“Am I going to be alone forever?”
Trans men’s expectations about affective-sexual relationships
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2024.1.42121Keywords:
trans men, transmasculinity, sexuality, conjugal status, marital relationship.Abstract
This study aimed to know the expectations of trans men about their affective-sexual relationships after gender transition. Participated 15 trans men, aged between 20 and 41 years, in the process of hormonization. Individual interviews guided by a semi-structured script were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to reflective thematic analysis. The participants recognized that, possibly, they will have more restricted possibilities to engage in affective-sexual relationships after the gender transition, as a result of the corporeal materiality divergent from cisnormativity. Another presumed source of discomfort is the social repudiation, which feeds abjection and sediments the imaginary of exoticization and fetishization of transmasculine bodies, fixing them in sporadic relationships. We conclude that the persistent fixation on the genitalia as the determining sign referent of sexuality shapes and regulates the search for an intimate partner. This perspective reinforces heteronormativity as a gender reassertion strategy.
Downloads
References
Alexandre, V., & Santos, M. A. (2019). Experiência conjugal de casal cis-trans: contribuições ao estudo da transconjugalidade. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão, 39(n.spe 3), e228629, 75-87. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003228629 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003228629
Alexandre, V., & Santos, M. A. (2021). Conjugalidade cis-trans: Reinventando laços, desestabilizando certezas. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão, 41, e224044. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003224044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003224044
Almeida, M. M., & Belo, F. R. R. (2019). As mulheres trans como objeto de amor: leitura laplancheana. Revista Periódicus, 2(11), 65-82. https://doi.org/10.9771/peri.v2i11.24627 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9771/peri.v2i11.24627
Almeida, R. G., & Santos, M. A. (2021). Transmasculinidade e teoria queer: a experiência corporal da infância à vida adulta. Psicologia & Sociedade, 33, e240127. https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-0310/2021v33240127 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-0310/2021v33240127
Almeida, R. G., & Santos, M. A. (2024). Políticas afetivo-sexuais na cisheteronormatividade: resistências e estratégias de bem viver de uma mulher transexual. Psicologia USP, 35, e230015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e230015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e230015
Angonese, M., & Lago, M. C. D. S. (2017). Direitos e saúde reprodutiva para a população de travestis e transexuais: abjeção e esterilidade simbólica. Saúde e Sociedade, 26(1), 256-270. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-12902017157712 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-12902017157712
Bento, B. (2012). A diferença que faz a diferença: Corpo e subjetividade na transexualidade. Bagoas: Estudos Gays, Gêneros e Sexualidades, 3(4), 95-112. https://periodicos.ufrn.br/bagoas/article/view/2298
Boffi, L. C., & Santos, M. A. (2023). Da transfobia ao racismo: experiências de transição de homens transexuais negros. Psicologia USP, 34, e200212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e200212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e200212
Boffi, L. C., Guijarro-Rodrigues, E. C., & Santos, M. A. (2022). Experience of masculinity performed by transgender men: qualitative evidence and metasynthesis. Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas), 39, e200221. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0275202239e200221 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0275202239e200221
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589-597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Brown, N. R. (2010). The sexual relationships of sexual-minority women partnered with trans men: a qualitative study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(2), 561-572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9511-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9511-9
Chinazzo, Í. R., Lobato, M. I. R., Nardi, H. C., Koller, S. H., Saadeh, A., & Costa, A. B. (2021). Impacto do estresse de minoria em sintomas depressivos, ideação suicida e tentativa de suicídio em pessoas trans. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 26, 5045-5056. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320212611.3.28532019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320212611.3.28532019
Collier, M., & Daniel, M. (2019). The production of trans illegality: cisnormativity in the US immigration system. Sociology Compass, 13(4), e12666. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.126Du DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12666
Defreyne, J., Motmans, J., & T’sjoen, G. (2017). Healthcare costs and quality of life outcomes following gender affirming surgery in trans men: a review. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 17(6), 543-556. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2017.1388164 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2017.1388164
Edelman, E. A., & Zimman, L. (2014). Boycunts and bonus holes: Trans men’s bodies, neoliberalism, and the sexual productivity of genitals. Journal of Homosexuality, 61(5), 673-690. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2014.870438 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2014.870438
Galli, R. A., Vieira, E. M., Giami, A., & Santos, M. A. (2013). Corpos mutantes, mulheres intrigantes: transexualidade e cirurgia de redesignação sexual. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 29(4), 447-457. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-37722013000400011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-37722013000400011
Gamarel, K. E., Reisner, S. L., Laurenceau, J. P., Nemoto, T., & Operario, D. (2014). Gender minority stress, mental health, and relationship quality: a dyadic investigation of transgender women and their cisgender male partners. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(4), 437-447. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037171 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037171
Gaspodini, I. B., & Falcke, D. (2018). Sexual and gender diversity in clinical practice in Psychology. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto), 28, e2827. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e2827 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e2827
