Sexual orientation The term for an individual’s enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/ or opposite sex, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual, straight, orientations. Avoid the term “sexual preference,” which is seen as offensive because it is used to suggest that being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is voluntary and therefore “curable.” People need not have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual orientation; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all. Transgender (adj.) An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms including transgender. Some of those terms are defined below. Use the descriptive term preferred by the person. Many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well but not all transgender people can or will take those steps. A transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures. Transsexual (adj.) An older term that originated in the medical and psychological communities. Still preferred by some people who have permanently changed, or seek to change, their bodies through medical interventions, including but not limited to hormones and or surgeries. Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term. Many transgender people do not identify as transsexual and prefer the word transgender. It is best to ask which term a person prefers. If preferred, use as an adjective: transsexual woman or transsexual man. To create a practice that cares for all clients it must promote an atmosphere that is welcoming, accepting and comfortable regardless of orientation. LGBTQ individuals often experience workplace harassment or discrimination as well as being verbally harassed or disrespected in public includes restaurants, hotels, and even in massage businesses (Haines, 2016). In developing a practice that includes all clients there are important areas that must be avoided including: misgendering, misnaming, making body assumptions, and outing (Haines, 2016). Misgendering Misgendering someone is awkward at best, and potentially dangerous at worst. And it does not just happen to LGBTQ individuals. For example, a woman with facial hair or even just sporting a short hair cut or unisex clothing is enough to get labeled incorrectly. Misgendering on intake forms: In a massage environment, that labeling starts with intake forms. Male or female? For many people, this can feel like being asked if they are an orange or a parakeet and there is no correct answer. How do they respond? The way they look? The reproductive organs they have? What it says on their birth certificate? What it used to say on their birth certificate? A quick fix like an “other” option can go a long way or might consider doing away with the question altogether. Misgendering with pronouns: In English, pronouns for human beings are traditionally limited to only two sets: he/him/his, and she/her/hers. For whatever reason, we feel like gender is so important that it is an inherent part of our grammar, while age, career, and
preferred style of massage are not. In some languages, nobody has gendered pronouns. In other languages everything from chairs to casseroles are assigned a gender. But in any language, being called something you are not would be offensive and hurtful (Haines, 2016). A massage therapist must address the issue of how to address clients appropriately: ● The therapist can ask the person what pronouns they prefer, would be awkward in the beginning, but avoids the worse case scenario of offending the individual. ● The question of pronoun choice can be explored on intake forms or online scheduling. This has the advantage of minimizing in-person awkwardness while communicating that the practice takes respecting people’s gender identities seriously. If a mistake is made, offer a sincere apology, rectify the situation and make sure all the staff is aware of the situation so that it will not happen again. Misnaming Names are intensely personal, and for this reason many individuals select a name that they feel more adequately reflects their gender identity or sexual orientation. This could be similar to their former name or not. It could be distinctly gendered or gender-neutral. It could be a nickname, an invented name or a family name, but regardless, it is the name the client wishes to be called, and so that is the name to use. This might not be the same as the name on the ID or billing information, or on the insurance documents. This must not be considered a problem or addressed in any way that might make the client feel uncomfortable or draw attention from others. It does not matter one bit that Susanna’s bank account says George, any more than it matters that Katie’s says Kathleen. Again, these issues could be addressed on intake or online forms to address any fraud or identity protection, insurance or billing issues without confrontation. This holds true in the treatment room, at the reception desk, over the phone, and in emails. If multiple staff work in the practice, they must all be educated on the appropriate names and pronouns to use. In addition a staff meeting or in-service training should be provided to all staff on the issues addressed in this section (Haines, 2016). Making assumptions about the body Massage therapists are accustomed to asking questions about people’s bodies rather than making assumptions, which is how we avoid bruising the tough-looking client on blood thinners or injuring the dancer with a stress fracture. Similarly, making unwarranted assumptions about people’s bodies based on their gender presentation can be offensive as well as harmful. A few potential pitfalls: ● Assuming that, because someone does not have breasts, that they are comfortable with their chest undraped. ● Assuming that the therapist does not need to navigate around external genitalia, just because the client is a woman. ● Assuming that for example, due to a transgender client’s convincing gender presentation, they must have undergone surgery of various sorts. ● Assuming that techniques that are unsafe during pregnancy are okay, because you assume your client is a man (Haines, 2016). Transgender clients have all the physical issues that other clients have. Some may have a few more and the following are issues to consider:
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