title: Body image in transgender young people: Findings from a qualitative, community based study.
abstract: The goal of this study was to examine the ways in which transgender youth experience their bodies with regard to gender and body size. Ninety transgender youth and young adults completed in-depth interviews in eight metropolitan areas of the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Using a queer perspective, qualitative analyses revealed two broad conceptual categories: body dissatisfaction and body satisfaction. Within these categories, participants focused on body issues related to gender characteristics and body size. Findings revealed evidence of self-criticism and social distress related to body image dissatisfaction and self-acceptance and social acceptance related to body image satisfaction. Data demonstrated how gender, body size, and the intersection of gender and body size influenced personal perceptions of body dissatisfaction and satisfaction. Developmental processes were evident: participants further along in consolidating a gender identity described gaining a sense of social awareness, self-acceptance, and body satisfaction reflecting a sense of resilience.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States. Electronic address: jmcguire@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Jenifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States. Electronic address: dotyx093@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States. Electronic address: catal026@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Jory M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Catalpa
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, 2012 Skagit Lane, Miller Hall Box 353600, Seattle, WA 98195-3600, United States.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D049628:Body Size; D002170:Canada; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Body image; Body satisfaction; Gender dissociation; Transgender youth