Walk this way!

[Karla B]

Yes, I've been kind of watching how GGs walk and I've noticed something that I find quite interesting!
I know a few GGs that walk differently depending on how they dress.
If we were at a social event and they wore dresses and heels,they tended to have a more sexy walk, like a more obvious wiggle and an upper body movement that flows with the rest of the body.
Now! those same girls, when we went on the hiking trails and they wore cargo shorts or pants with hiking shoes or sneakers, They seemed to be more boyish. The strides seemed to be a little wider,the wiggle was less obvious and the upper body sort of lost its flow.When they sat down, they didn't worry about crossing legs one knee over the other or keeping the knees tightly close together.
They sat, legs streched out ,crossed at the ankles or they were sitting with their knees pointing outward and having their arms resting on them.
I've also seen this on other women at the mall, some wearing dresses or skirts with heels and others wearing shorts or jeans with sneakers or sandles.
So I believe that sometimes their walk is influenced by how they dress,where they are and how comfortable they are.
I found it difficult to see any having what we call a typical female walk. I think we tend scrutinize GGs behavoir and mannerisms more because we don't want to make any mistakes and not be able to pass. Sure! If we walk and act like a Line backer or a WWF wrestler, we won't pass. Hollywood,fashion magazines and Beauty pageants imbed these images in peoples minds on how one should walk,look and act to be considered beautiful.   But the reality is, those images are a hard act to follow for the majority of people.

[evelynaGR]

im not a specialist but ive read about and from my experience, some tips for a natural walking and maybe more femminine, for someone who doesnt has breasts (breasts adding a femminine balance to a step).
1. Elbows always staying close 2 the body
2. Knees staying close each other as much as u can
3. Steps always in straight line

P.S. dont pretend ever, always be u r self (if u feel woman she's going 2 appear in front of u!!!)   

[Keira]

There is a typical female walk Karla, go to biomechanics labs and you'll see. GG's also suffer different joint ailment because of the way they walk/run/jump/

Not everybody has the most extreme version of it,just look not all men have the john wayne swagger.

[Karla B]

True Keira, Very true. I realize that there is a typical female walk, I just have a hard time seeing it from one to the other. I guess I need to train my eye a little better for those kind of things.
One thing I wouldn't want to do, is over emphasize the feminine movements, that would be a dead give away. Don't want to end up acting like Jack on Will and Grace.

[mallard500]

You are wasting your time doll. Reason flew out the window the minute this thread started.

Look, even women don't walk like women the way y'all think women walk. If they did, they wouldn't need to be taught by modeling agencies how to walk like a woman should walk to impress other women that think all women must walk like that if they are real women.

That took me a few times reading it to get it down lol. 

Just today I saw a GG walking extreamly manly.  As if she was trying to do it, and exaggerating it a lot.  Arms held out way from her sides, shoulders moving back and forth and a manly type stride.  It was rather interesting to watch after reading along on this post.  I think that the military has a lot to do with GG and the way they try to present them selves while in uniform.  There is always a debate about woman and the front lines, and I think that most of them try to present a manly appearance to show that they are as tough as the guys.

~Vanessa

Um, yeah... and that's the problem with anything related to "how a woman/man does XYZ..."

So - how DOES a "woman" walk?  Are we talking about a fashion model, or Marylyn Monroe's famous Niagara Falls walk?  Or are we talking about how a woman in a hurry walks?  Are we talking about a straight or lesbian woman, or just what society presumes because of how she walks???
Etc, etc, etc...

Folks... there IS no given, set way a "woman" walks - there's only our cultures stereotypes and perceptions.  It's all about how you want to be perceived.  You can choose to adopt a style that emulates the model/prostitute/'sexy' walk of the highly feminized stereotype; you can walk with all of the male stereotypes of walking styles that you were raised with; or you can walk like most people do - as yourself, without profound exaggeration of anything!

Please forgive the seeming attitude, but I was always informed that I didn't walk, I stalked...  Oh well... All I know is that I got pretty tired of being told how to 'walk properly', because I quickly saw that all sorts of women (including very hetro, so called 'normal' women) didn't always walk like the stereotypes we were told about.

We would ALL be SO much more free in this society if we actively rejected those rigid definitions of male/female behavior that aren't actually based on the realities of most men and women.      For an MTF to truly pass well as a woman, I would frankly suggest that she concentrate less on the highly stereotype 'female' behaviors, and just be the woman that she really is - just like most other women do.

Scott

[no_id]

I suppose, stereotypically... When a woman walks her world shifts more up and down while a men's tilts more from left to right. As for models, their world/view stays fairly still...

