Passing without intending to/what does this mean?

[Mr.Rainey]

For those of you who don't know, I am still kinda in the questioning stage. I know deep down I'd prefer to be male and I don't know sometimes if I want to transition because of losing family. That and I have a lot of things I need to do in life not regarding gender (School, Job ect) thats causing me an immense ammount of stress so I just kinda put gender on the back burner. ( always dress in guy clothes, presenting kind of a butch look which ain't bad)

The thing is I don't bind or pack or HRT and I still pass. Today I had a convo with a guy at a bus stop today and we struck up a convo and he gave me all kinds of "man advice". We talked about things like establishing work and how important it is to be able to support ourselves before getting married and to try to meet a girl a few years younger than me because girls mature faster than we do ect. He asked me my name so I went with my preffered name and he caught his bus and that was that. It made my day. But it also made me wonder, what does this mean? Stuff like this happens to me all the time, I hear sir, young man and he from people who don't know me. Does this mean I really have a male soul? (I know I am the only one who will know but I'd at least like some advice) 

[ilanthefirst]

It made my day. But it also made me wonder, what does this mean? Stuff like this happens to me all the time, I hear sir, young man and he from people who don't know me. Does this mean I really have a male soul? (I know I am the only one who will know but I'd at least like some advice) 

I wouldn't take others' reactions to you as a sign of whether or not you're trans.  There are cis people who get read as the wrong gender, and that doesn't mean they're trans.  And there are lots of trans folks who do everything possible to present as the gender they transitioned/are transitioning to, and they still might have trouble passing.  What you're saying would mean they're not really the gender they present as because others don't recognize it. 

When I bind and try to make my voice lower, I can't seem to get read as male, but when I walk out without trying to do anything different, I'm read inconsistently as both genders, and this doesn't have anything to do with my identity, regardless of the fact that I'm still in a questioning phase!  What I can get from your story, though, is that it made your day to be read as male.  If you're a lot happier to be treated as male and you know you'd prefer it, that's a much better indicator of whether you should transition than just how often people read you as one gender or the other.

[Sharky]

I'm not questioning, but since I can't start T yet I'm not even trying to pass. Tonight I was at the store and got he'd. I don't really get how it happens, since my hair has gotten pretty long now, but it still cool. Not sure it means anything, maybe an indicator of mannerisms.

[JerkBoy]

I haven't had a drop of T, and I get sir'd, he'd, and young man'd left and right. I have my hair styled in a masculine way, wear men's clothes and men's cologne; that really seems to be enough for people. I've watched men throughout my life and mimicked the way they carry themselves and speak, so that may add to it. But one look at my chest, unbinded, and I'm clearly female bodied. So more than often I get the "Hey buddy..I mean, lady". And its like damn...

I almost passed.

[Electric Wizard]

The thing is I don't bind or pack or HRT and I still pass.

I do too, and did even before I realized I was trans. But, personally, it had no effect on my identity. The only thing that affected my view of myself were intrinsic things. I believe that's the way it should be since no one else is really qualified to determine your identity.

[Mr.Rainey]

I think it might mean I am really trans. I am happier male even though passing makes me nervous sometimes. I think that I just gotta take things as the come and keep a level head. It helps a lot talking to you guys. Thanks.