User:Lucyspring2021/Objectification

Intersectionality and Transgender Experiences of Objectification
Sexual objectification experiences can vary according to an individual's intersectional identity markers. Utilizing an intersectional approach can deepen the understandings of objectification constructs pertaining to transgender identities. Transgender individuals experience unique challenges during the interpretation of their identity.

Mirella Flores argues that prior explorations into the topic of objectification have been primarily focused on the experiences of cis-gendered people. Transgender individuals have been excluded from the discourse of objectification as their expressed gender has been historically invalidated. For example, the traditional heteronormativity displayed in the field of psychology has previously enabled the conceptualization of gender non-conformity as a mental disorder. Furthermore, representations of transgender individuals in the media have portrayed them as comic relief, perpetuating transphobia, and further stigmatizing transgender individuals. Sexual orientation standards are inserted into social representations of gender as either masculine or feminine and this gender binary has been propagated through the media, peers, family, and other socio-cultural channels. Through objectification and social representation, exaggerated body image ideals associated with masculinity and femininity encourages the objectification of one's body in order to adhere to these socio-cultural appearance ideals. Although the theory of objectification was originally used to explain how the female body is reduced to its appearance, it can be used to analyze how transgender individuals approximate these ideals to be consistent with their gender.

The low level of social acceptance of transgender individuals provokes devaluation and stigmatization. Transgender individuals may internalize societal appearance ideals through body monitoring and comparison in order to legitimize their gender identity. Transgender individuals feel as if they must adopt the binary body image and act towards it in order to fit into societal standards. Objectification ignores gender identity and categorizes individuals based on the ideal expression of gender and this affects both transitioned men and transitioned women. Objectification becomes a problem and solution for individuals attempting to affirm their gender identity and expression through social recognition. The ideal male physical attractiveness includes the portrayal of muscle and robustness and transgender men will attempt to accomplish the standard through compulsive exercise and steroid injection. Transgender women experience similar objectification as cisgender women do according to the reduction of one's self to a mere hypersexualized body Transgender individuals may attempt to affirm their gender identity through illegal practices such as using silicone injections that eventually results in harmful health consequences Furthermore, transgender individuals may seek gender affirmation through sex work, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. The discrepancy of appearance (e.g., height and body structure) impede transgender individuals to align with their gender identity and they do not feel as if they fit the social standards even after medical interventions. Transgender individuals may internalize the negative stereotypes perpetuated through sexual objectification such as "transgender prostitute" which has been found to induce stereotype affirming behaviors. Internalization of negative stereotypes have been linked to low self-esteem, devaluation, feelings of worthlessness and in the worst case, suicide.