Men Trapped in Men's Bodies

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 in which men who are attracted to women are also erotically aroused by the idea of being women and sometimes want to undergo sex reassignment and live as women. Men Trapped in Men's Bodies explores the phenomenon of autogynephilia, arguing cogently that it accounts for many cases of male-to-female (MtF) transsexualism in Western countries. The book demonstrates that not all MtF transsexuals conform to the familiar stereotype of women trapped in men's bodies: Many resemble-and even describe themselves as-men trapped in men's bodies. Sometimes at odds with conventional wisdom about the interrelationships of sex, gender, and sexuality, the book examines the manifestations and clinical implications of autogynephilia, based on narratives provided by over 300 autogynephilic MtF transsexuals and transgender persons: stories of shame and confusion, courage and self-acceptance. The final chapter examines current and 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 autogynephilia For researchers who study gender dysphoria, MtF transsexualism, paraphilias, and related conditions, and for clinicians who treat patients with these conditions, Men Trapped in Men's Bodies provides an essential resource for understanding an underappreciated aspect of MtF transsexualism. For MtF transsexuals and transgender persons, as well as their partners, family members, friends, and associates, the book is a welcome new source of information and validation.

• 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.

"In this highly informative book, Lawrence analyzes theory and research on autogynephilia and presents excerpts from a rich array of first-person narratives collected from autogynephilic individuals. ... Her prose is clear, crisp, precise, and facilitates understanding of a complex phenomenon. In sum, Lawrence has written a book that will be of great value to researchers, clinicians, lay people, and, perhaps most importantly of all, to people who experience autogynephilic feelings and desires." (Richard A. Lippa, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 44, 2015)