IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v165y2016icp141-149.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“I have to constantly prove to myself, to people, that I fit the bill”: Perspectives on weight and shape control behaviors among low-income, ethnically diverse young transgender women

Author

Listed:
  • Gordon, Allegra R.
  • Austin, S. Bryn
  • Krieger, Nancy
  • White Hughto, Jaclyn M.
  • Reisner, Sari L.

Abstract

The impact of societal femininity ideals on disordered eating behaviors in non-transgender women has been well described, but scant research has explored these processes among transgender women. The present study explored weight and shape control behaviors among low-income, ethnically diverse young transgender women at high risk for HIV or living with HIV in a Northeastern metropolitan area. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 participants (ages 18–31 years; mean annual income <$10,000; ethnic identity: Multiracial [n = 8], Black [n = 4], Latina [n = 4], White [n = 4], Asian [n = 1]). Interviews were transcribed and double-coded using a template organizing method, guided by ecosocial theory and a gender affirmation framework. Of 21 participants, 16 reported engaging in past-year disordered eating or weight and shape control behaviors, including binge eating, fasting, vomiting, and laxative use. Study participants described using a variety of strategies to address body image concerns in the context of gender-related and other discriminatory experiences, which shaped participants’ access to social and material resources as well as stress and coping behaviors. Disordered weight and shape control behaviors were discussed in relation to four emergent themes: (1) gender socialization and the development of femininity ideals, (2) experiences of stigma and discrimination, (3) biological processes, and (4) multi-level sources of strength and resilience. This formative study provides insight into disordered eating and weight and shape control behaviors among at-risk transgender women, illuminating avenues for future research, treatment, and public health intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordon, Allegra R. & Austin, S. Bryn & Krieger, Nancy & White Hughto, Jaclyn M. & Reisner, Sari L., 2016. "“I have to constantly prove to myself, to people, that I fit the bill”: Perspectives on weight and shape control behaviors among low-income, ethnically diverse young transgender women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 141-149.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:165:y:2016:i:c:p:141-149
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.038
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616303999
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.038?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Conron, K.J. & Scott, G. & Stowell, G.S. & Landers, S.J., 2012. "Transgender health in massachusetts: Results from a household probability sample of adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(1), pages 118-122.
    2. Bryn Austin, S. & Nelson, L.A. & Birkett, M.A. & Calzo, J.P. & Everett, B., 2013. "Eating disorder symptoms and obesity at the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation in US high school students," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(2), pages 16-22.
    3. Krieger, N., 2012. "Methods for the scientific study of discrimination and health: An ecosocial approach," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(5), pages 936-945.
    4. Nemoto, T. & Operario, D. & Keatley, J. & Han, L. & Soma, T., 2004. "HIV risk behaviors among male-to-female transgender persons of color in San Francisco," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(7), pages 1193-1199.
    5. White Hughto, Jaclyn M. & Reisner, Sari L. & Pachankis, John E., 2015. "Transgender stigma and health: A critical review of stigma determinants, mechanisms, and interventions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 222-231.
    6. Clements-Nolle, K. & Marx, R. & Guzman, R. & Katz, M., 2001. "HIV prevalence, risk behaviors, health care use, and mental health status of transgender persons: Implications for public health intervention," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(6), pages 915-921.
    7. Paquette, M.-C.Marie-Claude & Raine, Kim, 2004. "Sociocultural context of women's body image," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(5), pages 1047-1058, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Latrice C. Pichon & Megan L. Wilkins & Gisela Guerrero & Andrea L. Williams Stubbs & Edward D. Wiley & Justin Dodson & Carla London & Michelle Teti, 2022. "Sustaining an HIV Prevention and Wellness Program for Sexual Gender Minorities during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-10, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Danya Lagos, 2018. "Looking at Population Health Beyond “Male” and “Female”: Implications of Transgender Identity and Gender Nonconformity for Population Health," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(6), pages 2097-2117, December.
