Ramos-Pibernus Alíxida G, Rodríguez-Madera Sheilla L, Padilla Mark, Varas-Díaz Nelson, Vargas Molina Ricardo
a Department of Social Science , University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus , San Juan , Puerto Rico.
b Global and Sociocultural Studies , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
Glob Public Health. 2016 Aug-Sep;11(7-8):966-80. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2016.1180703. Epub 2016 May 4.
Public health research among transgender populations globally has primarily focused on HIV/AIDS. However, trans men remain outside of this conceptual framework, with distinct but overlapping social contexts and needs. In Puerto Rico (PR), the trans men population has remained largely hidden within the 'butch' lesbian community. The objective of this article is to document the identity construction of trans men and 'buchas' (local term to refer to butch lesbians) in PR and its relation to their bodily practices and overall health. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study with 29 trans men and buchas based on ethnographic observation, focus groups, audio-recorded in-depth interviews, and critical discourse analysis. Findings emphasise two domains to be addressed by health policies and initiatives: (1) bodily representations and gender performance, and (2) the meanings of female biological processes. This small-scale ethnographic study represents an initial step towards understanding the social context of this 'invisible' community and significant implications for their health and well-being. We provide several recommendations to address public health concerns of this understudied, marginalised community.
全球跨性别群体中的公共卫生研究主要聚焦于艾滋病毒/艾滋病。然而，跨性别男性仍处于这一概念框架之外，他们有着独特但又相互重叠的社会背景和需求。在波多黎各，跨性别男性群体很大程度上一直隐匿于“布查”（当地对阳刚女同性恋者的称呼）女同性恋群体之中。本文的目的是记录波多黎各跨性别男性和“布查”群体的身份建构及其与他们身体实践和整体健康的关系。我们基于人种志观察、焦点小组、录音深度访谈和批判性话语分析，对29名跨性别男性和“布查”进行了一项探索性定性研究。研究结果强调了健康政策和倡议需要关注的两个领域：（1）身体表征和性别表现，以及（2）女性生理过程的意义。这项小规模的人种志研究是迈向理解这个“隐形”群体社会背景的第一步，对他们的健康和幸福有着重要意义。我们提供了若干建议，以解决这个研究不足的边缘化群体的公共卫生问题。
