Interpersonal Violence and Passing: Results from a Brazilian Trans-specific Cross-sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Transgender women face disproportionate interpersonal violence.
• Perception of gender identity, or 'passing', may influence violence experiences.
• Understanding factors influencing violence is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-reported passing and interpersonal violence among trans women.
• To analyze how perceived gender presentation impacts experiences of different violence types.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study (EVAS) of 121 trans women in Rio de Janeiro (2019-2020).
• Data collected on demographics, passing, and experiences of family, police, and public space violence.
• Statistical analysis to determine associations between passing and violence prevalence.

Main Results:

• High passing correlated with increased family violence (p = .016).
• High passing associated with decreased observed police violence (p = .012) and lower rates of suffering violence in public spaces.
• Trans women with high passing had 81% lower odds of experiencing public violence more than once.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported passing appears to protect trans women from public space violence but may increase family violence.
• Experiences of violence are complex and influenced by factors like passing and racism.
• Further research is needed to understand and prevent violence against trans women.