Who are the Surprises Here?

[JamesG]

That's a different approach/denial altogether? Playing along with assigned gender roles?

I  think it is driven by the same thing, just taken to less of an extreme. An attempt to take refuge in the mundane and "normal".

What I'm proposing is an entirely seperate approach. I'm not implying it'll work for everyone - hence my carefulness in adding "attempt".

It is an interesting approach (and one I subscribe to BTW). But intellectual detachment is very difficult to maintain when you are the one experiencing it in the first person.

[justpat]

  I hid it till I was 62 by being an Alpha very male person, then I hit the wall and melted  into---a much better human being.Mostly female with a touch of be careful I still bite male.Surprised people,there are a lot, and most still can't wrap their head around it but they will come around I hope.I think the key here is I have known a lot of the people for 20-40 years you just can't change overnight in someones mind without them popping a fuze which several did.The bottom line is I am now comfortable,content,and happy which is great, they will just have to get over it.  Pat

[Alyssa L.]

[Temporarily Removed by User]

[Satinjoy]

And that recoil of dysphoria can cause fun phenomenon like hyper-masculine pursuits like.... going into dangerous macho professions like soldiering firefighting or other pursuits like racing, base jumping, etc.  Or even just moderate things like playing along with assigned gender roles.  I think that is what hides it and produces the "shock" in others when the dam breaks.

Racing?  guess what happened to me too... he he

If I ever wreck and they pull the fire suit it will bring new definition to the word suprise;)

Nah don't want that one.  Surprise is ok but not wrecking lol

Amazing fun sport.  But expensive.  I race a professional box stock kart on dirt ovals.

[JennX]

We all didn't have to run around with pink silk scarves around our necks, overuse the word "fabulous", and act like flamingly flamboyant homosexual males prior to transitioning. There are no pre-requisites. Trust me. I was about the last person anyone would ever consider being trans.

Contact sports: check
Weight lifting: check
Military: check
Guns and cars: check
... oh... and trans: check