So I'm still trying to hone in on maleness and femaleness in people's perceptions of me (people that don't know me that is) so I thought I'd post some of what I've figured out as I imagine there are more guys out there who get pegged as female out and about even when they're not going for that.
1) More older people (and I'm talking like 60 or over) seem to acknowledge me as male. Maybe like a 60/40 split - depends on what I'm wearing it seems too. My best guess for this is that maybe older people are just more used to older ways of thought? Like back in the days when less women would wear men's clothes? I'm reaching ... still trying to theorize on that. Could be they have worse eyesight? lol
2) Even though many guys wear skinny jeans I feel that a lot of people see those on me and see that I'm short and just think female for some reason. I mean if they really look close it might be different (I do have a noticeable "bulge" that I don't think most women have lol).
3) Face ... this one I'm not so sure about. I've had many people tell me I look male, but then just as many people address me as female out and about. Still trying to figure that one out. Only thing I can come up with is that I don't shave (well, I do but I have annoying under-chin scruff that no one can really see anyway).
4) Height ... I already mentioned height on #2 but I think it's definitely a factor. Even though when I'm out I usually notice there are a handful of guys my size. I think so many people just inherently think males are larger and females are smaller.
5) Younger people often take me as male in certain situations. Example - I'm at a concert, I meet up with a friend of mine who has brought along her girl friend I've never met in person. She introduces me (with my male name) and the friend thinks nothing unusual and just treats me like any other guy the rest of the evening. I also used the mens toilet and talked to some other people and they just dealt with me as male. I'm usually able to pick up on when someone hesitates or thinks there's something odd, but didn't get that there. It could be younger people are just more open minded (and the fact there were a ton of hot guys there that were rockin longer hair, skinny jeans, etc lol)
6) Kids - most kids acknowledge me as male. I've almost never had a small kid address me as female. My theory on this is that really young kids have not developed all those nuances of determining gender in someone ... they have a more basic view ... probably something like, is that person more like mom or more like dad?
7) I've had some interesting experiences when having to show my ID places. Mostly retail places where I'm paying with my card and they ask to check my ID although the last time something interesting happened was at the DMV. I was renewing my registration and the guy asked for ID and looked at it, then looked at me and said, "this is you?" I do get a number of double takes. I know sometimes people are just looking at IDs quickly to see if the name matches the card or if I look the same.
8 ) Mannerisms - I have had many people say I do not walk, sit or have other mannerisms that are like a female. So I think it's other factors that are going into people's gender determination with me.
9) Voice - yeah, I don't have a really deep voice. But I don't have a really girlie voice either. I'd say it's on the high range of male and on occasion I can change the pitch if I feel like it ... usually I don't.
I've also found that in the rare case where I'm with one of my friends who really knows me and I am introduced as male to someone else they don't seem weirded out. Like I said I can usually pick up on something if they are (and there have been people who have put out that vibe) which I also find interesting. Much like anyone who's going stealth if you are originally introduced with a male name, etc. then people just deal with that. It might change their perception just with that introduction as well. Like people who might have been wondering, then go in their head, "oh ok ... male".