[mallard500]

Yes, I've been kind of watching how GGs walk and I've noticed something that I find quite interesting!
I know a few GGs that walk differently depending on how they dress.
<snip...>
I found it difficult to see any having what we call a typical female walk. I think we tend scrutinize GGs behavoir and mannerisms more because we don't want to make any mistakes and not be able to pass. Sure! If we walk and act like a Line backer or a WWF wrestler, we won't pass. Hollywood,fashion magazines and Beauty pageants imbed these images in peoples minds on how one should walk,look and act to be considered beautiful.   But the reality is, those images are a hard act to follow for the majority of people.

Exactly - and THANK YOU Karla and others!

You can walk like John Wayne or Marylyn Monroe, fitting the stereotypes, and stick out like a sore thumb, regardless of what gender you're presenting as.

Most people walk with little of the extreme mannerisms found in either the male or female stereotype. 

If you're concerned with passing, try of course to rid yourself of any overtly male mannerisms, but don't worry about becoming a fashion model either - just walk naturally, as you observe most other women doing during their very ordinary lives.


Scott

[Suzy]

Yes, I've been kind of watching how GGs walk and I've noticed something that I find quite interesting!
I know a few GGs that walk differently depending on how they dress.

This is a very important point.  I watch a lot of people at malls to study.  One where I go has a real variety of women, from those in tennis shoes spending their lunch break walking, to business people in the midst of meetings, to sales girls, to teenagers wearing any and everything.  Each has her own distinctive walk depending on type of shoes and current activity.  I think it is something that GGs do without even thinking.

I also think that one overlooked factor is posture when walking.  We each need an image that will help us.  Here is how it works out for me.  I don't claim this to be scientific:   Men's center of gravity looks like it would be in their broad shoulders, like they are carrying a stiff load of boards on their shoulders.  Women's tends to be a small spot slightly below the middle of the back.  If you can think of pushing a bit forward, up, and out from that spot, the chest comes out, the shoulders drop slightly taking the stiffness out of the arms, and, for me, the hips just naturally follow.  Now loosen up the neck, look around, enjoy the displays, and smile at others, especially the women.  It's the great unwritten code.  This works for me because I only have to think about one thing, and it's virtually automatic now and feels very natural.  If you have a walk with all of the feminine characteristics, but it looks contrived or stiff, it is worse than a male walk.

BTW, thanks Cindi, for bringing back that article.  It's one of the best I've seen.

Kristi

[sandra]

Hi  y'all!

I finally got back enough strength & energy to comment
on these replies, at least as many as I can do in one
sitting.

Lisbeth -- I may have known about the wider pelvis, but
never related it to this question! (And thanks for Harry
Potter & Dumbledore at the bottom of your format --
that quote really struck me, too!)

Kat -- I'd heard the idea about women walking in one line,
but strangely enough did not think of men's "parallel" lines!
And I love what you said about your mom trying to fix
your walk. It sounds like part of an accepting attidude!

[I have to take a break & am on a library computer, so
will send what I have so far & hopefully send more in a
few minutes.]

Cheers,

Sandra


Posted on: September 15, 2007, 03:35:20 PMI'm back!

Cindi -- thanks for your reply and your wonderful article!
I'll have to come back to you when I have more time.

Berleigh -- You're right that these ideas are somewhat
stereotypical. I guess I just find in them some food for
thought about what I might work into my own way of
walking, that could become habitual and make it a
little less obvious that there is a male body under the
clothing!

[Drat!  The library closes at 4:30 on Saturday.  More
soon, I hope!]





Posted on: September 15, 2007, 04:18:53 PMBeverly -- it sounds right that getting the body under control
of the female brain would make the hips listen to the "Boom
Chica Boom"!  And you can't go wrong watching other women
walk.  By doing that I'm just beginning to learn how to be natu-
ral and not overdo it!

Lost In Time -- it's great that you come by it naturally.  So
all you had to do was stop hiding it.  From what both you
and Beverly have said it seems that the walk can become
more natural if the inner feelings and the influence of the
female brain can just flow out into the walk!

Jaston -- when you say that women sway because of their
hips and wiggling their bum, it sounds as if their walk is a
little more relaxed overall!

Sylvia -- good point about keeping he head and back aligned.
When I see myself in the mirror without my chin up, it looks
as if my posture would be a dead giveaway!

Tink -- I guess you are the only person (until I came along)
whom I have noticed using the "red-bow" icon all the time.
But I think it fits you well -- and I always enjoy the kidding!
Miss Venezuela -- hmmmmmmmm!!!  Does she walk like a
model (keeping the center of gravity low and allowing the
hips to sway naturally in order that the head seems to be
floating/gliding perfectly forward)?

