Transgender exclusion from the world of dating: Patterns of acceptance and rejection of hypothetical trans dating partners as a function of sexual and gender identity

Blair, Karen L.; Hoskin, Rhea Ashley

doi:10.1177/0265407518779139

Cited by 63 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Randy's qualitative auto-ethnography illuminates his cultural experience as a trans-attracted, cisgender man. There is a dearth of literature that explores the experiences of those who partner with trans identified individuals, with the majority of existing research on gender transition (of the trans partner) or sexual interaction (Blair & Hoskin, 2019;Hsu, Rosenthal, Miller, & Bailey, 2016;Rosenthal, Hsu, & Bailey, 2017;Weinberg & Williams, 2010). Because of the emphasis on the trans partner or the sexuality of the relationship, the partner experience is often overlooked.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notaro (2018) asserts that the theory of trans-attracted men as repressed homosexuals is transphobic, acknowledging that this perspective imposes a binary system in which only cisgender men and women can provoke or feel arousal (p. 3). Cisgenderism or cissexism is another likely contributor to the fortitude of both the mythology and binary; the ideology that cisgender identities are normal delegi-timizes trans identities, expressions and experiences (Blair & Hoskin, 2019).…”

Section: Shamementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Randy's story illuminates the challenges of safely claiming trans identified partners. Blair and Hoskin (2019) refer to the psychological distress associated with being a partner of a trans person and from being presumed gay as "stigma by association" (p. 2077).…”

Section: Challenges and Barriers To Transparencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…800)." Heteronormative and cisnormative assumptions promote the expectation that all people and relationships are heterosexual, cissexual and cisgendered (Blair & Hoskin, 2019). These assumptions impact the presence, inclusion and acceptance of trans relationships.…”

Section: Challenges and Barriers To Transparencymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trans-Attraction: Not Kink or Fetish, but a Legitimate Sexual Orientation*

Ashley¹,

Robertson²

2020

JSS

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Cisgender men who have sex with transgender women (MSTGW) are a relatively invisible population, known primarily through porn, erotica, kink, or diagnostic categorization. Labeled gyandromorphophilic, trans-amorous, trans-erotic and tranny chasers, the monikers used to describe the sexuality of MSTGW do not consistently encompass the nuances of orientation, attraction, identity and behavior of this population. Because they challenge conventional sexual orientation categories, MSTGW are often reduced to designation as subsets of existing binaries or variant type of sexuality, excluding them from the validation, support and connection that comes with community identification. In an effort to challenge the heteronormative, cisnormative and transphobic oppression inherent in MSTGW designation, the authors utilize the sex positive term trans-attraction. This article seeks to address the research question: What is the lived experience of a self-identified trans-attracted cisgender man? Using a qualitative auto-ethnographic approach, the authors describe and analyze a case study (Randy's story) to expose readers to the praxis of our collaborative autoethnography. The authors utilize reflexivity to contemplate a lived experience of trans-attraction, explore the limited binaries of sexual orientation, and consider trans-attraction as less of an urban phenomenon and more of a legitimate sexual orientation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Shamementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges and Barriers To Transparencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges and Barriers To Transparencymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Trans-Attraction: Not Kink or Fetish, but a Legitimate Sexual Orientation*

Ashley¹,

Robertson²

2020

JSS

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“…Despite these more positive findings for trans men, there is a recurring narrative that being open about transgender identity risks setting one up for a lonely life or at least one without romantic partnership. In their survey of nearly 1,000 (predominantly cisgender) respondents, Blair and Hoskin () found that 87.5 percent of participants excluded trans men and trans women as potential dating partners, with exclusion highest among heterosexual men and women, followed by gay men. Because of cisgender people's fixation on transgender people's anatomy and essentialist thinking that reduces trans people to their genitalia (Serano, ), scholars like Blair and Hoskin argue cisgender people's imagination in regards to trans bodies is a driving factor in why they fail to consider transgender people as romantic partners.…”