Hendricks, M. L., & Testa, R. J. (2012). A conceptual framework for clinical work with transgender and gender nonconforming clients: an adaptation of the minority stress model. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 43(5), 460-467. https://doi.org/10.1037/a002959 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029597
Kins, E., Hoebeke, P., Heylens, G., Rubers, R., & Cuypera, G.D. (2008). The female-to-male transsexual and his female partner versus the tradicional couple: a comparison. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 34(5), 429-438. https://doi.org/10.1080/00926230802156236 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00926230802156236
Lenning, E., & Buist, C. L. (2013). Social, psychological and economic challenges faced by transgender individuals and their significant others: gaining insight through personal narratives. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 15(1), 44-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2012.738431 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2012.738431
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27(1), 363-385. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.263 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.363
Lira, A. N. D., & Morais, N. A. D. (2020). Psychosocial adjustment profiles of gay and lesbian individuals involved in marital relations: a cluster-based analysis. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto), 30, e3013. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3013
Lomando, E. M., & Nardi, H. C. (2013). Conjugalidades múltiplas nas travestilidades e transexualidades: uma revisão a partir da abordagem sistêmica e da psicologia social. Saúde Debate, 37(98), 493-503. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-11042013000300013
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674-697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
Nadal, K. L., Whitman, C. N., Davis, L. S., Erazo, T., & Davidoff, K. C. (2016). Microaggressions toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and genderqueer people: a review of the literature. Journal of Sex Research, 53(4-5), 488-508. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1142495 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1142495
Nascimento, G. C. M., Scorsolini-Comin, F., Fontaine, A. M. G. V., & Santos M. A. (2015). Relacionamentos amorosos e homossexualidade: revisão integrativa da literatura. Temas em Psicologia, 23(3), 547-563. http://dx.doi.org/10.9788/TP2015.3-03 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9788/TP2015.3.03
Randall, A. K., & Bodenmann, G. (2009). The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 105-115. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2008.10.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2008.10.004
Rood, B. A., Reisner, S. L., Surace, F. I., Puckett, J. A., Maroney, M. R., & Pantalone, D. W. (2016). Expecting rejection: Understanding the minority stress experiences of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. Transgender Health, 1(1), 151-164. https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2016.0012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2016.0012
Santana, B., Peçanha, L. M. B., & Conceição, V. G. (Orgs.). (2021). Transmasculinidades negras: Narrativas plurais em primeira pessoa. Ciclo Contínuo.
Santos, M. A., & Boffi, L. C. (2022). Identidade de gênero de homens transexuais à luz de Paul Preciado. Revista Estudos Feministas, 30(2), e79288. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9584-2022v30n279288 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9584-2022v30n279288
Santos, M. A., Souza, R. S., Lara, L. A. S., Risk, E. N., Oliveira, W. A., Alexandre, V., & Oliveira-Cardoso, E. A. (2019). Transexualidade, ordem médica e política de saúde: Controle normativo do processo transexualizador no Brasil. Estudos Interdisciplinares em Psicologia, 10(1), 3-19. http://doi.org/10.5433/2236-6407.2019v10n1p03 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5433/2236-6407.2019v10n1p03
Schleifer, D. (2006). Make me feel mighty real: Gay female-to-male transgenderists negotiating sex, gender, and sexuality. Sexualities, 9(1), 57-75. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460706058397 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460706058397
Silva, M. F. (2018). Trajetórias trans: Apoio social e relações afetivo-sexuais de transexuais [Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade de São Paulo]. https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/59/59141/tde-22082018-150609/en.php
Sousa, D., & Iriart, J. (2018). “Viver dignamente”: Necessidades e demandas de saúde de homens trans em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 34, e00036318. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00036318 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00036318
Souza, C., & Santos, M. A. (2023). Sutilezas do relacionamento afetivo entre mulheres em Retrato de uma Jovem em Chamas. Revista Estudos Feministas, 31(1), e86227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-9584-2023v31n286227 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9584-2023v31n286227
Tombolato, M. A., Maia, A. C. B., & Santos, M. A. (2019). A trajetória de adoção de uma criança por um casal de lésbicas. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 35, e3546. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e3546 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e3546
Tombolato, M. A., Maia, A. C. B., Uziel, A. P., & Santos, M. A. (2018). Prejudice and discrimination in the everyday life of same-sex couples raising children. Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas), 35(1), 111-122. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-02752018000100011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-02752018000100011
Wittig, M. (1992). The straight mind and other essays. Beacon.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Psico
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright
The submission of originals to Psico implies the transfer by the authors of the right for publication. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication. If the authors wish to include the same data into another publication, they must cite Psico as the site of original publication.
Creative Commons License
Except where otherwise specified, material published in this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, which allows unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is correctly cited.
