Susan's Place Transgender Resources

for some odd reason i think kids...jus sense certain things...but ne who...in my life most of the people that "call me out" are kids under the age of 10...like i was in columbus a month or so back visiting my g.fs family and i was playing with her sisters kids they called me d and him and so on...then after we left apperently her sisters daughter asked her mother is auntie alyda was kissing a girl or a boy...
im not aware of the fact is she caught on i have...chesticles or if she was jus confused on the fact she had an understanding her aunt was a lesbian.
when it comes to adults i usually pass with no problem..tho kids usually "catch on" that im a "girl"....


anyone experience kids catch on more then adults do?


d.j

I haven't but many here have found that.

Some drunks also pick up on it easier as well.

I'm not sure kids pick up on it as much as they have less of a filter, so they might mention what others are thinking.  Also, smaller kids are still trying to figure things out, so they think nothing of asking if someone is a boy or a girl if they aren't sure.

The only little kids I know now knew that I used to be a boy but am now a girl, so they don't mention it. :)  They figure that it is just something normal.  (And they're right! :D)

- Kate

Funny but my experience is jsut the opposite. Little kids see me as male most often.

I have a bigger issue with the older ones, actually. The younger ones call me 'him' and 'he'.

Haha. I had an interesting experience a few weeks ago with a little kid. I  was at a homeschool campout that I go to every year, (I used to be homeschooled) and I was talking to one of the kids there. One of the first things he said to me was "When I saw you walking over here I thought you were a boy!"
I was surprised and  a little flattered because this was with no binder/girly haircut/etc. But I just said, "Yeah, I am!"
For the whole rest of the week, he tried to call me out on EVERYTHING. "Well, you look like a girl. An' you talk like a girl. So you're a girl." This coming from a little boy with curly blond hair down to his waist. xD And then after the talent show, "You sing like a girl!" It was rather funny.

I think it's more the fact that kids just pick up on your bodylanguage and don't think about it as much. As in, if you're dealing with an adult, they might do the "do I say him or her?" dance inside their head. The child on the other hand will just say whatever comes to mind first and with children, you can simply correct them easily if they pick the wrong pronoun and they'll accept it and not feel bad about it.
Correct an adult then (if they're decent people) they'll refer to you by the right pronoun but still wonder inside their head or (if they're bigots) they'll dig their heels in and call you by the wrong pronoun and think to themselves "I knew it... " and so on.

I went to work at this shop a few weeks ago, and the shop owner's daughter who I've never met before was with her mum outside. She asked her mother essentially "is that a boy or a girl?" to which her mum replied "that's a boy" (I've not come out to anyone yet). Bless her, she then said to her mum "No, she has long hair, that's a girl". ;D

Animals and little children have always taken me as female unreservedly, even when I wasn't supposed to be one. It was older kids and adults who seemed puzzled by me.

Children are more likely to notice that something is incongrous, but less likely to no what it is.

If people think drunks are more likely to notice, it's probably more the case that drunks are more likely to say something that indicates they noticed. 

mmm, I've never found that. As for drunks, they just hit on me. o_0

Quote from: Northern JaneAnimals and little children have always taken me as female unreservedly

Duh...... maybe a dumb question but how do you know what animals thought?
(not being a smart-ass, just wondering what made you come to that judgement  :) )

@ gothique11 - honey, I wouldn't have to be drunk to hit on you.......  ;)

Quote from: Steffi on September 29, 2009, 02:01:54 PM
Duh...... maybe a dumb question but how do you know what animals thought?
(not being a smart-ass, just wondering what made you come to that judgement 

The most glaring example was a pig-headed sexist @$#% stud (horse) that would NOT work for me. Turned out he would not work for any of my girlfriends either but would work for any male handler. There were also dogs and cats that would come up to me who supposedly wouldn't approach men. (Old farm girl here. Some animals have a preference for either men or women.)

(generalising) Little uns will read you and tell the world..."Mom that womans a man!!!!"...teenage girls will read you soem may be perfectly fine, some may tell text their hoodie friends .. you can guess the rest...Women will read you some may be friendly and treat you as a woman, some may throw a sulk and storm off, if a woman is with a man she'll read you then tell him..because your another woman and a threat..but one thats easiest dealt with by outing you..the probelm is in how he reacts....The is all pretty glass half empty stuff....I've walked passed a big group of girls, teenage and younger, had my favourite gypsy skirt on,  T shirt top that accentuated my chest, pumps on my feet, and my best wiggle...breezed past them smelling of scent, they never uttered a word....inside I was bouncing up and down...It can be done.

mines was the opposite.
When i had long hair,my little cousin would always ask why I have "girl" hair and why my grandma use to say "she".
My aunt makes sure she uses male pronoun when she is referring to me when talking to my cousin.

Kids are usually really sweet, & are just curious. I live in a large apartment complex & when I started going fulltime they would regularly ask my if I was a boy or girl, as well as knock on my door & ask if I had any kids for them to play with just to get a closer look at me. It's been my experience that kids in general are very accepting once their curiousity is satisfied.

I would take a guess that children still have their ability to "see" what's right in front of them. I can explain this with a friend of mine with DID: One of her alters were out and when my neice came by she asked, "Who's that? Where's [friend's name]?" I went on to say that it was my friend and she went on to say, "No it isn't." My neice was about 4 at the time.

As we grow up, we really lose this ability to see what's truly plain as day. Societal norms shape us and creates what is called "rationality" in us. So instead of thinking things like, "That wasn't John. It was someone else." We think, "Oh, John was acting rather peculiar. Maybe he's having an off day." So yeah, children will very much see us for what we (unfortunately, in most cases) are.

I think it's all rather fascinating!  :D

Quote from: Leslie Ann on September 25, 2009, 02:23:49 AM
I haven't but many here have found that.

Some drunks also pick up on it easier as well.

Thats more people that know anyway, but normally wouldnt say anything... the inhibitions/ embarrasment in asking is gone.


Personally i think kids are easier... unjaded, and accepting on face value...  I love kids :)  I personally havent noticed a difference overall

Quote from: Steffi on September 29, 2009, 02:01:54 PM
Duh...... maybe a dumb question but how do you know what animals thought?
(not being a smart-ass, just wondering what made you come to that judgement  :) )

I've wondered about the same thing. My daughter has a cat and it does not like men! Even her husband. Before I began transition the cat would have absolutely nothing to do with me. Once I began transition and more precisely RLE, this cat is as friendly to me as it is to my daughter! Weird! I wonder if it more of a visual thing rather than sensory perception. Or does it have to do with taking female hormones? ???


Dawn

Animals tend to work off pheramones and smell more than sight.... I had a similar experience with a freind's cats.... One, a queen, hated men, but loves me...

I am mentoring an 11 -year old trans girl, and this is her first year at a new school and full time as a girl.  She is so fabulous and looks just like a girl, and sounds like a girl, and IS a girl. to me.  The kids have picked her out, though, and she is undergoing the usual questions, jokes, and other things.  She is my heroine.

Oh my gosh, Virginia! what a fabulous opportunity! I do hope she is able to get past all the initial shock of the other students well, and just get her education! Great job! Being a mentor has to be very fulfilling. You too, are a heroine!


Dawn

Tbh its probably more the things she doesnt know or way she behaves in certain situations, or slips she made than visual issues. Children are a lot more.... suspicious of eachother's behaviour at that age.