Learning to endure: A qualitative examination of the protective factors of homeless transgender and gender expansive youth engaged in survival sex

Abstract

Background: Transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth face a number of adversities that are associated with deleterious consequences, including mental health problems, substance misuse, suicide, and homelessness. However, there is evidence that TGE youth still demonstrate resilience under extraordinary conditions. Aims: Therefore, this study examined how TGE youth who are homeless and engaging in survival sex describe and understand the protective factors present in their lives. Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 57 TGE youth living in a large U.S. city. Participants were 17-26 years old (M ¼ 19.88, SD ¼ 1.55), and identified as transgender woman (53%), transgender man (16%), and other (32%; gender-queer, genderfluid, androgynous, or non-binary). Youth identified as Black (40%), multiracial (35%), Latinx (16%), White (5%), and as another race (3%). Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results: We identified three themes to capture youth's understanding of their protective factors: relying on oneself and others to avoid violence, accessing gender-affirming health and mental health care, and proactively maintaining sexual health. Participants described strategies for mitigating risk of harm while attempting to meet their basic needs. Additionally, they discussed the importance of having gender-affirming health and mental health services. Participants also expressed keen awareness of their sexual health risks and making calculated, often proactive decisions about their sexual health. Conclusion:The protective factors described by TGE youth reflect the unique ways in which hyper-marginalized youth must navigate their own survival and well-being, and align with literature suggesting resilience is not mutually exclusive from risk. By focusing on TGE youth, this research privileges the experiences of individuals historically underrepresented in research and encourages future research to incorporate these perspectives into policies and programs.

Survival sex among a diverse sample of women with histories of intimate partner violence: Results from a domestic violence shelter.

“…Research indicates that one potential protective factor among populations experiencing adversity or violence is empowerment, a process in which one seeks to gain personal power and agency using internal and external resources (Cattaneo & Goodman, 2015). Qualitative studies with those engaging in survival sex behavior display the potential for empowerment as a source of resilience, such as by allowing individuals to live more authentically, build meaningful relationships, challenge power structures, and selecting resource providers that are affirming (Alessi et al, 2021; Greenfield et al, 2020). However, these studies did not quantitatively measure empowerment in order to examine its relationship with survival sex behavior.…”

Criminalising Gender Diversity: Trans and Gender Diverse People’s Experiences with the Victorian Criminal Legal System

“…Many TGD people are kicked out of or flee their homes in their youth due to their gender nonconformity (Côté and Blais 2021;Dempsey et al 2020;Norris and Quilty 2021). In this context, many trans youth are introduced into the orbit of the criminal legal system, having been compelled to turn to illegal means of supporting themselves, such as theft, participating in illicit drug markets, or outlawed sex work (Greenfield et al 2021;Robinson 2020). Various other experiences, such as childhood abuse and drug use, may also lead to interactions with criminal legal systems and increase TGD people's vulnerability within those systems through high levels of depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation (Rogers and Rogers 2021).…”

Points de vue 2STNBNCG sur l’accès à la justice : une évaluation des besoins juridiques: une évaluation des besoins juridiques

“…Des études notent également que la criminalisation du travail du sexe a un impact négatif sur les jeunes trans, qui font massivement état de conflits familiaux et de rejet en raison de la transphobie à la maison (Abramovich, 2016) et qui sont donc vulnérables à l'itinérance et plus susceptibles de s'engager dans l'industrie du sexe comme une forme de débrouillardise afin de répondre aux besoins essentiels (Coronel-Villalobos et Saewyc, 2019;Greenfield et al 2021).…”