Section: In the Bubble: The Constraints On Trans Romance And Intimacymentioning

confidence: 99%

(Dis)Owning Exotic: Navigating Race, Intimacy, and Trans Identity

Buggs

2019

Sociological Inquiry

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Despite societal shifts making the United States more inclusive, particularly among younger people, transgender people and people of color remain populations that have labels like "exotic" or "taboo" associated with them. This article explores the racialized dating experiences of an immigrant trans woman of color who uses online dating platforms to facilitate her dating life in Texas. Given that the existing literature on trans people tends to focus on identity development, health concerns, or questions of legality and policy in arenas such as the workplace and in education, there is still limited research on the romantic and sexual lives of trans people. In fact, much of the growing research on trans relationships focuses either on couples where one partner transitioned and the couple maintained a relationship or studies lumping trans experiences under an LGBT umbrella. Using an intersectional theoretical approach, this case study unpacks how race, racism, and transphobia, as well as internalized racial and gender logics, work in tandem to shape desirability and date ability.You find somebody who matches everything with you emotionally, physically and sexually but they're not fully. . .they're not fully sure of who they are or their sexuality. And then it fucks with them and then it fucks with you and it fucks the whole relationship. So, that's when it gets complicated. . . .You meet the men who are really into it, who will open up and be happy with you. And sometimes you fall for them and that's great. And sometimes you fall for the idea of them.Nina, 39Recently, there has been increased attention to toxic masculinity within relationships between cisgender men and transgender women. The Human Rights Campaign has tracked the murders of transgender women over the last several years and noted many of the victims-predominantly black transgender women-were killed by acquaintances and partners. 1 In fact, the recent suicide of the cisgender partner of a trans woman who was bullied online for defending his trans girlfriend captured headlines only to be clarified that his suicide was in response to his trans woman partner leaving the relationship out of fear for her own safety (Marr 2019). Nina, the trans woman quoted above, and her dating experiences comprise the singular case the following article is based on. In her assessment that gender and sexuality influence whether potential partners "fall" for each other or for the "idea of each other," she articulates tensions many transgender women contend with as they pursue romantic relationships.While trans perspectives are gaining more traction in mainstream media and social media spaces due to blogging, opinion pieces, and commentary from transgender public figures, social science literature remains woefully behind (Schilt and Lagos 2017). Social scientists have primarily focused on transgender subjects in relation to medical access and identity development, and in relation to laws and policy concerning families, workplaces, and educational settings. As Zamantakis (2019...

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Sexual happiness and satisfaction with sexual safety among German trans men who have sex with men: results from EMIS‐2017

et al. 2022

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Introduction The population of men‐who‐have‐sex‐with‐men (MSM) includes people who are on the masculine spectrum but were assigned female at birth (AFAB), that is trans MSM. This study aims to identify current circumstances regarding sexual happiness and safety among German trans MSM. To date, there is no health information about trans MSM in Germany, limiting the ability of MSM sexual health programmes to meet their needs. Methods Data were used from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS‐2017), where people identifying as men and/or trans men were recruited through dating apps for MSM, community websites and social media to participate in an online survey. We analysed parameters on sexual happiness and satisfaction with sexual safety among Germany‐based trans MSM and compared those to outcomes of MSM assigned male at birth (cis MSM) living in Germany using descriptive methods and logistic regression models adjusting for age. Results In total, 23,001 participants from Germany were included, of which 122 (0.5%) indicated to be AFAB (i.e. trans MSM). Trans MSM were markedly younger than cis participants (median age: 28.5 vs. 39 years). Trans MSM more often reported being unhappy with their current sex life (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.82, 95% CI 1.24–2.67), had higher odds of disagreeing with the statements “the sex I have is always as safe as I want” ([aOR] = 1.82, 95% CI 1.24–2.67) and “I find it easy to say no to sex that I don't want” ([aOR] = 1.80, 95% CI 1.18–2.77). Trans MSM were more likely to not be living comfortably financially ([aOR] = 2.43, 95% CI 1.60–3.67) and to be living with severe anxiety and/or depression ([aOR] = 3.90, 95% CI 2.22–6.83). Trans MSM were less likely to have ever tested for HIV ([aOR] = 0.63, 95% CI 0.43–0.93). Conclusions Sexual happiness, control of sexual boundaries, satisfaction with sexual safety, financial security, mental wellbeing and HIV testing were all lower in German trans MSM compared with cis MSM. Tailored sexual health interventions, contextualized with regard to needs and vulnerabilities, could address this inequality.

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Transgender exclusion from the world of dating: Patterns of acceptance and rejection of hypothetical trans dating partners as a function of sexual and gender identity

Cited by 63 publications

References 42 publications

Trans-Attraction: Not Kink or Fetish, but a Legitimate Sexual Orientation*

Trans-Attraction: Not Kink or Fetish, but a Legitimate Sexual Orientation*

(Dis)Owning Exotic: Navigating Race, Intimacy, and Trans Identity

Sexual happiness and satisfaction with sexual safety among German trans men who have sex with men: results from EMIS‐2017

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