Why Trans Women Sexualize Themselves?

Dr. Z answers a question that both trans folks and cisgender people ask frequently: why do trans women, especially older trans women, tend to sexualize themselves? Many trans women struggle with shame and guilt for expressing themselves in more sexual and sensual ways.

Sexualizing yourself essentially means an individual feeling sexual, sexy, and sensual about themselves and externalizing and expressing that part through how they carry themselves, talk, or present themselves in an alluring way. The definition of what constitutes sexy is subjective and individual.

The primary answer: why not sexualize yourself? What type of individual on this planet who starts feeling really good about their physicality, confident about their body—especially reaching a point when they really like where they're at after previously hating their bodies due to incongruence with core gender identity—isn't going to be enamored by their image in the mirror?

This represents a honeymoon period where trans women fall in love with themselves for the first time, learning about their femininity, adjusting based on who they are. The critical question: why is it permissible for cisgender women like Marilyn Monroe to show up alluring and sexy, but not for trans women?

Watch to understand this essential period in trans women's lives and why shame has no place here.