Men Trapped in Men's Bodies

There are few topics in sex research as compelling and confounding to researchers, clinicians, and the general public as that of transsexualism. Upending normative notions of gender, eroticism, and identity, it poses significant scientific and clinical challenges. The book addresses a fascinating and largely unexplored topic within the study of transsexualism: The feelings and desires of conventionally masculine men who are attracted to women yet want to become women themselves. Through a collection and discussion of vivid first-person narratives, the book provides an in-depth examination of these men's unusual propensity to be sexually aroused by the thought of themselves as women and how these men's sexual feelings influence their decisions to seek or undergo sex reassignment. These narratives about autogynephilia by autogynephilic male-to-female (MtF) transsexuals provide the first comprehensive documentation of the erotic ideation that underlies the most common form of MtF transsexualism. The narratives provide empirical evidence for Blanchard's theory of MtF transsexual motivation, and thus are of interest to researchers and theorists studying the phenomenology of MtF transsexualism. The narratives are likely to be eye-opening to psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, and other professionals who work with MtF transsexuals: Most clinicians probably do not fully appreciate the erotic underpinnings of their clients' condition. A better understanding of their clients' autogynephilic feelings and motivations would enable these professionals to provide more empathetic and effective clinical care.   

“In this highly informative book, Lawrence analyzes theory and research on autogynephilia and presents excerpts from a rich array of first-person narratives collected from autogynephilic individuals. … Her prose is clear, crisp, precise, and facilitates understanding of a complex phenomenon. In sum, Lawrence has written a book that will be of great value to researchers, clinicians, lay people, and, perhaps most importantly of all, to people who experience autogynephilic feelings and desires.” (Richard A. Lippa, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 44, 2015)

As a child, he played with trucks and action figures and wanted to be a firefighter. As a youth, he began dressing up in his mother's clothes and becoming sexually aroused. When he started dating, he dreamed of being his girlfriends. "What am I?" he asked his therapist. "A transsexual? A transvestite? Something else?" This vignette describes a man who experiences autogynephilia: a paraphilic disorder in which men who are attracted to women are also erotically aroused by the idea of being women and sometimes want to undergo sex reassignment and live as women. Men Trapped in Men's Bodies explores the phenomenon of autogynephilia, arguing cogently that it accounts for many cases of male-to-female (MtF) transsexualism in Western countries. The book demonstrates that not all MtF transsexuals conform to the familiar stereotype of women trapped in men's bodies: Many resemble-and even describe themselves as-men trapped in men's bodies. Sometimes at odds with conventional wisdom about the interrelationships of sex, gender, and sexuality, the book examines the manifestations and clinical implications of autogynephilia, based on narratives provided by over 300 autogynephilic MtF transsexuals and transgender persons: stories of shame and confusion, courage and self-acceptance. The final chapter examines current and possible future treatment options for autogynephilic gender dysphoric men. Included in this important volume are: * Narratives by autogynephilic transsexuals * Developmental histories of autogynephilic transsexuals * Descriptions of different types of autogynephilia * Autogynephilia's relationship to heterosexuality * Narratives by nontranssexual autogynephiles * Contrasting views of the meaning of autogynephilia For researchers who study gender dysphoria, MtF transsexualism, paraphilias, and related conditions, and for clinicians who treat patients with these conditions, Men Trapped in Men's Bodies provides an essential resource for understanding an underappreciated aspect of MtF transsexualism. For MtF transsexuals and transgender persons, as well as their partners, family members, friends, and associates, the book is a welcome new source of information and validation.