Trans woman#Sexuality

{{see also|Transgender#Terminology}}

Transgender (commonly abbreviated to trans){{Cite OED|term=trans|access-date=26 August 2022}} is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity or gender expression are different from those typically associated with members of the sex they were assigned at birth.{{cite book |last1=Forsyth |first1=Craig J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NAjmBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA740 |title=Encyclopedia of Social Deviance |last2=Copes |first2=Heith |publisher=SAGE Publications |year=2014 |isbn=978-1483364698 |page=740 |quote=Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identities, gender expressions, and/or behaviors are different from those culturally associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. |access-date=April 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201105833/https://books.google.com/books?id=NAjmBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA740 |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |url-status=live}} Transgender women are women who were assigned the male sex at birth (AMAB), but who identify and live as women.{{Cite journal |last1=Hembree |first1=Wylie C |last2=Cohen-Kettenis |first2=Peggy T |last3=Gooren |first3=Louis |last4=Hannema |first4=Sabine E |last5=Meyer |first5=Walter J |last6=Murad |first6=M Hassan |last7=Rosenthal |first7=Stephen M |last8=Safer |first8=Joshua D |last9=Tangpricha |first9=Vin |last10=T'Sjoen |first10=Guy G |display-authors=3 |date=2017-09-13 |title=Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society* Clinical Practice Guideline |journal=The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism |volume=102 |issue=11 |pages=3869–3903 |doi=10.1210/jc.2017-01658 |pmid=28945902 |s2cid=3726467 |issn=0021-972X |ref=none|doi-access=free }}

File:AMT Salta crop.jpg, Argentina, in 1988.]]

The older term transsexual refers to the subset of trans people who desire to medically transition.{{cite book |last=Bevan |first=Thomas E. |title=The psychobiology of transsexualism and transgenderism : a new view based on scientific evidence |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-4408-3126-3 |publication-place=Santa Barbara, California |page=42 |oclc=881721443 |quote=The term transsexual was introduced by Cauldwell (1949) and popularized by Harry Benjamin (1966) ... . The term transgender was coined by John Oliven (1965) and popularized by various transgender people who pioneered the concept and practice of transgenderism. It is sometimes said that Virginia Prince (1976) popularized the term, but history shows that many transgender people advocated the use of this term much more than Prince. The adjective transgendered should not be used ... . Transsexuals constitute a subset of transgender people.}}{{cite journal |last=Alegria |first=Christine Aramburu |date=22 March 2011 |title=Transgender identity and health care: Implications for psychosocial and physical evaluation |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners |publisher=Wiley |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=175–182 |doi=10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00595.x |issn=1041-2972 |pmid=21489011 |quote=Transgender, Umbrella term for persons who do not conform to gender norms in their identity and/or behavior (Meyerowitz, 2002). Transsexual, Subset of transgenderism; persons who feel discordance between natal sex and identity (Meyerowitz, 2002). |s2cid=205909330}} The term originated in medicine and psychology in the 1960s, and was largely displaced by transgender. It is now typically considered outdated, though some trans women still identify as transsexual in addition to or instead of transgender.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-22 |title=GLAAD Media Reference Guide - Transgender Terms |url=https://www.glaad.org/reference/trans-terms |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=GLAAD |language=en |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928192510/https://glaad.org/reference/trans-terms/ |url-status=live }}

Transfeminine (commonly abbreviated to both transfem and transfemme) is a broader umbrella term for AMAB people with a predominantly feminine identity or gender expression. This includes trans women, but especially AMAB non-binary people, whose identity may be feminine but not entirely female.{{cite web |title=Definition of transfeminine |url=http://www.dictionary.com/browse/transfeminine |access-date=8 September 2016 |website=Dictionary.com |archive-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906103433/https://www.dictionary.com/browse/transfeminine |url-status=live }}

The closed compound (one word) spelling {{Wt|en|transwoman}} is sometimes used interchangeably with trans woman, but is often associated with the gender-critical or anti-trans belief that trans women are not women, and thus require a separate word to describe them.{{Cite book |last=Serano |first=Julia |url=https://archive.org/details/whippinggirltran0000sera |title=Whipping girl: a transsexual woman on sexism and the scapegoating of femininity |publisher=Seal Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-58005-154-5 |location=Emeryville, California |pages=[https://archive.org/details/whippinggirltran0000sera/page/29 29]–30 |author-link=Julia Serano |url-access=registration}} For this reason, many transgender people find the spelling offensive.German Lopez, [https://www.vox.com/2015/2/18/8055691/transgender-transgendered-tnr Why you should always use "transgender" instead of "transgendered"], Vox, February 18, 2015 Some prefer to omit trans, and be called simply women. Older terms sometimes still seen are male-to-female (MTF, M2F), but these are outdated.{{cite book |last=Holleb |first=Morgan |date=2019 |title=The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality: From Ace to Ze |publisher=Jessica Kingsley |location=London |isbn=9781784506636 |oclc=1089625058 |pages=173–174 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=44F2DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA173}}

File:Kathoy1649.jpg]]