Thundra -- I loved it when you said that "even women
don't walk like women the way y'all think women walk."

     If they did, they wouldn't need to be taught by
     modeling agencies how to walk like a woman
     should walk to impress other women that think
     all women must walk like that if they are real
     women.

You have an incredible way of putting words together!
I guess I asked the question partly to see how many
people even thought there was a real difference --
but also if they did, what that difference was.

Vanessa -- I've also seen what you mention about
"a GG walking extremely manly."

Keira -- I watched a "feminine image" video in which
the consultant mentioned keeping the elbows close
to the body & letting the arms swing from there.
And "shuffling from side to side" seems a dead
giveaway to me!  The first time I went dressed to a
support group meeting, someone imitated my walk in
high heels, and that walk reminded me of Popeye!
And your reference based on data from biomechanics
makes an important point:  anatomy does affect motion!

Gween -- I think that walking the way you feel is
ultimately the key to a "natural" walk!

Vik -- you said that from your personal observations,
"it seems that women tend to lead with the hips and
men tend to lead with their upper torso or shoulders."
This reminds me of an article that said men first shift
their weight forward by "falling," then catch them-
selves with the lead foot.  Women, on the other hand,
it said, place one foot forward and then shift
their weight.

[to be continued]

[Ms Bev]

my wife told me today, "you know, i've never told you -- but i have always thought you walked like a girl."

made my day 

Marcy was following upstairs the other night, and laughed behind me......"what?", I asked
"Oh, honey" she said, "you are SUCH a girl".  She chuckled.  I told her I couldn't help it now, it was just that way.  Then, upstairs, we tried on some new nighties and pj's we bought that afternoon, and she laughed again. 
"What??"
"honey, you are such a girl!
"I can't help it! (giggle)"
"well, you ARE.....all your actions.....so girly"
"but....I'm not trying to....."
"You don't have to try, angel, I think it's wired in your brain."

I don't know....is that possible?   I've noticed I make lots of very feminine gestures and body moves that are definitely not studied...

Oh well, we're happy with it anyway, whatever the reason  LOL. 

The real kicker is, when I started my transition, I thought I was going to be a more masculine lesbian.
EEEK!  Help!...I turned into a lipstick lesbian!

Bev

[sandra]

[continuation of comments] 

Karla -- excellent point about the GGs you know who "walk
differently depending on how they dress."  You said you thought
we watch GGs "because we don't want to make mistakes and
not be able to pass."  I agree.  And even tho I'm sure I don't
pass all the time, I do want to be as real as I can be, and cut
out the obvious mistakes.  And you're certainly right about the
fashion, etc., images being "a hard act to follow for the majority
of people."  I do enjoy the fashion magazines because I appreci-
ate the beauty I find in some (certainly not all!) of the photos.
But when it comes to my personal reaction to the images, I just
see them as presenting ideas that I may be able to apply to my-
self.  But that application has to be done in my own way and accor-
ding to my own reality.

[to be continued  ]

[AnaTXGrl]

MSNBC had an interesting article on how you can tell if someone is gay or not by their walk. Check out the link. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20762841/

Ana

[sandra]

[continuation of comments]

evelyna GR -- you know, it never occurred to me -- what you said
about "breasts adding a femminine balance to a step."  Maybe that's
an added reason to use a "full breast" insert or prosthesis that has
the natural amount of weight.  Hopefully even my thinner silicone
inserts add a little!  And I like your P.S., "don't pretend ever, always
be u r self (if u feel woman she's going 2 appear in front of you!!!)"
I'm resolving, in my future goings-out, to stop worrying about how
others view me (this may take a little while!), because the experience
will be 100 times better if I put my real self out there and just enjoy
whatever I'm doing.

Ashley Michelle -- I'm sure it was absolutely wonderful when your
wife said she had "always thought you walked like a girl."  Similar
kinds of statements always make my day, too!

Scott -- you've added further worthwhile thought to the fact that
there isn't just one typical "woman's walk"!

no__id -- I have noticed women walking in heels when there is a
bit of "up and down" motion of the head and torso.  And you
make a good point about models.  When they keep their center
of gravity low and let their hips do the "up and down" as well
as the "side to side," the head can seem to be just gliding along.

Kristi -- I agree with both you and Sylvia when it comes to pos-
ture.  And your explanation includes a number of details that
could be quite helpful.  Also, "the great unwritten code...smile
at others, especially the women."  I have noticed a number of
times when walking dressed, that when I meet a woman in
passing, if I don't smile first, she will!

[to be continued ]