Reaffirming Womanhood: Young Transwomen and Online Sex Work in the Philippines

Abstract

Transpinays or Filipina transwomen are vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination. In this chapter, I explore how young transwomen confront adulthood in a society that lacks support mechanisms for individuals who do not conform to gender roles and argue that discrimination leads young transwomen to commit crime to find love and plan a future outside the Philippines. This work focuses on young transwomen who engage with online sex work. From youth to adulthood, I analyse the life histories of two transpinays and reflect on the case of Jennifer Laude to show how sisterhood and family ties influence life decisions of young transwomen. I conclude that first, while there is no institutional support for young transwomen, their social networks provide them with information and strategies that are necessary for their emotional wellbeing. Second, families of young transwomen show care by being open to the idea that their sons will be coming back home as daughters (after sex reassignment surgery), and possibly with a male partner. Lastly, young transwomen engage in online sex work not just to fulfil their economic needs, but because it offers them an opportunity to meet potential life partners that see, treat, and love them as women.