Shemales, trannies, ladyboys, S/He's, drag queens, transsexuals and more are all part of a transgendered group who are often misunderstood, especially when they command fascination and attraction from men who identify as heterosexual or bi curious. Seeking out partners and pornography based on bodies that straddle the fence between two accepted sexes is a widespread but perplexing phenomenon. There is even a misconception that men who are attracted to shemales are by definition homosexual. This claim has been disputed, as has use of the word "shemale" because it was coined by the porn industry and is often seen as a derogatory way of describing male bodies with female parts. Many names and definitions are problematic, but it is a place to start when looking at the shemale fetish.

The word "hermaphrodite" comes from two Greek gods, Hermes and Aphrodite. They had a son named Hermaphroditus and he was known for having taken on physical characteristics, including genitals, of both sexes when his body fused with that of a nymph he was in love with (1). In other words, intersex bodies are nothing terribly new. In this culture of duality and rigid binary categories for bodies and lifestyle, the intersex form is fascinating, intriguing and often fetishized. This can be seen in prostitution, pornography and, to a very small degree, mainstream media. There are specific attractions toward hermaphrodites just as there are specific revulsions toward the intersex body. Some are more well-known than others. For example, the shemale (a feminine body with a penis) is better known (not necessarily understood) than the ferm, a female hermaphrodite whose clitoris is large enough to penetrate her partner.

In fact, there are many nuances to the transgendered body. The shemales often referred to and seen in websites, movies and television shows are one form. Some could be people undergoing a gender transition, while others remain the way they are in-between two recognized genders and social worlds. Transvestites are defined as those who adopt the clothing and mannerisms of the opposite sex (2). Surgery or a physical gender transition is not necessarily involved. Cross-dressing is basically the same idea, but it usually means a more temporary practice. Transsexuals are beings who, rather than wishing to dress in clothes of the opposite sex, feel that their own body is not the gender appropriate to their identity (3). What they are experiencing is known as gender dysphoria (4), a dissatisfaction with the sex of their own body and an identification with the opposite sex. As such, if a transsexual was to cross-dress, they would simply be adopting the clothing appropriate to their true existence, rather than dressing and adopting mannerisms of the opposite sex.

The attraction toward transvestites is called either gyandrophilia (5) (according to TransgenderZone.com) or gynadromorphophilia, literally meaning "love of males in the shape of females" (6) (according to Dr. Ray Blanchard). Both sources agree that the attraction is made by heterosexual males toward women with secret or hidden male genitals. Advertising, pornography, prostitution and courtship behaviors suggest that the attraction toward transsexual bodies is a distinct erotic interest and not a disorder or disturbance of another attraction. This bodes well for ladyboy lovers everywhere who might know in their heart of hearts that their attraction to chicks with dicks is more widespread than they might currently believe and that such attractions do not necessarily define homosexual urges.

The medical community is a divided group wherein many pediatricians and surgeons insist on choosing a sex for an intersex baby shortly after birth and impose rigid and bureaucratic obstacles before adults who wish to have gender reassignment surgery. Ironically, the advancement of surgical science and practices has encouraged more rigidity in sex determination than was prevalent in the 1930s when full-scale gender reassignment surgery was not yet possible (7). There is an insistence from the medical community that the intersex child will grow up to be a lonely and isolated person with no possible connection to romantic partnerships. While this may be a legitimate concern, no hard data exists to prove such a claim and, in fact, the testimonials of intersex people from the 1930s suggest the possibility of a full and fulfilling childhood and adult life (8).

The attraction toward transvestites is starting to appear more and more in mainstream culture, though it has a long way to go before it's normalized. "The Crying Game" is an acclaimed drama about a man who falls in love with a transvestite and comes to terms with his emotions. "Transamerica" is another film that depicts the journey of a transsexual woman who is nearing completion of her surgical change when she discovers she has a son from her previous life as a man. Stories like this shed light on some of the varying issues facing members and lovers of the transgendered community. Comedies also bring out some of the issues facing those who are attracted to transgendered bodies. In an episode of "Arrested Development," recurring character Barry Zuckerkorn, played by Henry Winkler, is seen soliciting prostitutes and asks one of them if she is, "One of those silly girls who has a penis." When he finds out she isn't, he drives off, presumably to find a transsexual partner for the night. This is one example of many such scenes where the intersex body is still seen as strange and abnormal, but it's more present and certainly existent than in previous years.

