The way you walk...

[PepperedIssy]

Okay, I had to ask this! It's been itching at me, and I don't want to ask a cis-guy or something about it, because they may not even have put any thought on the matter before! As someone who is transitioning though, tend to put more thought into what you do! So therefore I ask, how do you walk? Does walking like a big tough guy come naturally, or for those MtF gazing in on this topic, does walking like a smexy lady come naturally? Do you have to fight to walk a certain way, until it becomes habit?

I myself, have to fight to not walk like a girl, though I still do sometimes, and people probably think I am a gigantic flamer, for that very reason. No, I am pretty sure I've been called similar things before, BECAUSE of that.. I've never had the big tough guy walk, or really even a proud walk in general. When I tried to blend, I just sort of slinked behind everybody, kept my gaze down, and sort of shuffled around. Don't think that was masculine nor feminine, just sort of, shuffly.. 

Also, you guys may be able to answer, or girls too maybe, is there really that many signs in the walk? Once I let go, I noticed quite a bit with my own, but unless I want to stare holes through people, I can't observe people walking too much! That and I tend to gaze at girls, and seeing as I am in guy-mode (snazzily dressed, but still guyish .. mostly), I don't think guys appreciate me staring at their girlfriends.. Probably think I am stripping her with my eyes, when I am not! 


Also, is the walk really that important? Some girls may walk in a masculine fashion, and vice versa! Hrm!

[aleon515]

I don't know exactly, but my trans girlfriend cracks me up walking like a man in high heels. I think the walk is looser and somewhat more wide stance, swinging your arms helps. Also be confident. I wouldn't bother wiht the "tough guy" stuff unless that's really who you are.

--Jay

[Beth Andrea]

Yes, I have to be aware of how I walk, but it's becoming more automatic now, to the point where I got an unexpected compliment yesterday "You got the walk, babe!"

I do the "walking like you're on a line", but only to a point (I don't cross my feet in front of me as I move). It's enough to make a sort of hip wiggle. Part of this is the simple fact of geometry--male hips/thighs aren't angled the same as female hips/thighs. Some can walk the way they're "supposed" to (matching gender with appearance), but others will have to practice it.

And there ain't no shame in either.

[Sly]

I'm trying to get out of the habit of doing this, but I kind of walk like a caveman.  Slouchy, arms swinging freely at my sides, kind of a wide swagger.  The slouchy part is the only thing bad about it, I guess.  It comes pretty naturally to me, but when I first started my transition I would always make an effort to make it look even more masculine.  I probably looked ridiculous.  Like, remember that one part in Mulan?

That.

[FTMDiaries]

I've been very self-conscious about the way my physiology affects my walk ever since I was about 10 years old. I happen to have gynaecoid hips, which are the widest, most flaring type of hips that FAAB people can get. This gives my natural walk an exaggerated sway which has always really bothered me, so for the past 30 years I have been deliberately walking with my feet shoulder-width apart to cancel out the sway. It makes my walk look more naturally masculine without looking like a deliberate swagger.

Now that I'm transitioning, I've found that the biggest difference has been in my arm movements. I was trained to keep my arms close to my body, but now I feel free to use them in order to stake my claim to a bit more space. Women's arm movements tend to be self-defensive; men's tend to be more assertive.

[Nygeel]

Honestly, the way I walked changed after T. It's something so slight but I think maybe it has something to do with muscle development? Well, I used to walk with my palms facing towards my body and now I walk with my palms facing back. It's one of those tiny tiny changes that I wasn't aware of until long after I was doing it. Not completely sure if that's T related or if others had something similar happen.

[brainiac]

I've always had stiff hip problems, so I've always walked more like a dude than a lady. I remember my friends making fun of me for standing like a state trooper in my prom pictures (wearing heels and a dress--I was secretly overjoyed that I was perceived as masculine). Now, I'll deliberately try to walk in a more "girly" way sometimes if I'm feeling draggy, but most of the time I naturally tend toward the more masculine walk that you guys and gals have been describing.

[Sly]

Honestly, the way I walked changed after T. It's something so slight but I think maybe it has something to do with muscle development? Well, I used to walk with my palms facing towards my body and now I walk with my palms facing back. It's one of those tiny tiny changes that I wasn't aware of until long after I was doing it. Not completely sure if that's T related or if others had something similar happen.

Oh yeah, I remember when I first started T the way I walk changed.  I blame junk growth for that, it was so sensitive I had to move differently to avoid awkward boners.

[randomroads]

A male friend of mine recently drove by as I was out walking one of the dogs and he asked Clark if I'd ever been a model. He says I have perfect posture and float across the ground. He later told me that I'm never going to pass if I'm not lumbering like an ape. I don't mind walking atypical of other men. There are plenty of beautiful men with perfect posture who've been classically trained for dance/theater who walk the exact same way. I was never trained. I come by it naturally. Why not enjoy it?

[Horizon]

As a pre-everything MtF, it comes along pretty naturally to me.  Teachers have always "brought it to my attention" that I "take up little space" and the same applies to my posture.  My anxiety does stop me from doing it in public, though.  I imagine that will fade once I actually start to look like a girl (hopefully!!!).

This resource is a trans person's best friend: http://www.biomotionlab.ca/Demos/BMLwalker.html

[Faun]

Sometimes I walk from the crotch, sometimes from the hips. I dont really think about it, as I havent started presenting as a guy yet.

[Justin 21]

i was born with an asymmetrical body so i have one leg about a quarter of an inch longer than the other so i walk weird anyway

[assorted_human]

I try not to slouch but that seems to be my natural posture and is extremely hard to keep track of. But when I am super confidant I straighten out more and walk with my crotch. I pass really well when I do this. Just wish I could walk that way all the time. I've been trying for 4 years now.

[Soren]

Apparently I walk like a badass... According to the drunk lady who just stopped me and gave me a hug...

[Bookworm]

Apparently I walk like a badass... According to the drunk lady who just stopped me and gave me a hug...

lol

[mikaelmackison]

Is the walk important...  I suppose that depends on the walk.     The only person I can recall ever commenting on my walk was my Grandma when I was 13.  In front of our entire family she asked "Why do you always walk like you've got a corncob stuck in your butt?" 

I'm still not certain what that even means.   

[TheLance]

My gf's grandma knew I was trans cause of the way I walk. She respects it totally. I have always had a very masculine walk. Even when I was 15 and walking around high school with long hair people addressed me as a dude until they saw the front of me. I overdo it a little when I feel dysphoric but it has always come naturally to me to walk like I'm a lot bigger than I am, heh.

[Simon]

I had a friend tell me that I walk like a ghost. She said I don't have any bounce in my step...I just kinda glide. I think it comes from subconsciously trying avoiding any and all chest movement.

[dreaming.forever]

I've tried to change the way I walk but I never know if I'm doing it right and I feel a little silly doing it, so most of the time I just walk the way I always have (I was never much of a hip-swinger anyway lol). If I look a bit feminine based on my walk, I guess at least I have the excuse that I'm gay.

[Edge]

I walk more like a guy when I'm feeling confident and it comes naturally. I find that I walk more like a female when I'm self conscious even though I try to stop it.