“Being Talked to Like I Was a Sex Toy, Like Being Transgender Was Simply for the Enjoyment of Someone Else”: Fetishization and Sexualization of Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals

Abstract

Despite the growing interest in the experiences of transgender individuals, the phenomenon of fetishization of transgender bodies and identities has been overlooked. The present study was aimed at investigating the experiences of fetishization of transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) people. Participants in the current study represent a sample of 142 TGNB volunteers from the community who answered the prompt: “If you feel comfortable, could you describe your experience of being fetishized?” Using thematic analysis, we developed three overarching themes relevant to the experiences of fetishization of TGNB participants: (1) context of fetishization; (2) negative experiences of fetishization; and (3) positive or ambiguous experiences of fetishization. The results demonstrated that, in most cases, fetishization was understood by TGNB people as a negative experience of sexual objectification, although some individuals experienced fetishization as a positive experience, perceiving the sexual desire of the other person or living it as a kink. Consistent with the integrated theory of dehumanization, the results demonstrated that both sexual objectification and minority stress contributed to participants’ understanding of fetishization for TGNB individuals. Implications for clinical work with TGNB individuals are discussed.

Transgender Dehumanization and Mental Health: Microaggressions, Sexual Objectification, and Shame

“…Therefore, the link is conceptually evident, albeit empirically untested. We expected a significant pathway from dehumanization to internalized transnegativity because, as transgender people encounter subtle discrimination (e.g., called by the wrong pronouns) and sexual objectification (e.g., intrusive questions about their genitalia; Anzani et al, 2021), they may start to feel uncomfortable disclosing or become embarrassed about their identity (i.e., aspects of internalized transnegativity; Bockting et al, 2020). Internalizing these dehumanizing societal attitudes was expected to detract from mental health given that negative, identity-based self-perceptions increase adverse symptoms (Bockting et al, 2013; Meyer, 2003; Puckett & Levitt, 2015).…”

“…Nonbinary people, for instance, may resist sociocultural standards of attractiveness (Cusack & Galupo, 2021), possibly buffering them against self-objectification. On the other hand, binary transgender people might be uniquely susceptible to treating the body as the self (i.e., valuing physical appearance over other personal attributes; Lindner & Tantleff-Dunn, 2017) because (a) there are clear social expectations for female and male bodies, (b) passing as cisgender is a common expectation, and (c) these expectations are frequently signaled by others (Anzani et al, 2021; Bockting et al, 2020; Flores et al, 2018).…”

“…First, self-objectification makes it more difficult to value internal characteristics (e.g., intelligence, creativity; Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), which may result in greater distress. Second, fetishizing microaggressions may translate into treating the body as the self (e.g., “settl[ing] for being the fetish”; Anzani et al, 2021, p. 7). Third, self-objectification is a significant mediator of sexual objectification and mental health in cisgender people (e.g., Jones & Griffiths, 2015).…”

We’re Not That Choosy: Emerging Evidence of a Progression Bias in Romantic Relationships

“…On the other hand, if people generally take a satisficing approach to mate selection (i.e., the goal is to wind up with a minimally suitable partner), then careful adherence to one’s dating standards may be particularly important precisely when the risk of winding up with an unsuitable partner is high. Members of marginalized groups may also have unique dealbreakers to consider in the context of dating, such as concerns around racism ( Luke & Oser, 2015 ) or fetishization (e.g., Anzani et al, 2021 ), that have not been incorporated into existing models of relationship standards. Overall, gaining a satisfying understanding of the mechanisms and broader consequences of the progression bias (and other relationship models) will require researchers to consider broad swaths of the human population that have traditionally been neglected.…”

Pleasure please! Sexual pleasure and influencing factors in transgender persons: An ENIGI follow-up study

“…Nonetheless, several studies have also moved away from the medicalized focus on transgender sexuality, providing insight into a diverse array of factors that may influence sexual satisfaction in transgender persons (Holmberg et al., 2019 ; Stephenson et al., 2017 ). These range from social factors such as anxiety about sharing one’s transgender identity or being fetishized, to psychological factors such as a negative body image to biological factors including those resulting from gender-affirming therapy (Anzani et al., 2021a ; 2021b ; Defreyne et al., 2020 ; Kerckhof et al., 2019 ; Lindley et al., 2020 ; 2021 ; Nikkelen & Kreukels, 2018 ; Wierckx et al., 2011 ; 2014 ). Sexual practices of transgender persons that do not follow traditional (e.g., heteronormative) expectations of gender roles as well as genital and non-genital anatomy during sexual activity, which have been described in recent qualitative studies, may enhance sexual satisfaction and pleasure (Anzani et al., 2021a ; Hamm & Nieder, 2021 ).…”