Pressures to conform to genders

[Kendall]

Quite apparent is the pressure to conform to your birth sex gender (or one certain gender if born intersexed). Question is, do you ever feel any pressure to conform to the opposite birth (opposite Dr. chosen) gender?

For me, I try to experiment with some gender stuff from the female side of things. Suddenly my girlfriend will sometimes (or even mother) will drift off and say something that will assume I am fully female, or going to be transitioning female. Or they will add more stuff then I am interested in. Thats fine in itself, sometimes a result of them accepting parts that I do like female.

Like just today we were looking at pictures from her son's friend's  wedding. The groom was in a cowboy hat. I dont like cowboy hats and mentioned something about it to her. She then asked what I would wear to a wedding. I said I dont know. Next thing she said was that I would wear something from Vera Wang. Then she went on to saying I would want my partner to dress in a tux or something.

I am thankful I have the choice to define my own self.

[Shana A]

I've experienced many situations where people responded or talked to me as a woman even though I was presenting as male. I believe that they're relating to the way my inner self projects as opposed to what they might see.

Our society imposes constant pressure on everyone, male, female and transpersons, to conform to gender roles and stereotypes. It takes considerable inner strength to constantly remain true to ourselves and let our androgyny shine. I am grateful for these conversations that we are having about this on the forum, I feel it is helping me recharge before I go out into the world each day as myself.

zythyra