The Sexual Relationships of Sexual-Minority Women Partnered with Trans Men: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This qualitative research study examined the experiences of sexual-minority women in romantic and sexual relationships with female-to-male transsexuals (N = 20) using grounded theory analysis. This article reports data on issues related to sexual desire and practice in the context of a partner's transition, which participants said often compelled a process of renegotiating bodies and sexual connection. Participant reports on the influence of transition on the couple's sex life were mixed. Many participants discussed changes in sex which were negatively affected in the course of transition by a lesbian sexual orientation and a personal trauma history, and positively affected by a more embodied partner and a partner with increased libido. More general changes to the nature of their sexual life are detailed, including a greater dependence on heteronormative gendered sexual scripts as transition began.

Experiences of female partners of masculine-identifying trans persons

“…Notably, however, the lesbian-identified participants continued to identify as lesbian following their involvement with a masculine identifying trans partner. In contrast, Brown’s (2010) study with sexual minority female partners of masculine identifying trans persons in the USA and Canada found that all participants who identified as lesbian prior to their partner’s transition self-identified as “queer” or “open” after their partner’s transition. In South Africa, where the “queer” label is still recognised as an imported concept, perhaps it is not surprising that similar shifts in sexual orientation self-identification were not observed.…”

“…Even as the experiences of transgender persons become more widely addressed by scholars and activists, the perspectives of those who partner with transgender persons have received little research attention (Brown 2010). This study explored the experiences of women who have partnered with masculine identifying trans persons in South Africa.…”

“…Many transgender people will use sexual orientation labels that describe their sexual attractions in accordance with their gender identity rather than their birth sex (i.e., masculine identifying trans persons who are attracted to women and identify as heterosexual; Iantaffi and Bockting 2011). Less is known, however, about the sexual orientation of cisgender partners of transgender persons (Brown 2010). Entering a relationship with a transgender person, or co-transitioning with an existing partner, may radically complicate a cisgender person’s experience of her sexual orientation – and may have different implications for heterosexual and sexual minority women.…”

The family and romantic relationships of trans and gender diverse Australians: an exploratory survey

“…For some women, such as in Davidman's (2014) research, this renegotiation of identity is cast as possible because of ongoing feelings for their partner. In other research, however, cisgender women who identify as lesbian report struggling to renegotiate their sexual identity when a partner transitions, particularly when their partner's male identity and (often relatively normative) male sexual desire strongly conflicts with their own identity and experience as a woman attracted to women (e.g., Brown, 2010). Finally in terms of the experiences of trans women and cisgender male partners, research by Gamarel, Reisner, Laurenceau, Nemoto and Operario (2014) focusing on the experiences of 191 such couples found that trans-related relationship stigma impacted upon both partners, and was associated with greater depressive symptomology and lower relationship quality.…”

Desarrollo y validación de un instrumento para la evaluación del comportamiento sexual de los transexuales : el CSTM = Development and validation of an instrument for evaluating transgender sexual behavior : the CSTM

“…A partir de estos primeros años, se produjo un cierto cambio en la dirección de las investigaciones apuntando en mayor medida hacia las consecuencias psicológicas, sociales e incluso de salud que podía comportar la condición de se ha descuidado quizás por la difi cultad de acceder a entrevistas con ellos, aunque contamos con algunos estudios al respecto (Brown, 2010;Chivers y Bayley, 2000;Hurtado, Gómez y Donat, 2005;Kins, Hoebeke, Heylens, Rubens y Cupiere, 2008;Kraemer et al, 2010;Smith, 2002).…”