Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I had a friend recommend this site (http://www.femimage.com/ (http://www.femimage.com/))  for help with improving feminine mannerisms.  A lot of the links on this site are broken so I can't really do a lot through this site.  Anyone have any other GOOD videos/guides that I can use to help me improve my over all feminine mannerisms? I tried just looking in a mall or something how Woman walk or talk but that does not really help, so any advice would be very helpful.  Thank You.

Oooh I think the feminine mannerisms part of transition has been the MOST fun part for me... It's what I started with first. I just did a ton of google searches and amassed a bunch of good tips spread across many pages.

A really good thing to look for that a lot of the mannerisms stuff doesn't tell you about is POSTURE. I am still working on that one. I do have some suggestions for you that helped me a lot and are really fun, too.

• Take up less space
- When you sit, always keep your legs together knees touching or close- toes pointed inwards or cross one foot behind the ankle of another
- Keep your elbows touching your torso as well
- When standing you can also point toes inward slightly, almost pigeon toed but don't want to overdo it

• Feminine posture
- Rotate your shoulders up and then back slightly, this will posture your shoulders properly
- Rotate your head slightly down and neck slightly back, this will make the chin appear smaller and also put your neck more inline with your spine, the goal is to avoid a hunch back or sloth-like position

Those are the only ones I can think of right now, but as soon as you start to develop some research go back out and watch some women again, you will notice much more!

Hope this helps!! :D

http://feminizationsecrets.com/category/moves/ (http://feminizationsecrets.com/category/moves/) <-- some decent tips here

Also another good one I just thought of that is second nature to me now:

When posing, sitting or standing go for more of an "S" shape side to side posture than straight up and down... i.e. jut hips pointing in one direction, back in the opposite direction, neck and head in the same direction as hips... You just want to bring more of a shaped curve to your posture, and a little bit goes a long way.

EDIT: here is a visual example
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQVRlR.jpg&hash=294d4fadd081783ac93fa85422d3acebad978113)

  The things Jennygirl mentioned I've actually been doing all my life without thinking about why.  Now that I'm conscious of it they've become a bit more pronounced.  I do need to improve my slouching a bit though.

  One other thing I noticed that I've always done is walk like a girl - one foot in front of the other and legs quite close together.  In loose-fitting male pants it causes an annoying swiping sound as the pant legs hit each other on every step.  Girl clothes that fit better don't cause it for me.  It hasn't required much of a conscious effort to add a little hip swing to my walk for a more fluid and 'swishy' motion.  Form-fitting clothing seems to make me do this subconsciously for some reason.

  Of course all women don't necessarily do all of these things or any rather exaggerated.  You might have to exaggerate them at first just to get in the habit, but be careful not to go overboard like you're on the catwalk.

I'd be careful of going overboard. A lot of women do not walk a particular way, stand a particular way or such. Natural movements are good and don't walk too stiffly or stomp about and for the most part you would be ok. Too much "femininity" will make you stand out among other women and that may not be a good thing.

Quote from: Jaime on January 04, 2013, 09:34:35 PM
I'd be careful of going overboard. A lot of women do not walk a particular way, stand a particular way or such. Natural movements are good and don't walk too stiffly or stomp about and for the most part you would be ok. Too much "femininity" will make you stand out among other women and that may not be a good thing.

Good point. Also, keep in mind that a lot of this 'finishing school' type stuff you'll find on feminine comportment is obsolete. I think you really just need to learn from live women. What I would advise is to mostly pay attention to women like you. If you try and emulate the walk and mannerisms of a petite, full-hipped girl, it won't be natural. Women of various heights and shapes move differently. I never had much hips or 'junk in the trunk'. I couldn't walk like a girl who does.

Some points Jennygirl hit on are general though. Women in general take up less space. However, this can also backfire. If you are a large woman trying to 'take up less space', you might look like you're cowering which will come off as insecure.
Again, try emulating women with your body type and personal style. And most of all, be confident!

Trying to gain "feminine" mannerisms is too much thinking for my unfocused brain.

Seriously, trying to focus on every little detail is just so...

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.psu.edu%2Fkaylasusko%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F09%2FSQUIRREL.jpg&hash=3fdf0cd22f2d9a3b9164cc586158d8bedab0b321)

Quote from: Jaime on January 04, 2013, 09:34:35 PM
I'd be careful of going overboard. A lot of women do not walk a particular way, stand a particular way or such. Natural movements are good and don't walk too stiffly or stomp about and for the most part you would be ok. Too much "femininity" will make you stand out among other women and that may not be a good thing.

For me, I don't necessarily want to walk like a woman I just want to not walk like a man, if that makes sense. In other words, I don't want my walk to out me.

Quote from: DianaP on January 04, 2013, 11:46:48 PM
Trying to gain "feminine" mannerisms is too much thinking for my unfocused brain.

Seriously, trying to focus on every little detail is just so...