In several Latin American countries, the word travesti is sometimes used to designate people who have been assigned male sex at birth, but develop a female gender identity. The use of travesti precedes transgender in the region; its distinction from trans woman is controversial and can vary depending on the context, ranging from considering it a regional equivalent to a third gender.{{cite thesis|language=es|url=https://www.tdx.cat/handle/10803/95889|title=Geografía travesti: Cuerpos, sexualidad y migraciones de travestis brasileñas (Rio de Janeiro-Barcelona)|last=Vartabedian Cabral|first=Julieta|year=2012|access-date=May 7, 2020|publisher=Universitat de Barcelona|type=doctoral thesis|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005014300/https://www.tdx.cat/handle/10803/95889|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.scielo.br/pdf/cint/v40n3/0102-8529-cint-2018400300525.pdf|title=Queering the Debate: Analysing Prostitution Through Dissident Sexualities in Brazil|access-date=June 9, 2021|last=Álvares Ferreira|first=Amanda|journal=Contexto Internacional|volume=40|issue=3|location=Rio de Janeiro|year=2018|pages=525–546|issn=0102-8529|publisher=Instituto de Relações Internacionais. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro|doi=10.1590/s0102-8529.2018400300006|s2cid=149579182|archive-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501143046/http://www.scielo.br/pdf/cint/v40n3/0102-8529-cint-2018400300525.pdf|url-status=live}}

File:Pape Moe.jpg

In Thailand, kathoey refers to a trans-feminine individual, though the term "transgender" is infrequently used to refer to those with this identity.{{Cite book |title=Language, sexuality, and power: studies in intersectional sociolinguistics |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-021037-3 |editor-last=Levon |editor-first=Erez |series=Studies in lanaguage, gender, and sexuality |location=New York |editor-last2=Mendes |editor-first2=Ronald Beline}} The term is sometimes translated to "ladyboy" in English.{{cite journal |last1=Winter |first1=Sam |last2=Udomsak |first2=Nuttawut |date=2002 |title=Male, Female and Transgender : Stereotypes and Self in Thailand |url=http://www.transgenderasia.org/paper_male_female.htm |url-status=dead |journal=International Journal of Transgenderism |volume=6 |issue=1 |issn=1434-4599 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208155833/http://www.transgenderasia.org/paper_male_female.htm |archive-date=8 December 2015 |access-date=29 November 2015}} Most trans-feminine Thai individuals simply referred to themselves as women, or phuying praphet song, meaning "another type of woman."{{Cite book |last1=Jackson |first1=Peter Anthony |title=Lady boys, tom boys, rent boys: male and female homosexualities in contemporary Thailand |last2=Sullivan |first2=Gerard |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-7890-0656-1 |location=New York London}}

Amongst Native Hawaiians and Tahitians, māhū are people of a third gender who possess spiritual and social roles.{{cite web |last=Perkins |first=Robert |date=October 2013 |title=Like a Lady in Polynesia: The Māhū of Tahiti, the Fa'a Fafine in Samoa, the Fakaleiti in Tonga and More |url=http://www.gendercentre.org.au/resources/polare-archive/archived-articles/like-a-lady-in-polynesia.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924021528/http://www.gendercentre.org.au/resources/polare-archive/archived-articles/like-a-lady-in-polynesia.htm |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=30 September 2015 |work=GenderCentre.org.au |publisher=The Gender Centre |location=Petersham, NSW, Australia}} The term has historically been applied to people assigned male at birth, but now may refer to a large variety of gender identities.{{Cite journal |last=Stip |first=Emmanuel |date=2015 |title=[RaeRae and Mahu: third polynesian gender] |journal=Santé Mentale au Québec |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=193–208 |doi=10.7202/1034918ar |issn=0383-6320 |pmid=26966855|doi-access=free }} The term is sometimes seen as disparaging or a pejorative, similar to faggot.{{Cite book |last=Morgan |first=Dan |title=Secondary School Violence and Hawai'i's Mahu Population |date=2010 |publisher=ProQuest LLC |isbn=978-1-1241-6147-1 |location=Ann Arbor, MI |pages=9–12 |language=en}}

