Respectfully curious, if allowed to be...

[Raggedy]

Hi. I hope this isn't inappropriate, as I know this page isn't for me. But I am not sure where else to go with my questions. If no one is comfortable with me being here, just let me know, but I am simply hoping someone won't mind giving their personal experience view on some of my questions.
I'm developing a character who is born a girl but forced to style herself as a boy throughout her whole childhood for her safety. When she finally can be herself and dress like a girl, (around the age of 17) I expect there would be some difficulties in developing and changing personal appearance and behaviour. Such as perhaps, learning to drop some masculine characteristics that were purposely learned, or learning to deal with long hair/women's clothes.

What were some difficulties you faced in becoming yourself? What habits did you have to break, and what mannerisms did you have to re-learn?

Again, sorry if this is rude or inappropriate, but I don't want to write this character out and get it all wrong and speak for a whole group of people. I'd love some honest answers so that I can try to get this right.
Thank you for your time.

[Cindy]

Hi Raggedy and Welcome to Susan's

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Not sure what you mean to be honest. If you place yourself in the position of your character (be they MtF or FtM) and then think of how you grew up socialising with your peers and society in general, well you need to basically reverse a certain amount of that so you can socialise as your affirmed gender.

[Ms Grace]

You might want to look into this. Different culture but exactly what you are talking about...

https://www.google.com.au/#q=afghan+girls+forced+to+be+boys

[Valwen]

almost this exact thing is a sorta plot point in the second book of tamora pierce's song of the lioness quartet. The books are about a girl who dresses as a boy to become a knight and later her adventures after her secret comes out just hours after her knighting. The books are short and designed for younger teens the first one covers her first year training to be a knight and in a way reminds me of a FTM indvidual working to hide there gender in a less than private enviorment. Things like waking up extra early to bathe, never getting to go swimming with the guys, quietly dealing with a monthly visitor. (the first time was a unhappy event)

the second book is sorta the opposite she is older and being one of the guys is still sorta a act but she certainly is not one of the girls, so her growing desire to be feminine reminded me of my own secret fumblings as a mtf. add to all that magic, swordplay and some feminisim and everything is great.

the author has another series call the circle of magic that apparently over time one of the characters comes off as asexual and another is a lesbian, rather daring for fantasy books aimed at teens.

Serena