Beyond the Binary: Quantifying Queer and Trans Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

Sexual exploitation (SE) refers to sex acts imposed without freely given permission. Despite the elevated risk of SE in queer and trans (QT) individuals, existing datasets incorporate few QT individuals, do not disaggregate by sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), and use non-inclusive measures of SE. Recent revisions to the Sexual Experiences Survey-Victimization (SES-V) address many of these limitations by encompassing diverse scenarios of SE and inclusive SOGI measures. This dissertation presents the first use of the revised SES-V to examine SE in QT individuals. Initial prevalence estimates from a national adult QT sample (N = 474) were alarmingly high (overall SE: 95.23%). Logistic regressions determined significant SOGI interactions on SE. However, small cross-tabulated SOGI subgroups precluded full disaggregation. To address this limitation, an augmented QT sample (N=545) was created using QT participants from a national community sample. With the augmented sample, the relationship between SOGI and rape prevalence was assessed as well as correlation between incident-specific characteristics, SOGI, and acts/tactics perpetrated. Rape prevalence varied substantially by agency definition (UN: 68.88%, FBI: 57.83%, CDC: 52.12%), indicating the prevalence of made-to-penetrate acts and coercive tactics in QT individuals. Novel patterns of risk emerged, indicating the importance of intersecting SOGI. Underrepresented SOGI demonstrated some of the highest prevalence, including transwomen and queer cismen. Several significant rape correlates were identified. Next, by utilizing the fully merged QT-only and community sample (N=850), participants were fully disaggregated by SOGI to establish comparative risk in SE prevalence and characteristics. Several significant nuanced associations were observed that contradict previously documented trends, including consistently higher prevalence across forms of SE in bisexual and heterosexual ciswomen compared to lesbian ciswomen. Findings demonstrate that the improved inclusivity in measurement captures a previously hidden SE across SOGI. Data highlight that the common merging of SOGI subgroups obscures patterns that may help illuminate actionable mechanisms of risk. Further, similarities in characteristics across diverse SOGI suggest the role of broader socioecological factors rather than individual-level risk. Future research must focally oversample underrepresented SOGI to produce diverse samples that allow for inclusive disaggregation. Prevention and intervention should be expanded to support diverse SE scenarios and survivor-victims as well as shift towards community-based perpetration prevention rather than victimization behaviors.