Reflection on Violence Against Transsexual Women

As with most other crimes of violence prior research shows that crimes against transsexual women tend to be committed by young white males (Berrill, 1990; Comstock, 1991; Garofolo & Martin, 1993; Harry, 1992; Martin, 1996; Maxwell & Maxwell, 1995; Messner, McHugh, & Felson, 2004; Tomsen, 2009; Van Der Meer, 2003). In fact, homicides committed against transsexual women tend to have multiple perpetrators when compared to non-transsexual homicides (Martin, 1996; Tomsen, 2009; Van Der Meer, 2003). For perpetrators of transsexual female violence negatively sanctioning transsexual women is an opportunity to brazenly demonstrate masculinity against victims who offenders subjectively presume will not retaliate (Harry, 1992). 

The current social structure of U.S. society promotes hegemonic conceptualization of heterosexuality and sexual prejudice (Herek, 2000; Kimmel, 1997).  Hence, many young white males are obsequious to group norms so by engaging in negative sanctioning behavior towards transsexual women it allows these males to situationally negotiate masculinity and assert their adherence to social norms governing sex role expectations which are valued by their social groups thus, they feel their actions are morally justified (Poteat, Kimmel, & Wilchins, 2011).

References

Berrill, K. T. (1990). Anti-gay violence and victimization in the United States: An overview. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 5: 274-294.

Comstock, G. D. (1991). Violence against lesbians and gay men. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

Garofalo, J., & Martin, S. E. (1993). Bias-motivated crimes: The law enforcement response. Carbondale, IL: Center for the Study of Crime, Delinquency, and Corrections.

Harry, J. (1992). Conceptualizing anti-gay violence. In G. M. Herek, & K. T. Berrill (Eds.), Hate crimes: Confronting violence against lesbians and gay men (pp. 113- 122). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Herek, G. M. (2007). Confronting sexual stigma and prejudice: Theory and practice. Journal of Social Issues, 63(4): 905-925.

Martin, S. E. (1996). Investigating hate crimes: Case characteristics and law enforcement responses. Justice Quarterly, 13: 455-480.

Maxwell, C., & Maxwell, S. R. (1995). Youth participation in hate-motivated crimes: Research and policy implications. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence.

Messner, S., McHugh, S., & Felson, R. (2004). Distinctive characteristics of assaults motivated by bias. Criminology, 42: 585-618.

Poteat, V. P., Kimmel, M. S., & Wilchins, R. (2011). The moderating effects of support for violence beliefs on masculine norms, aggression, and homophobic behavior during adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(2), 434-447.

Tomsen, S. (2009). Violence, prejudice and sexuality. New York, NY: Routledge.

Van Der Meer, T. (2003). Gay bashing: A rite of passage? Culture, Health & Sexuality, 5: 153-165.