Institutional Violence Perpetrated Against Transgender Individuals in Brazilian Healthcare Services: A Conceptual Analysis Based on Foucault’s Microphysics of Power

Gilberto da Cruz Leal (), José Nildo de Barros Silva-Júnior, Quézia Rosa Ferreira, Thomas Oliveira Silva, Lícia Kellen de Almeida Andrade, Ana Luíza Brasileiro Nato Marques Assumpção, Mônica Cristina Ribeiro Alexandre d’Auria de Lima, Jaqueline Garcia de Almeida Ballestero, Inês Fronteira and Pedro Fredemir Palha
Additional contact information
Gilberto da Cruz Leal: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil
José Nildo de Barros Silva-Júnior: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Quézia Rosa Ferreira: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Thomas Oliveira Silva: School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
Lícia Kellen de Almeida Andrade: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Ana Luíza Brasileiro Nato Marques Assumpção: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Mônica Cristina Ribeiro Alexandre d’Auria de Lima: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Jaqueline Garcia de Almeida Ballestero: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Inês Fronteira: Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, NOVA University Lisbon, 1600-407 Lisbon, Portugal
Pedro Fredemir Palha: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-902, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Institutional violence against transgender individuals in healthcare is a structural phenomenon with multifactorial roots and is embedded in social, cultural, political, and economic dynamics. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concept of the microphysics of power, this study analyzes how such violence unfolds within Brazil’s healthcare system. For Foucault, power is not solely exercised through centralized institutions but is diffuse and present in everyday practices, relationships, and discourses. Institutional violence, while often manifesting in individual acts, is defined by its persistence and systematic occurrence over time. In healthcare settings, this violence assumes symbolic, structural, psychological, and physical forms ranging from neglect and verbal abuse to sexual violence. Foucault’s framework allows for a deeper understanding of how power relations perpetuate exclusionary and dehumanizing practices. By interpreting these dynamics through the Microphysics of Power, the study reveals that institutional violence against transgender individuals extends beyond explicit acts, encompassing routine interactions that reproduce inequality and restrict access to fundamental rights such as healthcare. These practices sustain a logic of control and exclusion that operates subtly but effectively within healthcare systems, reinforcing the marginalization of trans people and undermining their right to dignified and equitable care.

Keywords: transgender persons; violence; health services; health services for transgender persons; gender-based violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/11/1655/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/11/1655/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:11:p:1655-:d:1784217

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().