Celebrity culture hasn't ignored the transgendered body and a few well-known icons have emerged to capture our attention. From the time of Billy Tipton (1914-1989) (9), past RuPaul and all the way to Calpernia Addams, the gender-transitioned body is gaining more and more attention. A celebrity dating show wherein a heterosexual man seeks a relationship with a famous transgendered woman ran on Logo from February 11, 2008, to April 7, 2008, called "Transamerican Love Story." (10) The bachelors who appeared on the elimination-style show described themselves as interested specifically in transgendered women. This more public admission on their part could have put them at as much risk for hate and misunderstanding as the objects of their affection. Calpernia Addams' lover from the military was actually killed by other soldiers who were disturbed by his relationship (11).

In the adult entertainment world, websites abound that display men and women who can't get enough of chicks with dicks and men with pussies. The attraction toward shemales by straight men is slightly better known than the attraction to butch male bodies with vaginas, though this is gaining in notoriety. Buck Angel, a masculine performer with a vagina, received the AVN Award for Transsexual Performer of the Year in 2007 (12). All previous winners had been transsexual men.

With a history of violence and deaths caused by doctors refusing to intervene in emergencies, it's not so surprising that the most information to be found about shemales is in the adult world. The fascination toward shemales is only furthered by the seemingly exotic underground world in which these encounters take place. This can put a premium on services offered by prostitutes if they can market themselves as an unusual commodity to people willing to pay for what they want. In Brazil, for example, a whole community of prostitutes find themselves able to demand more than straight male or female and gay male or female prostitutes. Prostitution for them is not only a way of making money, but also

"a source of pleasurable and reaffirming experiences. Furthermore, prostitution provides [transvestites] with one of the few arenas open to them in Brazilian society for receiving compliments and accolades. Prostitution makes individual [transvestites] feel sexy and attractive. It is one of the only contexts they have in which they can experience themselves as tantalizing objects of desire and develop a sense of self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem." (13)

So what makes the gender-ambiguous body so attractive? It hasn't clearly been defined yet, but blogs and forums abound where straight and bi-curious men talk about how hot they get watching cocks and balls bounce back and forth when a shemale takes an ass pounding and photos of men giving blowjobs to obviously dominant shemales are all over porn sites everywhere. One notable blog, Ladyboy Fetish (14), identifies the attraction the author has to ladyboys and continues with reviews of websites and links to other sexually explicit shemale destinations. The nature of the attraction isn't discussed, it is simply a given, as unnecessary to explain as the more accepted attraction many straight men have to women's breasts. T-girl forums (15) are a place where transsexuals and lovers of transsexuals can interact with each other online. Threads discussing performances, favorite stars, dating, advice and more are all discussed, without ever touching on the "why" of the attraction.

While nonreflexive, this is a distinctly normalized way of experiencing a fun and subversive fetish. There might not be a specific "why" to men seeking ladyboys, but simply acknowledging the attraction and delving further into the various types of action, body types, scenarios and more is a big step in validating the subtle and differing needs of many people. Passion for females with male genitals is growing and gyandrophilia is becoming more and more prominent in current sexual culture. The shemale fetish continues to grow and the spectrum of intersex bodies is becoming more and more nuanced. After all, every body needs some body sometime.

1. transgenderzone.com/glossary, Jan 2009

2. transgenderzone.com/glossary, Jan 2009

4. transgenderzone.com/glossary, Jan 2009

5. Men with Sexual Interest in Transvestites, Transsexuals, and She-Males

6. The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female are Not Enough, March 1993

7. The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female are Not Enough, March 1993

8. Transexualism, Jan 2009

9. Transamerican Love Story

10. Calpernia Addams

11. TransexualMan.com

12. Travesti: Sex, Gender and Culture among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes, Kulick, 1998

13. Ladyboy Fetish

14. tgirlforums.com


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