The invisible face of the rainbow: A phenomenological study on sex worker transsexual individuals

The aim of this study is to determine the experiences and opinions of sex worker transsexual individuals about the problems they face. Phenomenological approach (phenomenology) pattern, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. In order to collect data, an introductory information form consisting of 1 open-ended question and 12 closed-ended questions and a semi-structured in-depth interview form consisting of 10 open-ended questions were used. Data analysis was performed by using content analysis method using MAXQDA 2018 program. 10 transgender sex worker women aged 20-44 years. While 5 of the participants had a high school education, one was primary school and 4 were university graduates.6 people answered less than income and 2 people stated that income was more than expenses and 2 people stated that income and expenditure were equivalent. Of the 10 individuals interviewed, 6 benefit from general health insurance and 3 benefit from private health insurance. 1 person has no health insurance. In this study, trans sex workers are presented to the reader under three top themes. Among these top themes, "Secrets of the Rainbow" aims to reveal the life experiences that individuals accumulate with their transsexual identities both in relation to sex work and as sexual orientations, and as a result of these experiences their perception of themselves and the environment. Under the theme of rainbow secrets, there are sub-themes of sexual identity perception, acceptance, self-perception, and social environment perception. The themes of the codes describing the problems they experienced in all these processes and the top theme in which they were collected were expressed as 'The Other Side of the Coin". Under the theme of the Other Side of the Coin, there are sub-themes of Working Conditions, Violence, Othering, Homophobia, Stigmatization and Discrimination. Finally, their use of health services, their perceptions of sexually transmitted infections, and their views on alcohol and drug use were gathered under the theme of "Their Health".Sub-themes that emerged under the theme of their health were sexually transmitted infection perception, alcohol, drug use and health service perception. As a result, in this study, life experiences of sex worker transsexual individuals and their perception of these problems, the problems they face and their opinions about these problems, and finally the health needs and the status of benefiting from the health services are presented as a phenomenon. So far, studies in this area are not sufficient for systematic data. Especially in the field of nursing, the number of studies on sex worker and transsexual individuals is at the level to be counted with fingers. Increasing the studies in this field will increase the social consciousness. Key Words: Transsexual, Sex Work, Phenomenological Research, Health