Editing Objectification (section)

== Intersectionality and transgender experiences ==
[[Sexual objectification]] experiences can vary according to an individual's [[Intersectionality|intersectional]] identity markers.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last1=Flores|first1=Mirella J.|last2=Watson|first2=Laurel B.|last3=Allen|first3=Luke R.|last4=Ford|first4=Mudiwa|last5=Serpe|first5=Christine R.|last6=Choo|first6=Ping Ying|last7=Farrell|first7=Michelle|date=April 2018|title=Transgender people of color's experiences of sexual objectification: Locating sexual objectification within a matrix of domination.|url=http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/cou0000279|journal=Journal of Counseling Psychology|language=en|volume=65|issue=3|pages=308–323|doi=10.1037/cou0000279|pmid=29672081|s2cid=5002128|issn=1939-2168|via=|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Utilizing an intersectional approach can deepen the understandings of objectification constructs pertaining to transgender identities.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last1=Paisley|first1=Varina|last2=Tayar|first2=Mark|date=2016-04-11|title=Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) expatriates: an intersectionality perspective|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09585192.2015.1111249|journal=The International Journal of Human Resource Management|language=en|volume=27|issue=7|pages=766–780|doi=10.1080/09585192.2015.1111249|s2cid=154433491|issn=0958-5192|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Transgender individuals experience unique challenges during the interpretation of their identity.<ref name=":6" />

Mirella Flores argues that prior explorations into the topic of objectification have been primarily focused on the experiences of [[cisgender]] people.<ref name=":02" /> [[Transgender]] individuals have been excluded from the discourse of objectification as their expressed gender has been historically invalidated.<ref name=":02" /> For example, the traditional [[heteronormativity]] displayed in the field of psychology has previously enabled the conceptualization of gender non-conformity as a mental disorder.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lev|first=Arlene Istar|date=September 2013|title=Gender Dysphoria: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10615-013-0447-0|journal=Clinical Social Work Journal|language=en|volume=41|issue=3|pages=288–296|doi=10.1007/s10615-013-0447-0|s2cid=144556484|issn=0091-1674|via=|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Furthermore, representations of transgender individuals in the media have portrayed them as comic relief, perpetuating [[transphobia]], and further [[Social stigma|stigmatizing]] transgender individuals.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rood|first1=Brian A.|last2=Reisner|first2=Sari L.|last3=Puckett|first3=Jae A.|last4=Surace|first4=Francisco I.|last5=Berman|first5=Ariel K.|last6=Pantalone|first6=David W.|date=2017-10-02|title=Internalized transphobia: Exploring perceptions of social messages in transgender and gender-nonconforming adults|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15532739.2017.1329048|journal=International Journal of Transgenderism|language=en|volume=18|issue=4|pages=411–426|doi=10.1080/15532739.2017.1329048|s2cid=148773063|issn=1553-2739|url-access=subscription}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Baptista|first1=Maria Manuel Rocha|last2=Himmel|first2=Rita Ilse Pinto de Loureiro|date=September 2016|title='For Fun': (De) Humanizing Gisberta—The Violence of Binary Gender Social Representation|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12119-016-9350-5|journal=Sexuality & Culture|language=en|volume=20|issue=3|pages=639–656|doi=10.1007/s12119-016-9350-5|s2cid=147914363|issn=1095-5143|via=|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Through objectification and social representation, exaggerated body image ideals associated with [[masculinity]] and [[femininity]] encourage the objectification of one's body in order to adhere to these socio-cultural appearance ideals.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last1=Strübel|first1=Jessica|last2=Sabik|first2=Natalie J.|last3=Tylka|first3=Tracy L.|date=2020-12-01|title=Body image and depressive symptoms among transgender and cisgender adults: Examining a model integrating the tripartite influence model and objectification theory|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144520303752|journal=Body Image|language=en|volume=35|pages=53–62|doi=10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.08.004|pmid=32846389|s2cid=221347929|issn=1740-1445|url-access=subscription}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":12" />

The low level of social acceptance of transgender individuals provokes devaluation and stigmatization.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Kosenko|first=Kami A.|date=2010-03-24|title=Contextual Influences on Sexual Risk-Taking in the Transgender Community|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224491003721686|journal=The Journal of Sex Research|volume=48|issue=2–3|pages=285–296|doi=10.1080/00224491003721686|pmid=20336575|s2cid=36872801|issn=0022-4499|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Transgender individuals may internalize societal appearance ideals through body monitoring and comparison in order to legitimize their gender identity.<ref name=":12" /> Some transgender individuals feel as if they must adopt the binary body image and act towards it in order to fit into societal standards.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last1=Brewster|first1=Melanie E.|last2=Velez|first2=Brandon L.|last3=Breslow|first3=Aaron S.|last4=Geiger|first4=Elizabeth F.|date=March 2019|title=Unpacking body image concerns and disordered eating for transgender women: The roles of sexual objectification and minority stress.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cou0000333|journal=Journal of Counseling Psychology|volume=66|issue=2|pages=131–142|doi=10.1037/cou0000333|pmid=30702325|s2cid=73413917|issn=1939-2168|via=|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Objectification ignores [[gender identity]] and categorizes individuals based on the ideal expression of gender which affects transitioned men and transitioned women.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Velez|first1=Brandon L.|last2=Breslow|first2=Aaron S.|last3=Brewster|first3=Melanie E.|last4=Cox|first4=Robert|last5=Foster|first5=Aasha B.|date=October 2016|title=Building a pantheoretical model of dehumanization with transgender men: Integrating objectification and minority stress theories.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cou0000136|journal=Journal of Counseling Psychology|volume=63|issue=5|pages=497–508|doi=10.1037/cou0000136|pmid=27045449|issn=1939-2168|via=|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Objectification becomes a problem and solution for individuals attempting to affirm their gender identity and expression through social recognition.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Sevelius|first=Jae M.|date=2012-09-30|title=Gender Affirmation: A Framework for Conceptualizing Risk Behavior Among Transgender Women of Color|url= |journal=Sex Roles|volume=68|issue=11–12|pages=675–689|doi=10.1007/s11199-012-0216-5|pmid=23729971|issn=0360-0025|pmc=3667985}}</ref> The ideal male physical attractiveness includes the portrayal of muscle and robustness and [[Trans man|transgender men]] can attempt to conform to the standard through compulsive exercise and steroid injection.<ref name=":2" /> [[Trans woman|Transgender women]] experience similar objectification as cisgender women do according to the reduction of one's self to a mere hypersexualized body <ref name=":2" /> Transgender individuals may attempt to affirm their gender identity through illegal practices such as using silicone injections that eventually results in harmful health consequences<ref name=":4" /> Furthermore, transgender individuals may seek gender affirmation through sex work, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.<ref name=":4" /> The discrepancy of appearance (e.g., height and body structure) may impede transgender individuals' alignment with their gender identity and they do not feel as if they fit the social standards even after medical interventions.<ref name=":2" /> Transgender individuals may internalize the negative stereotypes perpetuated through sexual objectification such as "transgender prostitute" which has been found to induce stereotype affirming behaviors.<ref name=":5" /> Internalization of negative stereotypes have been linked to low self-esteem, devaluation, feelings of worthlessness and in the worst case, suicide.<ref name=":5" />