    2. Treena Orchard & Katherine Salter & Mary Bunch & Cecilia Benoit, 2020. "Money, Agency, and Self-Care among Cisgender and Trans People in Sex Work," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Luca Fumarco & Benjamin Harrell & Patrick Button & David Schwegman & E Dils, 2020. "Gender Identity, Race, and Ethnicity-based Discrimination in Access to Mental Health Care: Evidence from an Audit Correspondence Field Experiment," NBER Working Papers 28164, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Clark, Kirsty A. & White Hughto, Jaclyn M. & Pachankis, John E., 2017. "“What's the right thing to do?” Correctional healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and experiences caring for transgender inmates," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 80-89.
    5. Beccia, Ariel L. & Austin, S. Bryn & Baek, Jonggyu & Agénor, Madina & Forrester, Sarah & Ding, Eric Y. & Jesdale, William M. & Lapane, Kate L., 2022. "Cumulative exposure to state-level structural sexism and risk of disordered eating: Results from a 20-year prospective cohort study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    6. Nelsensius Klau Fauk & Maria Silvia Merry & Theodorus Asa Siri & Lillian Mwanri & Paul Russell Ward, 2021. "Structural, Personal and Socioenvironmental Determinants of HIV Transmission among Transgender Women in Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, May.
    7. Ethan C Cicero & Sari L Reisner & Elizabeth I Merwin & Janice C Humphreys & Susan G Silva, 2020. "The health status of transgender and gender nonbinary adults in the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, February.
    8. Matthew Heinz & Devon MacFarlane, 2013. "Island Lives," SAGE Open, , vol. 3(3), pages 21582440135, September.
    9. Cristiano Scandurra & Vincenzo Bochicchio & Anna Lisa Amodeo & Concetta Esposito & Paolo Valerio & Nelson Mauro Maldonato & Dario Bacchini & Roberto Vitelli, 2018. "Internalized Transphobia, Resilience, and Mental Health: Applying the Psychological Mediation Framework to Italian Transgender Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, March.
    10. Marius Baranauskas & Ingrida Kupčiūnaitė & Rimantas Stukas, 2022. "Psychoactive Substance Effect on Mental Health and Well-Being Focusing on Student-Aged Lithuanian Cohort of Sexual Minorities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    11. Marta Evelia Aparicio-García & Eva María Díaz-Ramiro & Susana Rubio-Valdehita & María Inmaculada López-Núñez & Isidro García-Nieto, 2018. "Health and Well-Being of Cisgender, Transgender and Non-Binary Young People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-11, September.
    12. Zia Ullah & Esra AlDhaen & Rana Tahir Naveed & Naveed Ahmad & Miklas Scholz & Tasawar Abdul Hamid & Heesup Han, 2021. "Towards Making an Invisible Diversity Visible: A Study of Socially Structured Barriers for Purple Collar Employees in the Workplace," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    13. Dušan Drbohlav & Dagmar Dzúrová, 2017. "Social Hazards as Manifested Workplace Discrimination and Health (Vietnamese and Ukrainian Female and Male Migrants in Czechia)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, October.
    14. Thespina Yamanis & Mannat Malik & Ana María Del Río-González & Andrea L. Wirtz & Erin Cooney & Maren Lujan & Ruby Corado & Tonia Poteat, 2018. "Legal Immigration Status is Associated with Depressive Symptoms among Latina Transgender Women in Washington, DC," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, June.
    15. Christopher S. Carpenter & Samuel T. Eppink & Gilbert Gonzales, 2020. "Transgender Status, Gender Identity, and Socioeconomic Outcomes in the United States," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 73(3), pages 573-599, May.
    16. Julie S. Armin & Heather J. Williamson & Andria Begay & Jennifer Etcitty & Agnes Attakai & Kim Russell & Julie A. Baldwin, 2022. "Adapting a Cancer Screening Education Program for Native American Women with Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    17. Peitzmeier, Sarah M. & Wirtz, Andrea L. & Humes, Elizabeth & Hughto, Jaclyn M.W. & Cooney, Erin & Reisner, Sari L., 2021. "The transgender-specific intimate partner violence scale for research and practice: Validation in a sample of transgender women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    18. Bhattacharya, Shamayeta & Ghosh, Debarchana, 2020. "Studying physical and mental health status among hijra, kothi and transgender community in Kolkata, India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    19. Amerikaner, Layne & Yan, Hope Xu & Sayer, Liana C. & Doan, Long & Fish, Jessica N. & Drotning, Kelsey J. & Rinderknecht, R. Gordon, 2023. "Blurred border or safe harbor? Emotional well-being among sexual and gender minority adults working from home during COVID-19," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    20. Webel, Allison R. & Cuca, Yvette & Okonsky, Jennifer G. & Asher, Alice K. & Kaihura, Alphoncina & Salata, Robert A., 2013. "The impact of social context on self-management in women living with HIV," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 147-154.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:165:y:2016:i:c:p:141-149. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.