Stuff you like about being a guy

[xAndrewx]

Thanks VeryGnawty 

[Sean]

I appreciate your clarification Andrew, and I understand that the OP is trying to post positive things. Obviously, YMMV on how you view these things. Personally, I look at your list, Andrew, and I think it is VERY sad. Because you have combined "feeling alright" with myself (thumbs up!) with things like not being seen as a "werid butch chick" (which is not what you like about being a guy, it's what you like about finally PASSING as a guy). And it is sad to me not because I think there is something wrong with you, but because it tells me how hard your life has to have been that you view the positive things in your life now simply to be the ABSENCE of bad stuff! When your enjoyment of being a guy is about *not* being something else or treated poorly, that's just sad to me. I'm sorry that you and other guys have had that experience.

But then I see your comment that you can be called the boss by other guys now?  Because women are never the boss or called the boss? Seriously? Do you really think that people would never have been able to view you as the boss if you were not a guy? I don't think you really mean this that way. I think you're just happy about how life is going at work, and you're combining the fact that it is going well with you being a guy.

I think this is a weird thread because it mixes such positive, affirming statements with bizarrely stereotypical or sexist ideas about what it means to be a woman.

[xAndrewx]

And your comment that you can be called the boss by other guys now?  Because women are never the boss or called the boss? Seriously? Do you really think that people would never have been able to view you as the boss if you were not a guy?

No just "Boss" It's a term that some northerners from New Jersey or New York use to refer to boys younger than them. Like "man" or "dude" But I do see the rest of your point

[VeryGnawty]

No just "Boss" It's a term that some northerners from New Jersey or New York use to refer to boys younger than them. Like "man" or "dude"

Yeah.  It's a male affectionate term.  It has nothing to do with business.  I've had guys call me "boss" before.

[Ryno]

Number 1: Straight chicks checking me out. Always makes a guy feel good

2. Being my girlfriend's man.

3. Being called "bro" by other guys my age.

4. Being one of the guys, without them having to add "without the dick".

5. Being chivalrous; men have always held doors for me. Not that I don't appreciate the consideration, but I'm a door-holder, not taker. Now I get to let the ladies and older persons go ahead of me, or hold a door open, and put a smile on their face.

6. Wearing clothes that suit my personality without people glaring at me or shifting uncomfortably when they see a bug dyke walking their way.

7. Button-down collared shirts. Mmmm. Sexy on a woman, yes. But since coming out my wardrobe has steadily increased in button-downs.

8: Boxers and boxer-briefs.

9. Using the men's washrooms. You know, the ones where you don't have to pee through conversations about your friend's new hairstylist.

10. The drive to work out, the desire to have muscles, the lack of shame about having a more muscular body than most other women because, well, I no longer consider myself a woman. I'm a man, I'm strong, I'm proud, and lifting those weights makes me feel even better about my body.

[Mr.Rainey]

I think this is a weird thread because it mixes such positive, affirming statements with bizarrely stereotypical or sexist ideas about what it means to be a woman.

In my opinion, there are all kinds of ways to be a man. A man is a man is a man. If wearing a pink shirt and fuzzy slippers made you feel manly, then thats fine with me. I think that if females wanna do 'guy stuff' thats okay too. I think as long as people aren't hurting others they can dress, act, and be what they like. I don't think there is anything wrong with butches, or femme guys at all. Just wanted to clarify this.

[PixieBoy]

When people use the right pronouns and the right name for me.
When I see a (stereotypical) boy's face in the mirror if I'm not wearing glasses.
When I touch my chin and feel slightly coarse peach fuzz (it got that way from shaving, but losing my wispy moustache made me feel naked, so I won't shave again!).
When I can look in the mirror and see what I "really" look like easier (when I was in girl mode, I felt like I was hiding something).

Short hair is just a personal preference, and the same with wearing male underwear. Girls can do that too. It doesn't make me feel specifically male (well, asking for a men's cut kind of makes me feel manlier). Having short hair is a childhood dream of mine, since I had long hair when I was little.

I never wore makeup before, never wore revealing clothes, never wore high heels or all that other "girly" stuff. I was slightly confused, and would sometimes "forget" that I had a girl's body. I didn't wear bras for a LONG time, simply because wearing them meant acknowledging that I had breasts. Sometimes, in summer, I almost took my shirt off in public, as well (because of the heat; luckily, I stopped myself). This was when I was still knee-deep in denial. Even then, I pictured myself as a person with a "boyish" figure, and I tended to pose in ways that hid my curves when forced to look in the mirror.

I'm pre-everything, still waiting for the bleedin' therapy to start.

[Skys_the_limit]

-Having my woman feel safe in my arms, protected.
-looking forward to watching my wife walk down to aisle to me.
-Feeling proud when my gf ask me to help fix something around the house
-Smirking when my gf needs me to open a jar.
-being honest to myself.
-being called handsome.

[insideontheoutside]

That was one of the things I always loved about being born with a male body.  I could literally wake up and go to the store.  Sometimes I didn't even comb my hair.  Just a quick running the hand through the hair is sufficient.

Even to prepare for work literally takes only minutes.  You run a comb through the hair, put on your suit, and walk out the door.

Yeah you ever notice when people think you're a girl and you have messy hair how they look at you? Like you're some kind of dirt bag tramp or something.

[Graylien]

One of the things I'm looking forward to is no more periods, PMS or cramps which always make me feel crap physically and mentally.

[insideontheoutside]

i have to say that i'm with sean on this one, my mind was a bit blown when i first read the thread.

I have to admit reading through this thread I had mixed feelings about it too. I often hesitate first to post something that's purely my opinion in case someone were to take it personally or the wrong way.

