Sexual orientation of transwomen: Difference between revisions
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Some people look upon transwomen as either effeminate [[gay men]] who took their effeminacy to an extreme level (if they are attracted to men, compare [[drag queen]]) or otherwise straight men with an abnormal [[paraphilia|fetish]] (if attracted to women). Compare [[autogynephilia]], also [[homosexuality and transgender]]. |
Some people look upon transwomen as either effeminate [[gay men]] who took their effeminacy to an extreme level (if they are attracted to men, compare [[drag queen]]) or otherwise straight men with an abnormal [[paraphilia|fetish]] (if attracted to women). Compare [[autogynephilia]], also [[homosexuality and transgender]]. |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of transgender-related topics]] |
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Revision as of 20:31, 30 January 2006
Research on the sexual orientation of transwomen (male-to-female transsexuals) is sparse. Many studies on this issue have suffered from reporting bias, since many transsexuals feel they must give the "correct" answers to such questions in order to increase their chances of obtaining hormone replacement therapy. Patrick Califia, author of Sex Changes and Public Sex, has indicated that this group has a clear awareness of what answers to give to survey questions in order to be considered eligible for hormone replacement therapy and/or sex reassignment surgery:
- "None of the gender scientists seem to realize that they, themselves, are responsible for creating a situation where transsexual people must describe a fixed set of symptoms and recite a history that has been edited in clearly prescribed ways in order to get a doctor's approval for what should be their inalienable right".
Therefore, there is a considerable difference between what most of the few scientific papers dealing with the subject claim and what most support groups, help lines etc. report. Both however report that the number of transwomen who consider themselves lesbians or bisexual or asexual is higher than it is in the general female population (at least in studies done from the 1980s on). Most sources from within the transgender community report that the number of lesbian transwomen roughly equals that of transwomen who prefer male partners, and many also consider themselves bisexual or asexual. Scientific papers on the other hand usually report a higher number of heterosexual-identified transwomen.http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite.jsp?doc=2098.461e
A few transsexual activists claim the orientation of transsexual women corresponds to that of the cisgendered female population; however, these claims so far have not been substantiated and appear to be politically motivated rather than based on facts. Others point to evidence that same-sex attraction may be common within the cisgendered female population, so perhaps a large proportion of lesbian and bisexual transwomen is nothing that should evoke surprise.
Some people look upon transwomen as either effeminate gay men who took their effeminacy to an extreme level (if they are attracted to men, compare drag queen) or otherwise straight men with an abnormal fetish (if attracted to women). Compare autogynephilia, also homosexuality and transgender.