Administering gender: Trans men’s sexual and reproductive challenges in Argentina

Abstract

Background There is dearth of experiential information about transgender men’s sexual and reproductive rights needs and challenges in Argentina, a country that passed the first, and then most comprehensive, Gender Identity Law. Local rules, and administrative, social service, and medical policies fail to meet the transformative scope of the law, thus, creating a tension between trans identity recognition, and medical services. Aims This study aimed to illustrate Argentinean trans men’s challenges with the medical and healthcare system, when seeking to become pregnant, in prenatal care, or when needing an abortion. Methods This study sought to counter exploitative research engagement on potentially vulnerable populations. It did so through examining newspaper coverage of trans men’s self-representation. Following online media searches, the authors identified three trans men’s public narratives about accessing medical services. The authors utilized thematic analysis to develop themes based on the men’s accounts of experiences related to administrative violence. Results Themes developed focused on (mis)gendering by medical staff, either inadvertently or intentionally, as well as the layers of institutional violence lived by the trans men vis a vis the laws and public policies already in place. Discussion The paper closes by discussing implications for clinical services. It seeks to question implementations that center cisgender experiences, in order to take into account other identities, bodies and experiences.