Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transgender talk => Topic started by: jonjon on April 10, 2008, 07:24:13 AM

Title: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: jonjon on April 10, 2008, 07:24:13 AM
 :D I really hate kids! lol Really do... But their ability to identify me as who i am makes me wana hi-five em all!

I work at a store that sells games and consoles, so i tend to see a hell of a lot of kids, as much as i despise them. But lately i've been witnessing a lot of parents tell their child to "Hand the lady the game" and the child to turn around and say "Thats a boy!!!" And i'm like - "Way to go kid! You know what i am!"  ;D

So...? Kids really smarter than the average adult?  ::)
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Jay on April 10, 2008, 07:30:49 AM
I personally think so...
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Moira Midnigh on April 10, 2008, 08:41:42 AM
We have a saying here, that roughly translates to:

"It is from children and drunk men that you will hear the truth." (I'm sure there's a proper English equivalent, but I sure can't find it...)

Well, yeah. Kids are so pure like that, completely unspoiled. They're not biased or prejudiced towards anything. Sadly, they inherit their parent's share of that as they grow. I mean, we're all influenced like that...even though I completely disagree with my father on the subject of homosexuality, I still vote for the Socialists like him.

Anyway, good to hear! Personally, I like kids. Until they reach a certain age where they start trying to be adults and forget to have fun.


~Moi
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Jay on April 10, 2008, 08:45:57 AM
QuoteAnyway, good to hear! Personally, I like kids. Until they reach a certain age where they start trying to be adults and forget to have fun.
Yep me to!

QuoteIt is from children and drunk men that you will hear the truth

Now that you have said that whenever I go out men who I have never met before talk to me and treat me like the man I am.. wow! Spooky!
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Moira Midnigh on April 10, 2008, 08:52:51 AM
Hrm, it's interesting...

Might be because they are so open to suggestions, they listen before looking.

My job basically consists of playing with children and telling them huuuuuge lies ('s true!) and you can just see that moment of doubt in some of the older kids' eyes, whereas the younger ones believe every single word you say. And the 'grown' ones, of course, dismiss the lie immedeately. That's so boring ^^

Same with drunks, I'd guess. They're in a state where they are far more suggestible, so it's easier to make them listen. And they -do- listen! I've had some of the most intelligent conversations with drunks, and it makes me feel a little guilty for not being as drunk as them, 'cause then I might start listening to them as well. Eh!

Kids and drunks are great, really.


~Moi
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Koutetsu on April 10, 2008, 06:22:07 PM
I had a girl in a grocery store once ask her mom, "Mommy, why does that guy have long hair?" I was just happy that I was dressed as a guy at the time. Woulda been awkward if I had been trying to pass.

And kids being more intelligent than adults? I really think that depends on which kid and which adult.
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: NicholeW. on April 10, 2008, 06:56:46 PM
Children under 8-9, teenage girls 11-15 & drunks. And the occasional Indian or Pakistani. You know you "pass" when none of those people identify you.

N~
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Pica Pica on April 10, 2008, 08:39:05 PM
wonder why the indian and pakistani?
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Lisbeth on April 10, 2008, 09:04:04 PM
My experience has been something of the reverse.  Kids have long been able to peg my gender, but they always picked my inner gender, even when I hadn't transitioned yet.

At a nature center event with my daughter, a child approached me: "Whose mom are you?"

At the Renaisance Festival: "Are you a boy or a girl?" "What do you think?" "I think you're a girl."
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Kate on April 10, 2008, 09:15:27 PM
Quote from: Nichole on April 10, 2008, 06:56:46 PM
Children under 8-9, teenage girls 11-15 & drunks...

Oh YAY, I'm going to a birthday party for an 11 year old girl saturday, lol... who so far apparently doesn't know. Not to mention a number of people who don't know me. Here we go again...

~Kate~
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Elincubus on April 10, 2008, 09:22:48 PM
I think in some way both is true. Kids just know nothing about transsexuality. So on the on hand they will never be polite about passing because they don't understand this concept, but on the other hand that also means they don't suspect somebody tries to pass--for children it's just boys or girls and if they are not sure they will believe you, why shouldn't they?

And it's of course true that you can explain almost everything to a child and it will understand if you explain it in a
Kids are just unbiased and open minded. But this also makes one very sad if you think about how this will change almost always because of their narrow minded environment...
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: joannatsf on April 10, 2008, 10:23:34 PM
I read an article in Psychology Today about sexual attraction, gender and sexual orientation that humans perceive by way of smell.  Maybe kids, with their more sensitive noses can read trans people by their scent?
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: Pica Pica on April 11, 2008, 06:57:08 AM
sounds a bit paranoid to me, time to fetch the tin hats?
Title: Re: kids, and their ability to identify your sex
Post by: tekla on April 11, 2008, 08:54:08 AM
I never take my tin foil off.  But I think that kids see the world in a different manner, one which you forget as you become an adult, and some of those things that adults just skim over kids notice big time.

Its like those "There are 10 things different" with the two pictures thing?  Kids score much better on that then adults do, they see the differences much more quickly.