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Autogynephilia: Blanchard's theory and its critics

Autogynephilia (AGP) is Ray Blanchard's term for sexual arousal in biological males at the thought or image of themselves as a woman. The concept is contested: some studies support Blanchard's typology, others criticise its method and conclusions.

Definition and classification

Ray Blanchard introduced the term in 1989 on the basis of a study of 212 adult male-to-female transsexuals: those not sexually attracted to men more often reported sexual arousal at the fantasy of being a woman than the homosexual group did (source). According to Blanchard, transvestism and the non-homosexual forms of gender dysphoria in males share this element (source). See Blanchard typology .

Empirical evidence

• In a questionnaire study of 232 patients of one surgeon, 49% reported hundreds of episodes or more of sexual arousal to cross-dressing or cross-gender fantasy (autogynephilia) before surgery (Lawrence 2005) (source).
• In a Dutch study (Smith et al. 2005, n=187), non-homosexual transsexuals reported a weaker cross-gender identity in childhood than homosexual transsexuals (source).
• In a Dutch study of 162 adults (Smith et al. 2005), homosexual transsexuals functioned better after treatment in many respects than non-homosexual ones; non-homosexual applicants with much psychopathology and body dissatisfaction reported the worst outcomes (source).
• Nuttbrock et al. (2011, n=571, New York) found large differences in transvestic fetishism between homosexual and non-homosexual trans women, but also differences within the non-homosexual group, contrary to Blanchard (source).

Why this is such a sensitive issue

The concept touches on the question of what gender identity is: Blanchard argues that erotic motives play a large role in non-homosexual trans women. Bailey, who popularised Blanchard's theory in The Man Who Would Be Queen (2003), outraged some trans activists; a few trans women worked to try to ruin him. Alice Dreger (2008) documented that history (source). There is also substantive criticism: Moser (2010) concludes that autogynephilia exists but that the theory is flawed (source), and Moser (2009) found that 93% of 29 women had at some point felt erotic arousal at the thought or image of themselves as a woman (source). See publication bias and intimidation .

Clinical implications

Smith et al. (2005) conclude that the distinction between homosexual and non-homosexual transsexuals seems theoretically and clinically meaningful and that the more vulnerable non-homosexual group may benefit from additional guidance (source). The assessment relies heavily on self-reporting , without any biological marker .

Societal implications

Blanchard's typology distinguishes two groups. By lumping both groups under a single "trans woman" label and dismissing criticism as transphobia, any serious policy debate about what a "trans woman" actually is is rendered impossible. See also biological sex and sex versus gender .