I've just been wondering on this: I wonder how many FTMs there are, and MTFs that I come across one everyday life. I'm thinking that the MTFs have a bit more attention (or infamy) because, sometimes, they're more noticeable as being born in the wrong body. I know that I used to think that there were more MTFs than FTMs, but that was before I came out, and started looking into trans forums, like this one, and Tumblrs, etc. And FTMs tend to blend in very well, especially after T and GRS. Even pre-T transmen can pass as adolescent boys. Are there significantly more transwomen than transmen, or are some of the stealth transmen just harder to spot? (Not to say that many MTFs can't pass being stealth, though!)
I think transmen are harder to spot because testosterone is a very powerful hormone that it can override estrogen and it is much easier to masculinize a female body than the other way around. After around 2 years, you look unmistakeably male and if you don't you look like a very androgynous person or butch female. MTFs can be stealth but it is more costly due to needing antiandrogens on top of estrogen, voice therapy, electrolysis, FFS and vaginoplasty. Females are, biologically speaking, men without testosterone since nature produces a female by default if no androgens are present in the womb in the correct times. Even within the trans community, transmen are generally perceived more positively than transwomen. :(
Those assigned female at birth have more wiggle room too to explore their identity.
There is a trade off either way.
FtMs masculinize better, but GRS is not the best as far as function.
MtFs Feminize worse, but SRS has far better results as far as function.
I think the population is about even though. :)
Quote from: Marcellow on August 26, 2014, 11:22:01 AM
Even within the trans community, transmen are generally perceived more positively than transwomen. :(
I've noticed that, and I hate it! We're all going through a similar process, so we should all be treated equally, and how we wish to be known as! We're all, in my opinion, one big, dysphoric, trailblazing family.
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on August 26, 2014, 11:56:40 AM
I think the population is about even though. :)
I was thinking that! Thanks!
I dunno... In the world of celebrities, there seems to be a much larger percentage of transwomen compared to transmen. There's Laverne Cox, Carmen Carrera, Janet Mock, Isis King, Andreja Pejić, etc., and then there's Chaz Bono, Buck Angel, and the pregnant dude in a corner somewhere.
I think the ratio is skewed to MTF but not as skewed as it seems.
Quote from: ReubenIsTheName on August 26, 2014, 12:03:33 PM
I've noticed that, and I hate it! We're all going through a similar process, so we should all be treated equally, and how we wish to be known as! We're all, in my opinion, one big, dysphoric, trailblazing family.
I was thinking that! Thanks!
Well you have to understand its a lot easier for a trans man to blend in and its more acceptable to be a trans man vs. a trans women. And you also have to look at the fact that the porn industry gives real trans women a bad name. That's why trans women are not treated the same as us. And like Marcellow said females can also dress masculine and explore there identity and not really get judged for it vs. a boy dressing as a girl and doing the same thing.
To answer your question Trans men are more invisible to the world because we blend in much better. But that's not to say there are more Trans women than Trans men
I think Jessica Merriman stated the result nicely, individual results are different for each one of us. I hope my results are the best possible when I have my surgeries. Getting good valid data is very difficult and evaluating it even more difficult, so discussing the ratio of FTM/MTF is open to lots of questions.
My understanding is that there roughly the same number of us. It only *seems* there are more MTFs. FTMs have always existed but may completely slip under the radar and not even actually get into the medical system (no T or surgery) but still live in society as male. I believe many FtMs live in the lesbian world, perhaps not really completely fitting in, but kind of live as stone butches (Les Feinberg is a good example of this.). This sort of partial living as female is nearly completely impossible in male society, as far as I can tell.
--Jay