Transgender People of Color's Experiences of Sexual Objectification: Locating Sexual Objectification Within a Matrix of Domination

• Published in: Journal of counseling psychology 2018-04, Vol.65 (3), p.308-323
• Main Authors: Flores, Mirella J., Watson, Laurel B., Allen, Luke R., Ford, Mudiwa, Serpe, Christine R., Choo, Ping Ying, Farrell, Michelle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Congruence; Dominance; Experiences (Events); Female; Gender Bias; Gender Discrimination; Gender Identity; Grounded Theory; Human; Humans; Intersectionality; Male; Medical personnel; Mental health; Mental health professionals; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Groups; Objectification; Oppression; Paradigms; People of Color; Racial Groups; Racism; Racism - psychology; Selfobjects; Sexism; Sexism - psychology; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual Identity; Sexuality; Social privilege; Surveillance; Test Construction; Theories; Transgender persons; Transgender Persons - psychology; Victimization; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-0167; 1939-2168
• DOI: 10.1037/cou0000279

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to investigate transgender people of color's (TPOC's) sexual objectification experiences (SOEs). Fifteen TPOC were interviewed about their experiences with sexual objectification. Using intersectionality and objectification theories as our research paradigms, results suggested that participants' SOEs were shaped by the intersections of cissexism, sexism, and racism, and that participants experienced various levels of privilege and oppression based on their specific identities. Results revealed similarities with previous sexual objectification research as well as unique sexual objectification experiences for TPOC, including racialized sexual objectification, fetishization, genital- and gender transition-based comments, and body policing. Results also suggested that self-objectification may manifest as a desire to affirm one's gender identity and result in physical safety anxiety. TPOC may engage in body surveillance to achieve transgender congruence and reduce potential victimization experiences. Mental health practitioners are encouraged to attend to how intersections of cissexism, sexism, and racism may encourage SOEs, and the ways in which such experiences may impact TPOC. Public Significance Statement This study suggests that transgender people of color's (TPOC's) experiences of sexual objectification are shaped by the intersection of systems of oppression; in particular, racism, sexism, and cissexism. Our results suggest TPOC may have unique SOEs and that self-objectification may be manifest somewhat differently than among cisgender samples.