Tornar-se homem transexual: as fronteiras do gênero e a performatividade no processo transexualizador.

Abstract

Culturally, as a reproduction of the binary and cisheteronormative language, the gender is taken as an extension of the sex that was read in the people born. Therefore, through what is identified as genitalia will be assigned male or female gender and there will be a pairing between penis/male and vagina/female. Different values, behaviors and social roles will be taught to these two categories considered opposite. This reality is mediated by signs and meanings that will contribute to give a false impression of gender essence, as if the person naturally was born with these characteristics. Although, many existences don’t understand themselves in these binaries molds that scrutinize and control bodies, among them, we have the transsexual people. There is literature shortage that aims to understand the transsexualizing process of the transsexual person, based on they own experiences, which must have be taken off of diagnostic criteria that universalize and pathologize them. Considering the importance of developing more researches in relation to the transsexual men performativity building, the present dissertation takes on as theoretical lens the Butler’s (2003) Theory Performativity and the Semiotic Cultural Psychology. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the following research problem: How is gender performativity characterized in the transsexualization process of transsexual men? For this, the research had as general objective: To comprehend the dynamic of semiotic borders in the in becoming a transsexual man and as specific objectives: 1) Investigate the sigs and meanings sharing by transsexual men about understanding themselves as transexual people; 2) Analyze performative acts in the course of becoming a transsexual man and 3) Discuss tension and ambivalence areas that emerge in the semiotic borders facing the transsexualizing process. Two transsexual men of different places participated in this work. The first one from the city of Feira de Santana-BA and the second one from Santo Antônio de Jesus-BA. For data production, it was used as instrument the narrative interview Jovchelovich and Bauer (2002). As evocation resource for the narrative interview was solicited to the participants that bring pictures, objects or any material that were considered important in their transsexualizing process. Furthermore, it was used the adapted dynamic “Meu presente/Meu futuro” by Serrão and Baleeiro (1999, p. 326). To the data collect, were effected two presential meetings and the data analysis were developed into thematic axes. The results indicated that in the transsexual man case, the materialized body by the language didn’t suit the norm in a faithfully, then at the moment it breaks with the hegemonic character, it is noted that there is a gap in this language. This means that, the body during the incessant and parodic repetition of these acts, generates a space that simultaneously becomes the semiotic border permeable to other ways to perform the genders, scaping of the combination penis x male, vagina x female. It can be seen a lack of protagonism in relation to the trans man experience. There is a shortage of literature, public policies, professional qualification and support networks that establish a greater comprehension of these bodies.