Susan's Place Logo

News:

According to Google Analytics 25,259,719 users made visits accounting for 140,758,117 Pageviews since December 2006

Main Menu

What to do when passing isn't the problem..

Started by KamTheMan, October 26, 2011, 02:33:36 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

KamTheMan

First off, I'm AFAB. I'm 6'3, deep voice, tiny chest, and strictly wear male clothes. I do not look female. These days people don't suspect I'm female when I tell them my very girly name. They just assume my parents were ->-bleeped-<-s. Only thing I could do besides wearing girls clothes (no way) or makeup (no thank you) is by putting on a normal bra that makes my chesticles stick out. Which just feels weird. So what do I do? In a way I'm forced to navigate the world as male whether I like it or not. Until I have to get to know someone at all and then I have to inform them that I'm a girl. It's weird. I can't figure out if I personally WANT to transition or if my look just makes it seem so, and I'm just sort of adapting to the situation.. Thoughts? Do I sound nuts?


  •  

ativan

If your lucky, you may start finding things about yourself that you like. As these grow, so should your confidence.
One day, out the clear blue, you'll get yourself and won't care what others think. Be You, and you only.

Ativan
  •  

Sevan

Well...what is it you'd like? What would make you truely happy? Who are you on the inside? Let's start there.
I'm also the spouse to the fabulous Mrs. Cynthialee.


  •  

kyril

Well...do you want people to know that you're female? A lot of butch women have this problem, to varying degrees, of just wanting to be themselves and be recognized as female, but running up against societal stereotypes of gender that cause people to identify them as male. I'm not exactly sure how they navigate it, but they do. I'd suggest that if you want people who know you well to know that you're female, transition is most likely the wrong way to go.

Where do you live? Local culture can make a big difference in how we're perceived. For instance, it's bloody near impossible for a pre-T trans guy to 'pass' in San Francisco, because everyone's used to seeing butch dykes everywhere, and is attuned to the subtle physical distinctions rather than going by wardrobe/general body shape. But in e.g. San Jose, wardrobe/body shape is enough to re-gender you. You might be happier living somewhere where there are more people like you so that you have to explain yourself less often.


  •  

the_physicist

i think you should go with what makes you feel comfortable, with what makes you feel most like 'you'. maybe try wearing a bright scarf or feminine necklace or something and see if that changes how people perceive you and if that makes you feel better... or if you felt better the way people perceived you before, but while wearing the outfit you liked most.

then maybe you can judge what's more important to make you feel comfortable.
  •  

Kinkly

If you are living full time as Male then you have socially transitioned If you don't Identify as male then Medical Transition is not likely to make you any happier. If you are happy with your body looking male while you still have female bits then there is no great reason to transition although some binary trans people consider each different step a status lifter (I'm more "real trans" then you because I've done this) pure bull.  What ever you do, do it for you not because that is what  you are supposed to do as a trans guy.
I don't want to be a man there from Mars
I'd Like to be a woman Venus looks beautiful
I'm enjoying living on Pluto, but it is a bit lonely
  •  

KamTheMan

i just wanted to post an extremely late thank you to those who responded. i just don't have much to say because i don't know where my head is at or what sort of response i was looking for in the first place. anyways, thanks again.


  •  

Kareil

Well, if you prefer one gender or set of equipment over another, that might help you pick - if you live in a very homophobic area, and you like men, you may find it easier to pass yourself off as a straight woman than a gay man, for the time being.  If your attraction's not so binary, consider whether you love your partners like a man does or more like a woman.  If that doesn't narrow anything down, or you're aromantic asexual, well it *is* a cheat, it's not guaranteed to work for everyone. 

Consider whether you'd rather be called "uncle" or "aunt" if you're sure you never want kids so you couldn't tell whether you'd rather be a mom or a dad - never know what your relatives might do.  Consider that the lines in the men's bathrooms are shorter, but the women's are usually cleaner.  Consider that, if you pass now, and change your name, you'll receive all the career benefits that come with being male, with fewer worries than most transguys about people checking for references or documentation with the other name - they'll immediately understand *why* you changed it, and if someone else "she"s you, they'd likely assume the person on the other end mismatched the name and the face unless they clarify with "No, that tall guy with the woman's name".

I'm not even necessarily talking about medical transition, since it sounds like you could get most of what you needed, as far as situations that don't involve taking your clothes off go, with a name change to a unisex or male name, and a "yes, I'm a guy" when people ask.  And I suppose a doctor's letter for travel or anywhere else they're going to get picky about the gender matching the presentation, just to be sure.  It doesn't work for you, no permanent harm done.
  •