Voice and Vocal Support: Perceptions and Experiences of Transfeminine People Living in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile | Revista Chilena de Fonoaudiología
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Voice and Vocal Support: Perceptions and Experiences of Transfeminine People Living in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile

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2025: Perspectivas críticas, experiencias, afectos y comunicación de personas género-disidentes
https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-4692.2025.79621
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Abstract

Research on voice and vocal companion for transfeminine people has traditionally been framed within binary, cis-normative, and positivist paradigms, primarily focused on alleviating dysphoria. This approach limits a broader understanding of the relationship between voice, identity, and gender expression. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of transfeminine people residing in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile, regarding voice and vocal companion. A descriptive phenomenological methodology was employed through in-depth online interviews with seven adult transfeminine participants (four binary and three non-binary), each with varying experiences of vocal companion. A narrative analysis was conducted to examine the lived experiences of the participants. The findings reveal that participants’ vocal and communicative needs are shaped by cis-heteronormative binary norms within the sociocultural context, often generating stress and hypervigilance that can negatively impact their relationship with their voice and their decisions around gender expression. Vocal companion is perceived as a tool for achieving greater communicative well-being; however, it may become a source of stress if trans people are not provided with a safe space for exploring identity. There is a need for specialized training for speech-language therapists that is affirmative, person-centered, and culturally sensitive.

Keywords:

Gender-Diverse People , Gender Identity , Minority Stress , Microaggressions in Health Care , Culturally Sensitive Practices
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How to Cite
Saldías-O’Hrens, M., Junge, P., Fuenzalida-Sandoval, M. I., Hicks, J., Rey-Cortés, J., & Belmar-Prieto, J. (2025). Voice and Vocal Support: Perceptions and Experiences of Transfeminine People Living in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile. Revista Chilena De Fonoaudiología, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-4692.2025.79621
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