{{See also|Transgender sexuality}}

Trans women vary greatly in terms of sexual and romantic orientation.{{cite news |date=18 May 2017 |title=Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |url=https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/transgender.htm |url-status=live |access-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218143833/https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/transgender.htm |archive-date=18 February 2021}}{{cite news|title=Transgender FAQ|newspaper=GLAAD|access-date=June 30, 2020|url=https://www.glaad.org/transgender/transfaq|date=2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407155945/https://www.glaad.org/transgender/transfaq|archive-date=April 7, 2020}}{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Christopher|title=My Experiences As A Straight Cis Man Engaged To A Straight Trans Woman|publisher=HuffPost|access-date=June 30, 2020|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-experiences-of-a-straight-cis-male-engaged-to-a_b_5951c5fbe4b0f078efd9846b|date=June 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630175247/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-experiences-of-a-straight-cis-male-engaged-to-a_b_5951c5fbe4b0f078efd9846b|archive-date=June 30, 2020}}{{cite web|last1=Bogert|first1=Brennan|title=11 Dating Struggles Only Trans Lesbians Will Understand|publisher=GoMag|access-date=June 30, 2020|url=http://gomag.com/article/11-dating-struggles-only-trans-lesbians-will-understand/|date=September 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630175608/http://gomag.com/article/11-dating-struggles-only-trans-lesbians-will-understand/|archive-date=June 30, 2020}} A survey of roughly 3,000 American trans women showed 31% of them identifying as bisexual, 29% as "gay/lesbian/same-gender", 23% as heterosexual, 7% as asexual, as well as 7% identifying as "queer" and 2% as "other".{{Cite report |url=https://www.thetaskforce.org/app/uploads/2019/07/ntds_full.pdf |title=Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey |last1=Grant |first1=Jaime M. |last2=Mottet |first2=Lisa A. |date=2011 |publisher=National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force |page=29 |last3=Tanis |first3=Justin |access-date=2024-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822092702/https://www.thetaskforce.org/app/uploads/2019/07/ntds_full.pdf |archive-date=2024-08-22 |url-status=live}} A 12-month survey of trans women in Europe found that 22% identified as heterosexual, 10% were attracted almost exclusively to men, 3% were mostly attracted to men, 9% were bisexual, 7% were mostly attracted to women, 23% were almost attracted exclusively to women, and 20% were lesbian. A smaller 2013 study of Italian trans women found that 82% identified as heterosexual.{{Cite journal |last1=Fisher |first1=Alessandra D. |last2=Bandini |first2=Elisa |last3=Casale |first3=Helen |last4=Ferruccio |first4=Naika |last5=Meriggiola |first5=Maria C. |last6=Gualerzi |first6=Anna |last7=Manieri |first7=Chiara |last8=Jannini |first8=Emmanuele |last9=Mannucci |first9=Edoardo |last10=Monami |first10=Matteo |last11=Stomaci |first11=Niceta |last12=Delle Rose |first12=Augusto |last13=Susini |first13=Tommaso |last14=Ricca |first14=Valdo |last15=Maggi |first15=Mario |date=February 2013 |title=Sociodemographic and Clinical Features of Gender Identity Disorder: An Italian Multicentric Evaluation |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S174360951530254X |journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine |language=en |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=408–419 |doi=10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.03006.x|pmid=23171237 |s2cid=6030415 |url-access=subscription }}

The European study found that sexual orientation did not change over the 12 months.{{Cite journal |last1=Defreyne |first1=J. |last2=Elaut |first2=E. |last3=Den Heijer |first3=M. |last4=Kreukels |first4=B. |last5=Fisher |first5=A. D. |last6=T’Sjoen |first6=G. |date=November 2021 |title=Sexual orientation in transgender individuals: results from the longitudinal ENIGI study |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-020-00402-7 |journal=International Journal of Impotence Research |language=en |volume=33 |issue=7 |pages=694–702 |doi=10.1038/s41443-020-00402-7 |pmid=33483604 |s2cid=231670933 |issn=0955-9930 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=24 November 2023 |access-date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124210214/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-020-00402-7 |url-status=live }} A 2018 study found that the most common sexual partner for trans women was cisgender women prior to transitioning. Trans women who had been transitioning for ten years or more were more likely to report a shift in their sexual orientation.{{Cite journal |last1=Fein |first1=Lydia A. |last2=Salgado |first2=Christopher J. |last3=Sputova |first3=Klara |last4=Estes |first4=Christopher M. |last5=Medina |first5=Carlos A. |date=2018-04-16 |title=Sexual Preferences and Partnerships of Transgender Persons Mid- or Post-Transition |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2017.1333808 |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |language=en |volume=65 |issue=5 |pages=659–671 |doi=10.1080/00918369.2017.1333808 |pmid=28569625 |s2cid=205471416 |issn=0091-8369|url-access=subscription }}

In a 2008 study, no statistically significant difference in libido was detected between trans women and cisgender women.{{cite journal|vauthors=Elaut E, De Cuypere G, De Sutter P, Gijs L, Van Trotsenburg M, Heylens G, Kaufman JM, Rubens R, T'Sjoen G | title = Hypoactive sexual desire in transsexual women: prevalence and association with testosterone levels| journal = European Journal of Endocrinology |date=Mar 2008| volume = 158| issue = 3| pages = 393–9| pmid = 18299474| doi=10.1530/EJE-07-0511| doi-access = free}} As in males, female libido is thought to correlate with serum testosterone levels{{cite journal|vauthors=Turna B, Apaydin E, Semerci B, Altay B, Cikili N, Nazli O | title = Women with low libido: correlation of decreased androgen levels with female sexual function index| journal = International Journal of Impotence Research| year = 2005| volume = 17| pages = 148–153| pmid = 15592425| doi=10.1038/sj.ijir.3901294| issue=2| doi-access = free}}{{cite journal

|vauthors=Santoro N, Torrens J, Crawford S, Allsworth JE, Finkelstein JS, Gold EB, Korenman S, Lasley WL, Luborsky JL, McConnell D, Sowers MF, Weiss G | title = Correlates of circulating androgens in mid-life women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation| journal = Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism| year = 2005| volume = 90| issue = 8| pages = 4836–4845| pmid = 15840738| doi=10.1210/jc.2004-2063| doi-access = free}}{{cite journal|vauthors=Sherwin BB, Gelfand MM, Brender W | title = Androgen enhances sexual motivation in females: a prospective, crossover study of sex steroid administration in the surgical menopause| journal = Psychosomatic Medicine| year = 1985| volume = 47| pages = 339–351| pmid = 4023162| issue=4| doi=10.1097/00006842-198507000-00004| s2cid = 12961569}}{{cite journal| last = Sherwin| first = B| title = Changes in sexual behavior as a function of plasma sex steroid levels in post-menopausal women

