Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Transsexuals

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Information and support needs of cis-women partnered with transmasculine persons during their transition : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University (Manawatu), New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Jennens, Elizabeth
    Cis-women partnered with transmasculine persons during their transition experience their own struggles related to the transition process. A small body of previous literature has explored the experiences of cis-women with emphasis on their relationship with their partner and identity struggles, primarily involving their sexuality. Researchers have argued that the cis-partners go through their own transition and further research is needed, especially to consider the information and support needs of cis-partners. The present study sought to address this gap in literature within a New Zealand context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four cis-women who were partnered with their transmasculine partner during their transition. Participants were invited to share their experiences of the transition processes with an emphasis on their individual information and support needs. Thematic analysis (TA) was used to analyse the interviews allowing for similarities and differences among the participants to emerge. Analysis showed that the cis-women’s differing relationships are all affected by the transition. Along the same lines as previous literature, their relationships with their partner and themselves were affected by heteronormative assumptions. Some of the cis-women questioned their sexuality and belonging within the lesbian community. The current study provided new insights into the experiences of cis-women with medical professionals, friends, family, and peer relationships. As New Zealand lacks in consistent guidelines for transitioning and surgical procedures, there were frustrations experienced with medical professionals, with a lack of credible information on what to expect from the transition. The cis-women also experienced struggles with obtaining non-judgemental support from their friends and family, in addition to having their time within these relationships consumed by the transition. This creates barriers to utilising their support through difficult transition experiences. Due to the lack of non-judgemental support, the cis-women sought other partners however they were not always accessible to them. When peer relationships were possible, they were able to provide the support participants needed and insights into the transition process that were helpful. Two reoccurring needs emerge from the analysis: credible information and non-judgemental support.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    How transsexuals cope with discrimination : a grounded theory : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Roskilly, Bronwen Avis
    The coping strategies of transsexuals who experience discrimination have previously received little research attention. The primary objective of the present study was to generate a grounded theory to explain how transsexuals cope with discrimination. Eight transsexual individuals were interviewed and each interview was audio taped and transcribed in verbatim. The data was qualitatively analysed utilising the grounded theory methodology. Participants collectively described experiencing numerous instances of discrimination and described using a variety of coping strategies to help alleviate anxiety caused by discrimination. The core category of'understanding discrimination to be an anxiety-provoking phenomenon' emerged from the data. It was determined that the core category was established by three pre-existing conditions. The first of these was an awareness of the self to be vulnerable to discrimination. The second condition was an awareness of discrimination to impact negatively on the self, and the third entailed an understanding of why discrimination occurs. The coping strategies were broken into three selective codes. Participants adopted constructive strategies which were primarily rational and realistic. Cognitive coping strategies addressed anxiety caused by discrimination by changing the appraisal of cognitions pertaining to the discriminatory experience. Direct action strategies were behavioural approaches which entailed the altering of the situation. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to clinicians working with transgendered people, with emphasis on the common occurrence of discrimination and its detrimental impact on the transsexual.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Love of oneself as a woman : an investigation into the sexuality of transsexual and other women : a thesis presented in partial fulfilments [sic] of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University (Albany)
    (Massey University, 2005) Veale, Jamie F
    This study compared the sexuality of male-to-female transsexuals (TS) with other (biological) females. From its beginnings in the early 20th century, there has been a tradition of categorising TS into different types based on their sexual orientation. However, among the TS community there is mixed reaction to being categorised. Most especially, there has been debate over a theory proposed by Blanchard (1989b) that categorises TS as either sexually attracted to males or sexually attracted to themselves as women (autogynephilic). To resolve some of this debate, this research measured a number of aspects of sexuality among TS and biological females: sexual orientation, childhood gender identity, autogynephilia, fetishism, masochism, sexual attraction to themes found in erotic transgender fiction, and aspects of sexuality that are relevant to evolutionary theory. These variables were measured on an online or paper questionnaire completed by 209 TS and 127 biological females. The results showed that TS tended to prefer younger sexual partners, and have lower levels of masochism than biological females. For the remainder of the sexuality variables measured, TS and biological females did not differ, with the exception of those TS who acknowledged a history of autogynephilia. These TS scored significantly higher on measures of autogynephilia, Attraction to Femininity in Males, Attraction to Transgender Fiction, Interest in Visual Sexual Stimuli, and Importance of Partner’s Physical Attractiveness. Factor analysis of the scale totals revealed four factors, with autogynephilia accounting for about 12% of the questionnaire variance in scores. Autogynephilia was reported by 47% of TS participants; however it manifested in a less predictable way than was proposed by Blanchard (1989b). A further finding was the tendency of participants to report sexual arousal to a diverse range of sexual stimuli that were considered to be not conforming to cultural norms; this accounted for a large amount of the questionnaire variance (56.44%). Implications of these results were put forward in the discussion: clinicians are warned against restricting TS by categorising them; instead they should allow for the diversity and complexity of individual cases. An alternative theory of the development of cross-gender identity in biological males is proposed: this theory is based on the early development of a cross-gender identity and whether defense mechanisms are used to suppress this identity. In concluding, the limitations and suggestions for further research are discussed. A major limitation of this research is the large proportion of highly educated, higher socio-economic participants.