Chynna, as someone who knows, you don't want that monthly cycle, believe me!
I do think we (TSs) try to overcompensate by complying with gender norms. I hate it, myself, and often find myself thinking, well, if I'm really a guy, I shouldn't have to modify my behavior; rather, I should already be acting like a guy, naturally. However, yeah, we all have insecurities. Every time I go out to the movies to see a chick flick, I feel like people are looking at me, judging me, and feel like even when I look as male as possible, people will still judge me as more feminine for certain habits like that.
What I realize, however, is that there is no normal for men or for women. There's no distinct line. Men and women both play basketball, volleyball, hockey; they do gymnastics and ice skating, swimming, diving... and while there are subtle distinctions between the way games are played by either sex, they're all the same games. Traditionally, women like to wear pink, right? My younger brother, who is 16, 6'4", and about the most masculine male I know, loves pink shirts. My male buddies in college habitually watched Dawson's Creek, and not for Katie Holmes. I know plenty of guys who like chick flicks, and plenty of chicks who love action and violent films, regardless of societal norms.
I figure, we can overcompensate as much as we want to, so there is a distinct dichotomy between us and those of the sex in which we were born, but it might just be a waste of energy. Self-confidence, I think, is more important than any amount of posturing.
Rafe