| journal = Maturitas| year = 1985| volume = 7| pages = 225–233| pmid = 4079822| issue=3| doi=10.1016/0378-5122(85)90044-1}} (with some controversy){{cite journal|vauthors=Davis SR, Davison SL, Donath S, Bell RJ | title = Circulating androgen levels and self-reported sexual function in women| journal = Journal of the American Medical Association| year = 2005| volume = 294

| issue = 1| pages = 91–96| pmid = 15998895| doi=10.1001/jama.294.1.91| doi-access = free}} but the 2008 study found no such correlation in trans women.{{cite journal|vauthors=DeCuypere G, T'Sjoen G, Beerten R, Selvaggi G, DeSutter P, Hoebeke P, Monstrey S, Vansteenwegen A, Rubens R | title = Sexual and physical health after sex reassignment surgery| journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior| year = 2005| volume = 34| issue = 6| pages = 679–690| pmid = 16362252| doi=10.1007/s10508-005-7926-5| s2cid = 42916543| url = https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/332601/file/6791804| url-access = subscription}} Another study, published in 2014, found that 62.4% of trans women reported their sexual desire had decreased after sexual reassignment therapy.{{Cite journal | doi=10.1111/jsm.12365| title=Sexual Desire in Trans Persons: Associations with Sex Reassignment Treatment| year=2014| last1=Wierckx| first1=Katrien| last2=Elaut| first2=Els| last3=Van Hoorde| first3=Birgit| last4=Heylens| first4=Gunter| last5=De Cuypere| first5=Griet| last6=Monstrey| first6=Stan| last7=Weyers| first7=Steven| last8=Hoebeke| first8=Piet| last9=t'Sjoen| first9=Guy| journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine| volume=11| issue=1| pages=107–118| pmid=24165564| url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/4287419/file/4287502| url-access=subscription}}

Gender-affirming care for trans women may include feminizing hormone therapy, transgender voice therapy, and gender-affirming surgery (often referring to vaginoplasty, but may also include tracheal shave, orchiectomy, facial feminization surgery, breast augmentation, and vulvoplasty).{{Cite journal |last1=Wesp |first1=Linda M. |last2=Deutsch |first2=Madeline B. |date=2017-03-01 |title=Hormonal and Surgical Treatment Options for Transgender Women and Transfeminine Spectrum Persons |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0193953X16300727 |journal=Psychiatric Clinics of North America |series=Clinical Issues and Affirmative Treatment with Transgender Clients |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=99–111 |doi=10.1016/j.psc.2016.10.006 |pmid=28159148 |issn=0193-953X|url-access=subscription }}

{{Main|Feminizing hormone therapy}}

Feminizing hormone therapy is a type of hormone therapy focused on turning the secondary sex characteristics of a person from masculine to feminine. Feminizing hormone therapy often includes a mix of estrogens, antiandrogens, progestogens, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone modulator,{{Cite journal |last1=Hembree |first1=Wylie C |last2=Cohen-Kettenis |first2=Peggy T |last3=Gooren |first3=Louis |last4=Hannema |first4=Sabine E |last5=Meyer |first5=Walter J |last6=Murad |first6=M Hassan |last7=Rosenthal |first7=Stephen M |last8=Safer |first8=Joshua D |last9=Tangpricha |first9=Vin |last10=T’Sjoen |first10=Guy G |date=2017-09-13 |title=Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society* Clinical Practice Guideline |url=https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2017-01658 |journal=The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism |volume=102 |issue=11 |pages=3869–3903 |doi=10.1210/jc.2017-01658 |pmid=28945902 |issn=0021-972X |archive-date=3 March 2022 |access-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303171028/https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/102/11/3869/4157558 |url-status=live }} though the most common approach is an estrogen in combination with an antiandrogen.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JnVYBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA663 |title=Adolescent Medicine, An Issue of Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, E-Book |vauthors=Shore WB |date=21 August 2014 |publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences |isbn=978-0-323-32340-6 |pages=663–}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8S4oDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA468 |title=Women's Health Care in Advanced Practice Nursing, Second Edition |vauthors=Alexander IM, Johnson-Mallard V, Kostas-Polston E, Fogel CI, Woods NF |date=28 June 2017 |publisher=Springer Publishing Company |isbn=978-0-8261-9004-8 |pages=468–}} Feminizing hormone therapy can induce effects including breast development, softening of the skin, redistribution of body fat towards a gynoid fat distribution, decreased muscle mass/strength, and changes in mood.

