an institution that regulates sexuality and gender by establishing borders and complementarities between men and women. As a system of power, heterosexuality privileges male desires and positions women as passive, willing recipients of male pleasure (Connell 2005; Kavanaugh 2013). Through social interactions and body work, women learn to regard their bodies as weak and vulnerable to victimization, while men learn that their bodies are powerful and protectors of women (Madriz 1997).
    [Show full text]