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.psu.edu%2Fkaylasusko%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F09%2FSQUIRREL.jpg&hash=3fdf0cd22f2d9a3b9164cc586158d8bedab0b321)

Hahahahah!

Thank You all for the great information/tips.  I will defiantly (when I have a bit more time this morning).  One of my main goals is to make it look natural and not forced or have it be too much or overly effeminate. 

Quote from: Jaime on January 04, 2013, 09:34:35 PM
I'd be careful of going overboard. A lot of women do not walk a particular way, stand a particular way or such. Natural movements are good and don't walk too stiffly or stomp about and for the most part you would be ok. Too much "femininity" will make you stand out among other women and that may not be a good thing.

I agree. I've seen many trans women who tried so hard to be feminine that they get clocked

Quote from: Fat Admin on January 04, 2013, 10:45:56 PM
Good point. Also, keep in mind that a lot of this 'finishing school' type stuff you'll find on feminine comportment is obsolete. I think you really just need to learn from live women.

I could not agree more!

When I see these sites I think "are u serious?"

Quote from: Annah on January 07, 2013, 07:32:11 AM
I could not agree more!

When I see these sites I think "are u serious?"

I tried watching Woman either at work, mall or any social places with how they walk, talk with others by using their hands more and so fourth but that does seem to help me.  I defiantly need to work more with my posture, keep my shoulders the way that they are suppose to and just keep at that more and more using repetition until it does just become natural for me.   

that's the best way to do it.

When I see various trans sites with videos and stuff, I think they are trying to train their viewers to walk and act like transgender people. I mean, if that's awesome for the person viewing them then there is no issue there. But sometimes I feel like I am watching RuPaul's dragrace or some really bad female acting training program from the 1960s when I see some of these sites :P

I just watch how my best friend was and copied her for a bit and eventually I developed my own natural fem mannerisms

Just go to a mall or when out n about watch how everyday women move and walk, very few are overly "dramatic" like some sites hint that you should be.

  All my life I have been told I have more natural female mannerisms than I do male...it's not on purpose, it's just the way I am :)

I sit, stand, pose for pics and move just like my sister who is two years younger than me. it's funny, when we where younger we were like boy/girl twins that acted and looked the same. I think it helped that she was a bit on the tomboyish side.

Yeah, the best advice is really become friends with cis women, hang out, and as you do you'll naturally start to pick up on the their mannerisms. You see this in cis girls as well. I remember I could always tell what friends my sister had been hanging out with most because she'd pick up their manners and ways of speaking. It might take a little more effort on your part if you're older, I feel like this imitating is strongest in tween/teens but humans always start to mirror their "group". If your group is women then you'll pick it up.

 ... I just walk and move like I do. I don't have particularly masculine mannerisms to start out with (in my male years, I was described as rather "flamboyant"), but feminine mannerisms aren't really all that detailed and intricate - I find that there are many girls who demonstrate rather few feminine mannerisms.

To find them standing with one knee bent is rather typical, but you'll also see many standing normally. Standing with their feet close together is common, but standing with them at shoulder width is as well. Many girls will keep their elbows inward, but many couldn't care less about doing so. And so on, and so forth. My sister comes to mind, specifically, as lacking most female mannerisms - though, she identifies as a tomboy, to be fair.

To lack these feminine mannerisms is more common in the teenage or young adult club, as far as I've seen. These mannerisms are probably habit more than nature, so my guess is that these mannerisms are just a part of how you were raised, and who your friends were.

Even if you don't normally ride public transit I would recommend just getting on a bus or train and watching people. I know you said you already tried that but it's helped me a lot. People in their natural element (usually not thinking about how they are moving or who might be watching) move a little differently than people at a mall (who often go out to be seen or acquire things to be seen in).

Plus even if it doesn't help it's usually interesting and sometimes funny.

I am MTF and one thing that has definitely changed is the way I use my arms. When my boobs started growing until present, I have found that I cannot reach across my chest with my arms anymore or my boobs will be bumped in the process...ouch! So re-learning how to move arms will come naturally. Believe me, no thinking will be required other than to try not to bang yourself with your own movements. Also, on this note, I would like to publicly apoligize to every girlfriend I had in my teen years who said, 'ouch! that hurts, be gentle will ya!' (embarrased) because I understand now.  I find myself using my arms to 'hold myself' just to protect them at times. Now I know why women do this 'clutching themselves' thing, especially on cold days.
I have also learned how to get into cars more gracefully. Open door, swing round, butt facing seat. Sit. Swing legs into car. Close door. Getting out of a car is open door, swing legs out, hoist me bucko out of car with one good thrust. Close door, then give out a healthy, 'ahhh'.

Trisha, apparently some of the young Hollywood actresses missed the day in charm school where you are taught how to get out of a car with dozens of cameras around ;)  we've all seen "those" pics, lol