{{Main|Transgender voice therapy}}

Some trans women may seek to feminize their voice through transgender voice therapy, as hormone therapy does not significantly affect the voice of trans women. The aim of voice therapy (in the context of transitioning) is frequently to change the fundamental frequency, resonant frequency, and phonatory pattern to reflect that of cisgender women.{{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Hyung-Tae |date=2020-02-12 |title=Vocal Feminization for Transgender Women: Current Strategies and Patient Perspectives |journal=International Journal of General Medicine |language=English |volume=13 |pages=43–52 |doi=10.2147/IJGM.S205102 |doi-access=free |pmc=7024865 |pmid=32104050}} This can be accomplished through speech therapy, or surgeries (including feminization laryngoplasty). Throughout multiple studies, voice therapy has generally been shown to increase vocal satisfaction of the patient and a greater listener perception of a feminine voice.{{Cite journal |last1=Schwarz |first1=Karine |last2=Cielo |first2=Carla Aparecida |last3=Spritzer |first3=Poli Mara |last4=Villas-Boas |first4=Anna Paula |last5=Costa |first5=Angelo Brandelli |last6=Fontanari |first6=Anna Martha Vaitses |last7=Costa Gomes |first7=Bruna |last8=da Silva |first8=Dhiordan Cardoso |last9=Schneider |first9=Maiko Abel |last10=Lobato |first10=Maria Inês Rodrigues |date=2023-07-23 |title=Speech therapy for transgender women: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=Systematic Reviews |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=128 |doi=10.1186/s13643-023-02267-5 |doi-access=free |issn=2046-4053 |pmid=37481572|pmc=10363306 }}{{Cite journal |last1=Rapoport |first1=Sarah K. |last2=Varelas |first2=Eleni A |last3=Park |first3=Christopher |last4=Brown |first4=Sarah K. |last5=Goldberg |first5=Leanne |last6=Courey |first6=Mark S. |date=September 2023 |title=Patient Satisfaction and Acoustic Changes in Trans Women after Gender Affirming Voice Training |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.30543 |journal=The Laryngoscope |language=en |volume=133 |issue=9 |pages=2340–2345 |doi=10.1002/lary.30543 |pmid=36602085 |s2cid=255474157 |issn=0023-852X|url-access=subscription }}

{{Main|Gender-affirming surgery (male-to-female)}}

Trans women may undergo a variety of gender-affirming surgeries as part of their transition process. These surgeries may include vaginoplasty, vulvoplasty, orchiectomy, breast augmentation, and facial feminization surgery.{{Cite journal |last1=Aquino |first1=Nelson J. |last2=Boskey |first2=Elizabeth R. |last3=Staffa |first3=Steven J. |last4=Ganor |first4=Oren |last5=Crest |first5=Alyson W. |last6=Gemmill |first6=Kristin V. |last7=Cravero |first7=Joseph P. |last8=Vlassakova |first8=Bistra |date=2022-03-31 |title=A Single Center Case Series of Gender-Affirming Surgeries and the Evolution of a Specialty Anesthesia Team |journal=Journal of Clinical Medicine |language=en |volume=11 |issue=7 |pages=1943 |doi=10.3390/jcm11071943 |doi-access=free |issn=2077-0383 |pmc=9000168 |pmid=35407551}}

While the relationship is not completely understood,{{Cite journal |last1=Cheng |first1=Philip J. |last2=Pastuszak |first2=Alexander W. |last3=Myers |first3=Jeremy B. |last4=Goodwin |first4=Isak A. |last5=Hotaling |first5=James M. |date=June 2019 |title=Fertility concerns of the transgender patient |journal=Translational Andrology and Urology |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=209–218 |doi=10.21037/tau.2019.05.09 |doi-access=free |issn=2223-4691 |pmc=6626312 |pmid=31380227}} feminizing hormone therapy appears to reduce the ability to produce sperm.{{Cite web |title=Fertility options for transgender persons {{!}} Gender Affirming Health Program |url=https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/fertility |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=transcare.ucsf.edu |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201225758/https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/fertility |url-status=live }} Individuals who have been on hormone therapy for an extended period of time have been shown to have a lower total sperm count than males not on hormone therapy.{{Cite journal |last1=Rodriguez-Wallberg |first1=Kenny A. |last2=Häljestig |first2=Jakob |last3=Arver |first3=Stefan |last4=Johansson |first4=Anna L. V. |last5=Lundberg |first5=Frida E. |date=November 2021 |title=Sperm quality in transgender women before or after gender affirming hormone therapy—A prospective cohort study |journal=Andrology |language=en |volume=9 |issue=6 |pages=1773–1780 |doi=10.1111/andr.12999 |pmid=33683832 |issn=2047-2919|doi-access=free }} Cessation of hormone replacement therapy has been associated with a renewed level of fertility.{{Cite journal |last1=de Nie |first1=Iris |last2=van Mello |first2=Norah M. |last3=Vlahakis |first3=Emanuel |last4=Cooper |first4=Charlie |last5=Peri |first5=Angus |last6=den Heijer |first6=Martin |last7=Meißner |first7=Andreas |last8=Huirne |first8=Judith |last9=Pang |first9=Ken C. |date=January 2023 |title=Successful restoration of spermatogenesis following gender-affirming hormone therapy in transgender women |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100858 |journal=Cell Reports Medicine |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=100858 |doi=10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100858 |issn=2666-3791 |pmc=9873819 |pmid=36652919}}{{Cite journal |last1=Schneider |first1=Florian |last2=Neuhaus |first2=Nina |last3=Wistuba |first3=Joachim |last4=Zitzmann |first4=Michael |last5=Heß |first5=Jochen |last6=Mahler |first6=Dorothee |last7=van Ahlen |first7=Hermann |last8=Schlatt |first8=Stefan |last9=Kliesch |first9=Sabine |date=2015-11-01 |title=Testicular Functions and Clinical Characterization of Patients with Gender Dysphoria (GD) Undergoing Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) |url=https://academic.oup.com/jsm/article/12/11/2190/6980167 |journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine |language=en |volume=12 |issue=11 |pages=2190–2200 |doi=10.1111/jsm.13022 |pmid=26559385 |issn=1743-6109|url-access=subscription }}