There's a lot of people younger than me on this board and there's also the majority of people on a different path than myself so it's not like I can do some straight comparisons on how I feel based on how others here feel. I do totally get that for most people, once you are perceived as the gender you are inside by the outside world it makes you feel better. And I also get that it's nearly impossible not to use any stereotypes at all when it comes to gender anything.

People can straight up hate me for what I'm about to say next but just know it's not aimed at anyone and it's just my own personal perception. But I can totally see how people like the butch lesbian ftm/trans hate blogger get fuel for her misguided fire. Just a quick look at a thread like this would do it. You know what I'm saying? Someone like me can totally get everything that people have said here but not someone who's already got a chip on their shoulder to trash a whole segment of the population. It's very easy for someone like that to turn it all around to suit her agenda and prove her point.

Not that people should be censoring themselves about what makes them feel good (as long as it's not hurting anyone else).

It's hard enough being trans and it's real easy to find comfort in stereotypes that might seem like they help "prove" your manhood. The thing I've learned over and over again in my life is when I'm not staying true to myself ... when I've tried to fit into a different mold or just do something to have people accept me more ... I've usually had problems. I understand that the whole transition thing is a long process and extremely tough to deal with the "in-between" moments but you should be moving toward being more YOU than being more "everyman". By that I mean, don't just try to be the definition of "man" - be yourself.

Many of the things listed in this thread could be done by any person, male or female. To me, it appears that people either personalize each thing because it makes them feel better or because it stereotypes the gender they feel they are.

So yeah, I get what the OP started this thread for, but I can see how this information could be used by someone else to turn it against everyone and my own opinion is that I like being myself, which is more unique to me than just being a guy.

[Mr.Rainey]

Why do I have a feeling this topic is going to de-rail?

[insideontheoutside]

Why do I have a feeling this topic is going to de-rail?

Eh, it's a message board ... and everyone's always got an opinion 

[tvc15]

Sure, I'll bite...what I like about being a guy (which, by the way, I interpreted as something like, "Stuff you like about your body and mind finally matching up and being treated accordingly by others").

And for me, the #1 thing is not feeling self-conscious in public. I was NEVER able to go anywhere without feeling uncomfortable with myself. Now that doesn't even cross my mind when I'm out. When it does, it's in the form of a thought like, "If I was still the 'old me' I'd be a nervous wreck by now." It's so good not to have to deal with that stress anymore.

When I can look in the mirror and see what I "really" look like easier (when I was in girl mode, I felt like I was hiding something).

This, too. I feel the same way but never thought to express it in words.

[Logan1986]

instead of reading it as 'stuff you like about being a guy' i think people are mostly taking it as 'stuff that feels more natural since transitioning'
i think its a good thread. nice to focus on the things that make us feel good

[Da Monkey]

I like this thread. It's not sad at all :/

I mean come on, we are transGENDERed people. GENDER is the role in society as masculine and feminine .

Wearing boxers, mens clothes, having shorter hair, using the mens room, going by the male pronoun, male name, having a flat chest etc. are a part of masculinizing ourselves so that we are comfortable with our selves but also in society.

Obviously we don't have to perfectly fit the masculine role, we can go against it like wear eyeliner, tight jeans, longer hair, and be comfortable with it because we are finally overall comfortable with who we are and how we fit in our role in society. And yes, it is okay for women to not shave, wear mens clothes, look "butch" and be proud of it but how many of us when we looked like that didn't feel pride? Because we weren't comfortable with it because that wasn't us.

[Lee11]

That is simple....FINALLY being comfortable in my own skin and setting the REAL me free at last!!!!!!!!!

[Donnie B.]

Thing I have to say I like best about being a guy is having the confidence to lift my head up high and be playful, something I lack when I am forced to be a woman in a lot of situations.

...I am slightly addicted to the giddiness that I get when I get compliments like "What a gentleman", etc.

[kyle_lawrence]

I enjoy the comfort I feel in being myself, no matter how others perceive me, or what they define me as.  I may still go by my female name at work, but that doesn't stop me from binding and dressing as male 100% of the time. It does occasionally lead to some confusion, being called "he" by new employees and leaving the person sitting next to them wondering who they are talking about. 

I enjoy working as a supervisor/ shift lead and the respect I get for it, and that no one cares what my gender is, or that my name doesn't always match my presentation because I have proven that I am more than capable of doing my job.   

Maybe I would be happier if I came out to everyone, and started T and change my name, but thats not guaranteed.   I'm already happier now that I'm facing the world feeling like me for the first time, and It doesn't matter how others see me because for the first time ever, I am happy with me. 

None of that has anything to do with being a man or woman, and everything to do with being human.

oh yeah, and I also really enjoy confusing people.  Watching the hamster wheel slowly spin as they try to guess my gender.  Knowing that I have forced someone to think outside the binary, even if it was just for a second.

[insideontheoutside]

I enjoy the comfort I feel in being myself, no matter how others perceive me, or what they define me as.  I may still go by my female name at work, but that doesn't stop me from binding and dressing as male 100% of the time. It does occasionally lead to some confusion, being called "he" by new employees and leaving the person sitting next to them wondering who they are talking about. 

I enjoy working as a supervisor/ shift lead and the respect I get for it, and that no one cares what my gender is, or that my name doesn't always match my presentation because I have proven that I am more than capable of doing my job.   

Maybe I would be happier if I came out to everyone, and started T and change my name, but thats not guaranteed.   I'm already happier now that I'm facing the world feeling like me for the first time, and It doesn't matter how others see me because for the first time ever, I am happy with me. 

None of that has anything to do with being a man or woman, and everything to do with being human.

oh yeah, and I also really enjoy confusing people.  Watching the hamster wheel slowly spin as they try to guess my gender.  Knowing that I have forced someone to think outside the binary, even if it was just for a second.

Glad I'm not the only one