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Do any other trans people get this?

Started by lost_1, February 27, 2014, 10:15:09 AM

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lost_1

What I would like to hear is whether anybody else who identifies as trans get dysphoria from anything that may be remotely associated with your birth gender and that falls outside the stereotypes of normal male/female interests and behavior? Or is it just me? 

For example...

I used to enjoy reading novels but since i have realized I'm trans, I can no longer read fiction. It gives me dysphoria even though I am totally aware that reading is a not a gender related activity.

I used to do a lot of cooking for the family, helping out with meals but now I hate it because it makes me feel dysphoric. But men and women can cook, right?

I have great grades from school and college and a degree in design but I can't bear thinking about going into a professional career or any type of work that uses my intellect or design skills because once again it gives me dysphoria. I was looking at entering a profession through administrative work as an admin assistant which is relatively gender ambiguous but now I don't think I can go through with it because it gives me dysphoria. The only way round this seems to be going into stereo-typically male work such as electrical or plumbing maintenance for instance. I can't say this is something I really want to do but I don't feel there to be any dysphoria associated with such jobs and it also seems like this would make me more of a man...

When I am out and about, I see other men dressed how I think I would like to dress but when it comes to, I can't think about style and what type of clothes I would like to wear because it gives me dysphoria. The only way I can see myself overcoming this with regard to clothes is to just have a no-sense-of-style approach where clothes are nothing but functional and do not need to match. I am just realizing as I write this that somehow I perceive this makes someone more of a man because fashion and style are more typically feminine interests...

Does anyone else get this or know why?
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androgynouspainter26

This sounds a lot like anxiety to me.  I went through that right before I transitioned...it should pass, and seeing a therapist won't hurt.  Hope things get better!
My gender problem isn't half as bad as society's.  Although mine is still pretty bad.
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Jessica Merriman

I tried stereotypical male work as well, in fact Alpha Male work as a Paramedic/Firefighter. I does not help at all. Dysphoria must be dealt with, it cant be pushed to the back of your mind. :)
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Ltl89

When I first started transitioning, I worried about meeting social expectations, so I was concerned about everything. Like, "Oh my god, I can't play guitar anymore because I'll be seen as masculine", lol.   Nowadays, it matters little to me.  Men and women are diverse and you can be either masculine or feminine no matter your gender.  I feel there is so much more to our gender than what hobbies we like. 

This is something that I think men have a harder time with because feminine things are often looked down upon for a boy to do whereas women are often accepted for being tom boys.  It sounds like you are feeling a little social pressure and trying to fit in with the guys.  That's normal, but remember that all men are different.  I know plenty of guys that enjoy fashion, cooking and reading.  Quite frankly, I think it would be a bad thing if he didn't do any of those things, lol.  As a transwoman, I remember what it was like to have the social pressure to be one of the guys when I had no ability to do it.  It's hard and unfair how rigid society expects boys to act (women get it as well of course).  Don't let it define you.  You are you first.  An unique individual who happens to be a specific gender. 
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Pia Bianca

Quote from: lost_1 on February 27, 2014, 10:15:09 AM
What I would like to hear is whether anybody else who identifies as trans get dysphoria from anything that may be remotely associated with your birth gender and that falls outside the stereotypes of normal male/female interests and behavior? Or is it just me? 
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on February 27, 2014, 12:09:29 PM
I tried stereotypical male work as well, in fact Alpha Male work as a Paramedic/Firefighter. I does not help at all. Dysphoria must be dealt with, it cant be pushed to the back of your mind. :)
I got the feeling that lost_1 is FtM and in that case stereotypical male jobs might help a lot. (I'd so love to work in a typical female job but don't dare to nor have the qualification it would take.) That said, what you say is still valid: dysphoria must be dealt with.
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Adam (birkin)

Generally no, I embrace both "masculine" and "feminine" things. That being said though, there are a few things that have bad associations in my mind - I hate being asked to help with a job, and then end up doing meaningless/small work like picking up after the garbage, watching something (like when someone backs in a car), or handing someone tools.
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sad panda

Sort of. I definitely started thinking WAY too much about gender and the genderedness of different things... :(
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