Tucking is also associated with lower quality sperm production because of the increased temperature of the testicles, causing premature sperm death.{{Cite journal |last1=Li |first1=K. |last2=Rodriguez |first2=D. |last3=Gabrielsen |first3=J. S. |last4=Centola |first4=G. M. |last5=Tanrikut |first5=C. |date=November 2018 |title=Sperm cryopreservation of transgender individuals: trends and findings in the past decade |journal=Andrology |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=860–864 |doi=10.1111/andr.12527 |issn=2047-2927 |pmc=6301129 |pmid=30094956}}{{Cite journal |last1=Hamada |first1=A. |last2=Kingsberg |first2=S. |last3=Wierckx |first3=K. |last4=T'Sjoen |first4=G. |last5=De Sutter |first5=P. |last6=Knudson |first6=G. |last7=Agarwal |first7=A. |date=September 2015 |title=Semen characteristics of transwomen referred for sperm banking before sex transition: a case series |journal=Andrologia |language=en |volume=47 |issue=7 |pages=832–838 |doi=10.1111/and.12330|pmid=25269748 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last1=de Nie |first1=Iris |last2=Asseler |first2=Joyce |last3=Meißner |first3=Andreas |last4=Voorn-de Warem |first4=Ilona A.C. |last5=Kostelijk |first5=E. Hanna |last6=den Heijer |first6=Martin |last7=Huirne |first7=Judith |last8=van Mello |first8=Norah M. |date=March 2022 |title=A cohort study on factors impairing semen quality in transgender women |journal=American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology |volume=226 |issue=3 |pages=390.e1–390.e10 |doi=10.1016/j.ajog.2021.10.020 |pmid=34688596 |issn=0002-9378|doi-access=free }}

Trans women may elect to undergo fertility preservation through semen cryopreservation via masturbation or testicular sperm extraction.

{{main|Transmisogyny}}

{{further|Transgender inequality|Transphobia}}

File:Transphobic Graffito.jpg graffiti in Springfield, Missouri|alt=Text written in marker that reads "Women's Room Do Not Enter if you Have A DICK!"]]

Like all gender variant people, trans women often face discrimination and transphobia,{{rp|8}} particularly those who are not perceived as cisgender.{{Cite book |last=McKinnon |first=Rachel |title=Philosophy: sex and love |date=2016 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-02-866336-4 |editor-last=Petrik |editor-first=James M. |series=Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks |location=Farmington Hills, Mich |pages=175–198 |chapter=Gender, Identity, and Society |editor-last2=Zucker |editor-first2=Arthur}} A 2015 survey from The Williams Institute found that, of 27,715 transgender respondents, 52% whose families had rejected them attempted suicide, as did 64.9% of those who were physically attacked in the past year.{{cite web|last1=Herman|first1=Jody L.|last2=Brown|first2=Taylor N.T.|last3=Haas|first3=Ann P.|date=September 2019|title=Suicide Thoughts and Attempts Among Transgender Adults|url=https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Suicidality-Transgender-Sep-2019.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513172602/https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Suicidality-Transgender-Sep-2019.pdf|archive-date=2020-05-13|access-date=2020-01-23|website=}}

A 2011 survey of roughly 3000 trans women living in the United States, as summarized in the report "Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey", found that trans women reported that:{{specify|reason=NTDS provides many different values for the same category label, so context and page number are needed here.|date=December 2017}}

• 36% have lost their job due to their gender.
• 55% have been discriminated against in hiring.
• 29% have been denied a promotion.
• 25% have been refused medical care.
• 60% of the trans women who have visited a homeless shelter reported incidents of harassment there.
• When displaying identity documents incongruent with their gender identity/expression, 33% have been harassed and 3% have been physically assaulted.
• 20% reported harassment by police, with 6% reporting physical assault and 3% reporting sexual assault by an officer. 25% have been treated generally with disrespect by police officers.
• Among jailed trans women, 40% have been harassed by inmates, 38% have been harassed by staff, 21% have been physically assaulted, and 20% have been sexually assaulted.

The American National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs' report of 2010 anti-LGBTQ violence found that of the 27 people who were murdered because of their LGBTQ identity, 44% were trans women.{{cite news|url=http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/07/70_percent_of_anti-lgbt_murder_victims_are_people_of_color.html|title=70 Percent of Anti-LGBT Murder Victims Are People of Color|access-date=2013-04-28|archive-date=2013-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407194534/http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/07/70_percent_of_anti-lgbt_murder_victims_are_people_of_color.html|url-status=dead}} Discrimination is particularly severe towards non-white trans women, who experience the intersection of racism and transphobia.

In her book Whipping Girl, trans woman Julia Serano refers to the unique discrimination trans women experience as "transmisogyny".{{cite journal|last=Barker-Plummer|first=Bernadette|title=Fixing Gwen|doi=10.1080/14680777.2012.679289|volume=13|issue=4|journal=Feminist Media Studies|pages=710–724|year=2013|s2cid=147262202}}

