“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China

An under-researched aspect of transgender sex workers in China pertains to their desires and expressions of femininity. Male-to-Female (MTF) transgender sex workers are a high-risk population prone to depression and stress regarding body image, intimate relationships marked by violence, and social s...

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Autor principal:	Eileen Y. H. Tsang
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	transgender sex workers femininity performativity clients intimate sex partners hate crime Medicine R
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/40256fd99eb7499aa0d6fff863b1868e
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:40256fd99eb7499aa0d6fff863b1868e2021-11-11T16:19:12Z“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China10.3390/ijerph1821111681660-46011661-7827https://doaj.org/article/40256fd99eb7499aa0d6fff863b1868e2021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11168https://doaj.org/toc/1661-7827https://doaj.org/toc/1660-4601An under-researched aspect of transgender sex workers in China pertains to their desires and expressions of femininity. Male-to-Female (MTF) transgender sex workers are a high-risk population prone to depression and stress regarding body image, intimate relationships marked by violence, and social stigma, rendering them vulnerable to hate crimes and discrimination. Ethnographic data from in-depth interviews with 49 MTF transgender sex workers indicate that sex, gender and feminine desire are mutable in the construction of self and subjectivity. This study uses the conceptual framework of gender performativity, that is, gender is performative and distinct from physical bodies and binary classifications. It is not only an individual’s normative gender expressions which are based on the sex assigned at birth, but it also reinforces the normative gender performances of the gender binary. This article argues that the 49 MTF transgender sex workers are embodiments of gendered performances, displaying femininity to ameliorate hate crimes and discrimination as well as reinforce the masculinity and sexuality of their clients and intimate sex partners. Embracing their femininity constitutes a self-help program, enabling them to build self-confidence and develop a positive self-image in the face of overwhelming social disapproval.Eileen Y. H. TsangMDPI AGarticletransgender sex workersfemininityperformativityclientsintimate sex partnershate crimeMedicineRENInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18, Iss 11168, p 11168 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	transgender sex workers femininity performativity clients intimate sex partners hate crime Medicine R
spellingShingle	transgender sex workers femininity performativity clients intimate sex partners hate crime Medicine R Eileen Y. H. Tsang “Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China
description	An under-researched aspect of transgender sex workers in China pertains to their desires and expressions of femininity. Male-to-Female (MTF) transgender sex workers are a high-risk population prone to depression and stress regarding body image, intimate relationships marked by violence, and social stigma, rendering them vulnerable to hate crimes and discrimination. Ethnographic data from in-depth interviews with 49 MTF transgender sex workers indicate that sex, gender and feminine desire are mutable in the construction of self and subjectivity. This study uses the conceptual framework of gender performativity, that is, gender is performative and distinct from physical bodies and binary classifications. It is not only an individual’s normative gender expressions which are based on the sex assigned at birth, but it also reinforces the normative gender performances of the gender binary. This article argues that the 49 MTF transgender sex workers are embodiments of gendered performances, displaying femininity to ameliorate hate crimes and discrimination as well as reinforce the masculinity and sexuality of their clients and intimate sex partners. Embracing their femininity constitutes a self-help program, enabling them to build self-confidence and develop a positive self-image in the face of overwhelming social disapproval.
format	article
author	Eileen Y. H. Tsang
author_facet	Eileen Y. H. Tsang
author_sort	Eileen Y. H. Tsang
title	“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China
title_short	“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China
title_full	“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China
title_fullStr	“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China
title_full_unstemmed	“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China
title_sort	“be the dream queen”: gender performativity, femininity, and transgender sex workers in china
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/40256fd99eb7499aa0d6fff863b1868e
work_keys_str_mv	AT eileenyhtsang bethedreamqueengenderperformativityfemininityandtransgendersexworkersinchina
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“Be the Dream Queen”: Gender Performativity, Femininity, and Transgender Sex Workers in China

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