"Wait, What Is That? A Man or Woman or What?": Trans Microaggressions from Gynecological Healthcare Providers.

Introduction: The present study focuses on the microaggressions that transmasculine individuals are subjected to by their gynecological healthcare providers. While microaggressions have begun to be more frequently studied in the literature, no studies currently exist that examine how they are experienced by trans individuals undergoing gynecological care. Methods: Participants included 131 transmasculine adults who ranged in age from 18 to 49 (M = 27.12, SD = 5.77). Data were collected between January and March of 2020. Results: Results were analyzed via thematic analysis and revealed six data salient themes: (1) systemic erasure of identity, (2) societal parentification of medical providers, (3) environmental microaggressions, (4) trans medicalization, (5) rejection of identity, and (6) educational burdens. Conclusions: Discussion centers on how to use an understanding of microaggressions to improve gynecological care for trans patients. Policy Implications: Through understanding the microaggressions gynecologists perpetuate against trans patients, scholars can develop interventions designed to educate medical providers and implement medical-related policy changes to further protect transmasculine individuals as a marginalized population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]