Discrimination against trans women has occurred at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival after the Festival set out a rule that it would only be a space for cisgender females. This led to protests by trans women and their allies, and a boycott of the Festival by Equality Michigan in 2014.{{cite web|last1=Equality Michigan|title=End Transgender Exclusion from Michfest|url=https://genderidentitywatch.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/take-action-now-_-equality-michigan.pdf|website=Gender Identity Watch|date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231070451/https://genderidentitywatch.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/take-action-now-_-equality-michigan.pdf |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |url-status=dead}} The boycott was joined by the Human Rights Campaign{{cite web|last1=Sherouse|first1=Beth|title=Michigan Womyn's Music Festival|url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/michigan-womyns-music-festival|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20160311163619/http://www.hrc.org/blog/michigan%2Dwomyns%2Dmusic%2Dfestival|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2016|website=Human Rights Campaign|date=July 30, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2017}} and GLAAD.{{cite web|title=GLAAD President/CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and wife pen op-ed supporting trans inclusion at Michfest|url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-presidentceo-sarah-kate-ellis-and-wife-pen-op-ed-supporting-trans-inclusion-michfest|website=GLAAD|date=August 8, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035846/https://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-presidentceo-sarah-kate-ellis-and-wife-pen-op-ed-supporting-trans-inclusion-michfest|url-status=live}} The National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the National LGBTQ Task Force also signed on to the boycott but later withdrew support.{{cite web|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/NCLRs-Kate-Kendell-removes-Michfest-boycott-signature/51126.html|title=NCLR and Task Force remove names from Michfest petition|last1=Toce|first1=Sarah|date=April 9, 2015|website=Windy City Times|access-date=August 10, 2016|archive-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826223200/http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/NCLRs-Kate-Kendell-removes-Michfest-boycott-signature/51126.html|url-status=live}} The "womyn-born-womyn" intention first came to attention in 1991 after a transsexual festival-goer, Nancy Burkholder, was asked to leave the festival when several women recognized her as a trans woman and expressed discomfort with her presence in the space.{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Cristan|title=Michigan Womyn's Music Festival|url=http://transadvocate.com/michigan-womyns-music-festival_n_8943.htm|website=The TransAdvocate|date=April 9, 2013|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=July 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727054748/http://transadvocate.com/michigan-womyns-music-festival_n_8943.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Taormino |first=Tristan |date=September 12, 2000 |title=Trouble in Utopia |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/trouble-in-utopia-6417677 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115211653/http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-09-12/columns/trouble-in-utopia/ |archive-date=15 January 2009 |access-date=18 June 2019 |work=The Village Voice}}{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Bonnie J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puzDDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA101 |title=The Disappearing L: Erasure of Lesbian Spaces and Culture |date=2016 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-1438461779 |edition=1st |location=Albany, New York |page=101 |access-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203040158/https://books.google.com/books?id=puzDDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA101 |url-status=live }}

File:Cortejo funebre travesti.jpgs carrying the coffin of their murdered friend, August 1987]]

{{see also|List of people killed for being transgender}}

Trans women face a form of violence known as trans bashing. The Washington Blade reported that Global Rights, an international NGO, tracked the mistreatment of trans women in Brazil, including at the hands of the police.{{cite web|last1=Lavers|first1=Michael K.|title=Report documents anti-transgender violence, discrimination in Brazil|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/11/25/report-documents-anti-transgender-violence-discrimination-brazil/|website=Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights|access-date=11 April 2018|date=25 November 2013|archive-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001319/http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/11/25/report-documents-anti-transgender-violence-discrimination-brazil/|url-status=live}} To commemorate those who have been murdered in hate crimes, an annual Transgender Day of Remembrance is held in various locations across the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, with details and sources for each murder provided at their website.{{cite web|url=https://tdor.info/|title=Transgender Day of Remembrance|website=Transgender Day of Remembrance|access-date=2016-12-10|archive-date=2016-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209180845/https://tdor.info/|url-status=live}}

{{see also|Violence against transgender people in the United States}}

According to a 2009 report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, quoted by the Office for Victims of Crime, 11% of all hate crimes towards members of the LGBTQ community were directed towards trans women.

According to Trans Murder Monitoring, between Oct 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, 321 trans and gender-diverse individuals were killed, with trans women or trans-feminine individuals accounting for 94% of the deaths.{{cite news |last1=Williams IV |first1=John-John |title=Trans woman wins Miss Maryland USA, making history with a list of pageant firsts |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/lifestyle/miss-maryland-bailey-anne-kennedy-trans-woman-7HTR4XLRXJHKHLJBBF3PUR73B4/ |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=7 June 2024 |language=en}}

In 2015, a false statistic was widely reported in the United States media stating that the life expectancy of trans women of color is only 35 years.{{cite web |last1=Herzog |first1=Katie |title=Is the Life Expectancy of Trans Women in the U.S. Just 35? No. |url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/09/23/41471629/is-the-life-expectancy-of-trans-women-in-the-us-just-35-no |website=The Stranger |language=en |access-date=2020-06-02 |archive-date=2020-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523215349/https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/09/23/41471629/is-the-life-expectancy-of-trans-women-in-the-us-just-35-no |url-status=live }} This appears to be based on a comment specifically about Latin America in a report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which compiled data on the age at death of murdered trans women for all of the Americas (North, South, and Central), and does not disaggregate by race.{{cite web|last1=Inter-American Commission on Human Rights|title=IACHR: Forms and contexts of violence against LGBTI persons in the Americas|url=http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/multimedia/2015/lgbti-violence/lgbti-violence-forms.html|website=IACHR: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights|access-date=11 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412082153/http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/multimedia/2015/lgbti-violence/lgbti-violence-forms.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Lavers|first1=Michael K.|title=Nearly 600 LGBT people murdered in Americas in 15 months|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/12/20/report-594-lgbt-people-murdered-americas-15-month-period/|access-date=11 April 2018|work=Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights|date=20 December 2014|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410191738/http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/12/20/report-594-lgbt-people-murdered-americas-15-month-period/|url-status=live}}

