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Abstract
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Studies among transgender people show an increased risk of sexual victimisation.
We designed a survey to gain more insight into the characteristics of sexual victimisation of transgender people in the Netherlands which shows that 30 per cent reported that they had experienced at least one type of sexual violence during their life course. Most respondents (87.0 per cent) were not (yet) in transition at the time they experienced sexual violence. Victimisation often took place between the ages of 16 and 25 and was significantly related to childhood gender nonconformity.
Our additional qualitative study indicates that the victimisation of transgender people is also connected to other risk factors, such as vulnerability deriving from gender dysphoria, minority stress, social isolation and exclusion.
The narratives of transgender victims show how sexual victimisation deeply affects their wellbeing. Gender dysphoria and sexual victimisation interact, which complicates the lives of transgender people.
Transgender victims need support by professionals who are sensitive to both experiences of gender dysphoria and sexual victimisation and the way these experiences interrelate. However, the victimisation of transgender people also highlights the need for a broadening of the scope of policies and research on gender based violence, and move beyond the gender binary of women and men.
Key Messages
• Sexual victimization is highly prevalent among transgender people, especially during adolescence. • Risk factors include childhood gender nonconformity, gender dysphoria, minority stress and social isolation.
• Gender dysphoria and sexual victimization interact, as both phenomena arouse feelings of aversion to one's own body and to having sex.
Language: en |