(Re)Construction of the body of transgender women: daily search for (in)satisfaction and care?

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the structure and contents of transgender women’s social representations of their bodies and body modification practices. Methods: Research conducted with 92 women using the Snowball technique. The data were collected using the free evocation of words technique and processed by the Evoc software, which organized the central and peripheral elements. Results: The representation of the real body includes two structuring aspects: one related to the need to adapt/modify the body conformation according to the self-reported gender, because of the dissatisfaction with the body itself; the second reveals the happiness/ satisfaction considering the results obtained through the body modification/adaptation practices adopted in the transition. Final considerations: The body is constituted as a complex object and was represented by elements that reinforce the understanding of body modifications as needs, with a view to satisfaction, personal fulfillment, and care of one’s own body.