In 2016, 23 transgender people suffered fatal attacks in the United States. The Human Rights Campaign report found some of these deaths to be direct results of an anti-transgender bias, and some due to related factors such as homelessness.{{cite web|title=Violence Against the Transgender Community in 2017 {{!}} Human Rights Campaign|url=https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-transgender-community-in-2017|website=Human Rights Campaign|access-date=11 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411095150/https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-transgender-community-in-2017|url-status=live}}

One type of violence towards trans women is committed by perpetrators who learn that their sexual partner is transgender, and feel deceived ("trans panic"). Almost 95% of these crimes were committed by cisgender men towards trans women.{{Cite journal|last1=SCHILT|first1=KRISTEN|last2=WESTBROOK|first2=LAUREL|date=2009|title=DOING GENDER, DOING HETERONORMATIVITY: "Gender Normals," Transgender People, and the Social Maintenance of Heterosexuality|journal=Gender and Society|volume=23|issue=4|pages=440–464|issn=0891-2432|jstor=20676798|doi=10.1177/0891243209340034|s2cid=145354177}} According to a 2005 study in Houston, Texas, "50% of transgender people surveyed had been hit by a primary partner after coming out as transgender".{{cite web|title=Sexual Assault: The Numbers – Responding to Transgender Victims of Sexual Assault|url=https://www.ovc.gov/pubs/forge/sexual_numbers.html|website=Office for Victims of Crime|access-date=25 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422055249/https://www.ovc.gov/pubs/forge/sexual_numbers.html|url-status=live}}

File:Karla Sofia Gascon at TIFF 2024 the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.jpg, the first openly trans woman nominated for an Academy Award]]

Trans representation in television, film, news, and other forms of media was slim before the 21st century. Early mainstream accounts and fictional depictions of trans women almost always relied on common tropes and stereotypes.{{Citation |last=Sicular |first=Eve |title=Outing the Archives: From the Celluloid Closet to the Isle of Klezbos |date=2013-12-02 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315811277-18 |work=Queer Jews |pages=199–214 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9781315811277-18 |isbn=978-1-315-81127-7 |access-date=2022-10-04|url-access=subscription }} However, portrayals have steadily grown and improved in tandem with activism.

In the 2020 film Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, director Sam Feder explores Hollywood's history of trans representation and the cultural effects of such depictions. Many notable 21st century trans actresses and celebrities shared their stories in the film, including Laverne Cox, Alexandra Billings, Hari Nef, Jamie Clayton, AJ Clementine, and more.{{Cite journal |last=Buchanan |first=Blu |date=2021-06-04 |title=Film Review: Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0092055x211022474 |journal=Teaching Sociology |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=299–301 |doi=10.1177/0092055x211022474 |s2cid=236226145 |issn=0092-055X|url-access=subscription }}

Some famous trans women in television include Laverne Cox (playing Sophia Burset on Orange is the New Black), Hunter Schafer (playing Jules Vaughn in Euphoria), Josie Totah, Cho Hyun-ju (from Squid Game), and Caitlyn Jenner (from Keeping Up with the Kardashians).{{Cite journal |last1=Mocarski |first1=Richard |last2=King |first2=Robyn |last3=Butler |first3=Sim |last4=Holt |first4=Natalie R |last5=Huit |first5=T Zachary |last6=Hope |first6=Debra A |last7=Meyer |first7=Heather M |last8=Woodruff |first8=Nathan |date=September 2019 |title=The Rise of Transgender and Gender Diverse Representation in the Media: Impacts on the Population |journal=Communication, Culture & Critique |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=416–433 |doi=10.1093/ccc/tcz031 |issn=1753-9129 |pmc=6824534 |pmid=31709008}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title=Trans Representation in The Media |url=https://www.glsen.org/blog/trans-representation-media |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=GLSEN |language=en |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321044007/https://www.glsen.org/blog/trans-representation-media |url-status=live }} Pose, an American television show, depicts the lives of several trans women.{{Cite news |last=Branigin |first=Anne |date=2023-04-13 |title=Trans People Have Never Been so Visible — or so Vulnerable |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/04/13/trans-representation-popular-culture/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20241123201124/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/04/13/trans-representation-popular-culture/ |archive-date=23 November 2024 |access-date=2024-03-21 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en }}

Karla Sofía Gascón became the first openly trans person to receive acting nominations at the Academy Awards, BAFTAs & SAGs and win the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance as Emilia Pérez / Juan "Manitas" Del Monte in the 2024 film Emilia Pérez.{{Cite web |last=Blyth |first=Antonia |date=2025-01-23 |title='Emilia Pérez's Karla Sofía Gascón Becomes The First Openly Trans Person Ever Nominated For An Acting Oscar |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/karla-sofia-gascon-oscar-nomination-2025-1236263101/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Alex Consani became the first trans woman to win as Model of the Year at The Fashion Awards.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Alex Consani becomes first transgender Model of the Year at U.K. Fashion Awards |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-pop-culture/alex-consani-becomes-first-transgender-model-year-uk-fashion-awards-rcna182635 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

{{clear}}

{{Portal|LGBTQ}}

• List of transgender people
• List of transgender-related topics
• Trans man
• Transfeminism
• Transgender people in sports

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category|Transgender women}}

{{Sexual identities}}

{{Transgender topics}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Terms for women

Category:Transgender identities