Transgender women and physical activity: Fabricating the female body

Abstract

This paper discusses the relationship between physical activity and the process of “fabricating” the female body by transsexual women. Ten trans women participated in this study. They answered a socioeconomic questionnaire and took part in a semi-structured interview. The information gathered was analyzed based on Bicudo’s phenomenological proposal1. The research participants’ reports show that some trans women practice physical activities for acquiring increased gluteal and leg muscle mass and get six-pack abs. The results also show that those who do not work out indicate the following reasons: being afraid of masculinizing their body and/or having suffered prejudice.