Quote from: Kreuzfidel on February 10, 2013, 08:05:00 PM
The best way to stop feeling self-conscious about it is to push past "being shy" and tell her you are a man and for her to please refrain from calling you "girl". Taking responsibility for your own happiness isn't easy and neither is living life as a transgender person, but at the end of the day only you can control allowing things to remain the same or deciding to be proactive about changing the things that make you uncomfortable.
This^
If you've changed your name at the gym, just wave your membership card under her nose and say "does this look like a girl's name to you?". If not, get the manager to change your name. And then wave your card under her nose. Humour works a treat.
I also stopped shaving my legs & armpits a couple of months ago. Which is fine, since it's currently winter here... but I was dreading going to the gym and showing off my hairy legs in shorts. So you know what I did?
I went to the gym and showed off my hairy legs in shorts. And it felt
wonderful. Like any other changes you make to your life during your transition, it gets easier every time you do it until it's just business as usual.
I don't need other people's permission (or consent) to be myself. If anyone wants to give me the stinkeye or make a comment, I'm quite happy to tell them I'm a dude and ask them just what they think their problem is.
Gym was one of the things that really brought my dysphoria to a head. I couldn't stand using the women's changing rooms. I don't know what it's like where you are, but British women tend to walk around naked in the communal areas of their locker rooms. It's very weird for me (as a South African) to see this and I find it quite offensive. Seeing all those naked women just reinforced for me how much I don't belong amongst them. Oh, and they also chat
a lot, about social stuff like most girls do. Used to drive me up the wall.
Still, I can't use the men's changing rooms at least until I have top surgery. So I went to my gym manager and asked for his assistance. Y'know what? He's gay, so he's aware of LGBT issues... and was super-understanding. He arranged for me to have access to the disabled changing room, so I don't have to hang around with women. He also helped me change my name on the gym's records and arranged a new membership card in the correct name. He then told his senior staff that all of his employees are to treat me with dignity & respect or they'll be out on their ears.
Just be yourself. Nobody else can do it for you.
