Help me put together a list of annoying misconceptions

[spacial]

Sex is between the legs, gender is between the ears.



-Sandy

Best comment yet, by a long way.

[Vision]

Transitioning won't solve all of a transpersons problems.

But it will solve ONE.

[K8]

Here's a couple more misconceptions:

God doesn't make mistakes, so you can't be transsexual.  (Actually, I really hate the idea that being transsexual is a mistake.  It's a normally-occurring condition.)

It is your parents' fault.  (There is no indication that being TS is either genetic or a learned behaviour.  You are born with it, but that doesn't mean they will ever find a "TS gene".  And it's not contagious.)

- Kate

[EveMarie]

God doesn't make mistakes, so you can't be transsexual.  (Actually, I really hate the idea that being transsexual is a mistake.  It's a normally-occurring condition.)
- Kate

2 things come to mind, One, I don't understand people who assume they know what God does or doesn't do, and I am appalled at the use of "labels" from everyone, 99% of those that try to put labels on us misuse the terms altogether. I hate responding to a label anyway. I'm just a person who has finally discovered who she is, SO LIVE WITH IT!  sorry.

[clhere]

I remember when i tried to explain my "situation" to my local GP once then after his first reply was

"Well, why don't you just become gay instead?"......facepalm 

[K8]

I remember when i tried to explain my "situation" to my local GP once then after his first reply was

"Well, why don't you just become gay instead?"......facepalm 

      

- Kate

[mtfbuckeye]

I'd add that just because one has some typically male interests (football, video-games, sci-fi flicks), doesn't mean that person wouldn't be way more content as a woman. I run into this a lot, since I have a beard and look like Jack Black (but cuter... ha ha). The beard is a complicated thing for me... mayve I'll have to start a thread for that alone..

[Ms Bev]

pet peeve?

I rarely get questioned.  I consider myself "functionally, stealth", so most of those who know my "big secret" have said their piece.
But the one that bugged me most was their not understanding that i would be a gay woman after transitioning, when i could have stayed a "straight man" and "had all the women i wanted" without the trouble.

that, i think, was my biggest pet peeve.

[Keroppi]

pet peeve?

I rarely get questioned.  I consider myself "functionally, stealth", so most of those who know my "big secret" have said their piece.
But the one that bugged me most was their not understanding that i would be a gay woman after transitioning, when i could have stayed a "straight man" and "had all the women i wanted" without the trouble.

that, i think, was my biggest pet peeve.

To be fair, that's something that I had to think about and consider the implication of when I first realised my transsexuality, so it's not surprising it's not obvious to them.

[FairyGirl]

It is not a "lifestyle choice". (That one gets me upset the most I think.)

Agreed. It's the one that exasperates me the most.

Another thing is a lot of people think the change is a superficial one, cosmetic only and that very limited. They have no idea to what extent transitioning, particularly hormone therapy, changes a person both inside and outside. Fair enough I guess; even though I did extensive research beforehand I had no idea how much hormones would change things physically, mentally, and emotionally. Couple that with the experience of living full time and most people not going through it themselves have no concept of what all transitioning entails.

[Ms Bev]

To be fair, that's something that I had to think about and consider the implication of when I first realised my transsexuality, so it's not surprising it's not obvious to them.

In my case, I knew what my gender was at a young age.  I didn't have to think about it.  I wished to relate emotionally and physically as female to female.  No implication, no big deal.....I'm gay, that's all.


Bev

[K8]

Here's another misconception that has come up in the news lately:

If you were born with a penis you are a man.  Conversely, if you weren't born with a penis you are a woman. 

(It never seems to be that having a vagina makes you a woman, only the lack of a penis.  I suppose that makes sense because usually people who espouse this misconception see women as inferior and rightfully subjected to the will of men, i.e. penis-bearers.)



- Kate

[Christo]

there are alot of them here: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,22906.0.html

Trans men have it easy.  their transition aint as hard as trans girls
I'm more trans then you
A real dude has a dick
I'm a real trans.  u aint

Trans men were lesbians b4.  dunno. not me.

[Dana Lane]

• Not every transgendered person has known it all their life (and that doesn't make their gender identity any less valid).

This is true for me. I never made the connection until 8 months ago. I always knew there was something not right. I never felt comfortable in my role as a male (in society and the bedroom). I always felt out of place. And to be honest, I never really knew much about transsexualism. I was pretty clueless!

[Jamie-o]

Here's another misconception that has come up in the news lately:

If you were born with a penis you are a man.  Conversely, if you weren't born with a penis you are a woman. 

(It never seems to be that having a vagina makes you a woman, only the lack of a penis.  I suppose that makes sense because usually people who espouse this misconception see women as inferior and rightfully subjected to the will of men, i.e. penis-bearers.)



- Kate

I think that's the Big Stick philosophy, isn't it?    I'm sure that's what Teddy Roosevelt was talking about. 

[Alyssa M.]

The main misconception that irritates me is related to Bev's, and is pretty much a generalization of her gripe.

The misconception is that I care the slightest bit what any particular person thinks about what it means to "be a woman." I don't. I really don't give a damn what others might think a woman is, especially with regard to those who don't think being a lesbian is a 100% legit female identity. I have walked this earth for three decades: believe me, I know what being a woman means. And to the extent I don't, I'll ask someone. Probably someone who isn't you. You don't have to tell me what vague thing about me presentation "gives me away." I guarantee you, I already knew about that.

And another thing: It's not about passing. It's about living. Right now I don't pass 100%. It's probably closer to 50%., and lower if I hang around with you for a while. That sucks. I'm unhappy about it. But it's far more important for me to live my life than to constantly worry about particular aspects of my presentation I don't quite have down yet. When I began my transition, I made myself consider the possibility that I would never be able to pass 100%, and decide that it would still be worth it. And it is worth it. I'd love to be beautiful, stunningly supermodel-beautiful. I really would. But that's not the point. The point is to live my life as fully as I can.

These misconceptions were brought to you by a generous grant of clulessness from

My Mother

... and from ...

Viewers Like You

(okay, I was just kidding about that last part)

[K8]

When I began my transition, I made myself consider the possibility that I would never be able to pass 100%, and decided that it would still be worth it. And it is worth it. I'd love to be beautiful, stunningly supermodel-beautiful. I really would. But that's not the point. The point is to live my life as fully as I can.

Amen, sister.

- Kate

[Miniar]

"Once a man always a man".... MTFs were never "men", and FTM's were never "women"

[Natasha]

Annoying misconceptions

- transsexuality is an identity

- once a transsexual, always a transsexual

- transsexuality is all about "the clothes"

- transition "never" ends.

- transgender is the same as transsexual.