The first volume extensively to document the feelings and experiences of autogynephilic male-to-female transsexuals in their own words, this work offers a compelling and novel theoretical perspective on one of the most challenging topics in sexual psychology.

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.

First to document extensively the feelings and experiences of autogynephilic male-to-female transsexuals in their own words Elucidates and largely validates one theory of transsexual motivation proposed in the academic literature, a theory that heretofore has lacked strong empirical support First to address comprehensively autogynephilic eroticism as motivation driving sex reassignment Addresses and explicates many of the controversial theories and conjectures proposed in the academic literature Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

"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 inwhich men who are attracted to women are also erotically aroused by the idea of beingwomen and sometimes want to undergo sex reassignment and live as women. "Men""Trapped in Men's Bodies "explores the phenomenon of autogynephilia, arguing cogentlythat it accounts for many cases of male-to-female (MtF) transsexualism in Westerncountries. The book demonstrates that not all MtF transsexuals conform to the familiarstereotype of women trapped in men's bodies: Many resemble and even describethemselves as men trapped in men's bodies. Sometimes at odds with conventionalwisdom about the interrelationships of sex, gender, and sexuality, the book examinesthe manifestations and clinical implications of autogynephilia, based on narrativesprovided by over 300 autogynephilic MtF transsexuals and transgender persons: storiesof shame and confusion, courage and self-acceptance. The final chapter examines currentand 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 autogynephiliaFor researchers who study gender dysphoria, MtF transsexualism, paraphilias, andrelated conditions, and for clinicians who treat patients with these conditions, "Men""Trapped in Men's Bodies "provides an essential resource for understanding an underappreciatedaspect of MtF transsexualism. For MtF transsexuals and transgender persons, as well as their partners, family members, friends, and associates, the book is a welcomenew source of information and validation.

Inhalt
Men Trapped in Men's Bodies.- Theory and Case Histories.- Narratives by Autogynephilic Transsexuals.- Confronting Autogynephilia.- Developmental Histories.- Manifestations of Autogynephilia.- Autogynephilia and Heterosexuality.- Sex with Men.- Other Aspects of Autogynephilic Sexuality.- Debating the Meaning of Autogynephilia.- Narratives by Nontranssexual Autogynephiles.- Autogynephilic Transsexualism in Perspective.