Experiences of Violence Among Transgender Women in Puerto Rico: An Underestimated Problem

Abstract

Violence is a public health concern faced on a daily basis by transgender women. Literature has documented how it adversely affects quality of life and health and in some instances leads to homicide. Considering the lack of research documenting the experiences of violence among transgender women, the objective of this article was to explore manifestations of violence among this population in Puerto Rico. The data presented in this article are part of a larger study on transgender/transsexual health in Puerto Rico. For the purpose of this article we focus on the quantitative data analysis. Participants (N = 59 transgender women) were recruited via respondent driven sampling. Implications and specific recommendations are discussed in light of these findings.

Violence motivated by perception of sexual orientation and gender identity: a systematic review

“…Notes: Based on 51 studies 24 – 27 , 30 – 32 , 34 – 37 , 39 – 42 , 44 – 58 , 60 , 62 , 63 , 72 , 73 , 75 , 80 – 84 , 86 , 88 , 91 – 93 , 96 – 100 . Six of the 57 studies were not included because they measured a particular form of physical violence, such as being hit or beaten.…”

“…Notes: Based on 33 studies 25 – 27 , 29 – 32 , 34 – 37 , 41 – 44 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 53 , 60 , 62 , 63 , 75 , 78 , 79 , 82 , 91 – 93 , 96 , 98 , 99 . Data are presented from the smallest subgroup in each study.…”

"Just Like Any Other Patient": Transgender Stigma among Physicians in Puerto Rico

“…28 These manifestations may be explicit (i.e., deliberate, easy to identify) 29 or tacit (i.e., less intentional, harder to identify). Stigma has been associated with mental, physical, and sexual violence, 8 depression, anxiety, and somatization, 6 hormone and silicone injection without medical supervision, 5 reproductive health care avoidance, 30 HIV risk behaviors, 31 substandard substance use treatment, 32 increased suicide attempts, 33 and mental health treatment disparities. 34 These studies provide evidence that stigma is a social determinant of health 28 that can influence well-being through the production of inequities and stress.…”

“…36,37 However, the attitudes of health professionals toward the transgender population have not been specifically examined, particularly from the providers' perspective. Despite evidence suggesting that transgender people experience stigma in health care settings 7,8,32,38 and that lack of knowledge and skills can potentially result in stigmatizing encounters (for example, the use of inappropriate language 30,39,40 ), research on transgender stigma among health professionals is very limited 41 and has relied almost exclusively on patients' perceptions of care, 1,41,42 while the perspectives of physicians have largely been overlooked.…”

The Pulse Nightclub Shooting: Connecting Militarism, Neoliberalism, and Multiculturalism to Understand Violence

“…Despite these new laws, statistics show that anti‐LGBT violence in Puerto Rico has persisted and may have even increased (Rodríguez‐Madera et al. ; National Coalition of Anti‐Violence Programs (NCAVP) ). The same year that anti‐discrimination laws were passed, more than 200,000 people marched against them, protesting same‐sex marriage in what was one of the largest demonstrations in the history of Puerto Rico (Olivares ).…”