The weave of care: Trans men and transmasculine people's (dis)encounters with health

• Grant number: 24/16754-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health
• Principal Investigator: Cristiane da Silva Cabral
• Grantee: Guilherme Lamperti Thomazi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This doctoral project aims to examine the care pathways of trans men and transmasculine people, focusing on the interactions and consequences of trans masculinities' (dis)encounters with different dimensions of healthcare. To achieve this, an ethnography will be conducted with trans men and transmasculine individuals. Ethnographic fieldwork will be undertaken in spaces frequented by this population, including: social movement gatherings; transmasculinity-focused events; and a dedicated transgender health service in Porto Alegre. Additionally, I will accompany participants throughout their care-seeking journeys, extending beyond clinical settings. Complementary semi-structured interviews will be conducted both with healthcare professionals experienced in trans healthcare and with trans men and transmasculine individuals themselves. This population faces transphobia - a dehumanising and marginalising force that permeates their lived experiences. This systemic violence intersects with other forms of discrimination, creating significant barriers to healthcare access and adequate care provision. Consequently, it becomes imperative to consider these effects both in health service delivery and in public policy development. This study specifically proposes to: analyse the composition of social support networks and their role in healthcare provision; understand the specific health needs of trans men and transmasculine people, including service access barriers and overcoming strategies; and examine the various actors who constitute, shape, and are shaped by these care pathways. The research will further evaluate care concepts employed by both healthcare professionals and community members, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of how these care trajectories are configured. These pathways may yield significant contributions to trans care studies, transcending the healthcare sector as both a field of knowledge and site of health practice production. (AU)