I have. I just saw pictures of me smiling and my first response was...shoot me. So I'm making a conscious effort to not full on smile anymore until I get on T and my face looks more masculine...just smirk, or slightly smile, or something. How many of you guys have encountered the same thing?
I would if I could, but I can't help it.
My default facial expression has always been read as inappropriate for a girl (I guess I look like I'm sad or angry or something) and my emotional reactions also used to get read as inappropriate, so I trained myself to smile in response to basically everything. Angry, upset, frustrated, nervous, shy, it didn't matter, I started converting all of my facial expressions into cheesy grins. And now it's a habit. I'm trying to kill it, but I've had no luck so far.
I don't hate smiling because it makes me look feminine, I just think it makes me look dorky sometimes.
I'll smile when I'm laughing obviously, but other times I don't really. People complained about me looking sad or angry all the time, but when I do smile they grill me about what I'm thinking of. You can't win.
Quote from: Lachlann on March 23, 2010, 04:11:32 PM
I'll smile when I'm laughing obviously, but other times I don't really. People complained about me looking sad or angry all the time, but when I do smile they grill me about what I'm thinking of. You can't win.
This. I got that throughout middle and high school. Not so much in college; I think people finally started to mind their own business.
Why should I have to go around smiling all the time if I don't have anything at that moment to smile about? That's just creepy to me. If something's funny or cute or makes me feel good, I'll smile. Walking to class, not gonna be smiling.
On topic, I have not given up smiling. I taught myself to smile differently when I was about 13 or 14 though. It was more of a crooked smile a la Harrison Ford in Star Wars/Indiana Jones. I use that one for most amusements. My natural (eye-crinkling) smile comes out when I'm really enjoying myself. I don't think it's feminine as my dad has the same exact smile.
Hmm, well I don't usually smile but it's not because of femininity. I mean, it probably does make me look feminine but really I just don't smile because I'm not happy.
I gave it up a while ago (look at any of my avatars on Susans and you'll see an example)
One of the reasons I gave it up is, yes, it does make me look a little too feminine
The other reason is I generally don't like expressing my happiness. I don't understand why that is, but I just don't. The only time I ever smile around people is when I think of something or see something so funny that I can't hold it in
Family Guy is good for that one
I smile all the freakin time, I look more male when smiling anyway, and being happy is contagious.
I don't think I pay much attention at all to how much I smile. I certainly don't have a problem with it. I have, however, my whole life been accused of looking discontented when I was in fact enjoying myself.
I've given up smiling, full stop. ;D
In my opinion, nothing to do with either masculinity or feminity. Stereotypes, figures.
Quote from: Alex_C on March 24, 2010, 03:28:57 AM
I smile all the freakin time, I look more male when smiling anyway, and being happy is contagious.
Brilliant attitude!
I can't imagine not smiling, or laughing because it made one look girly. As a matter of fact, I'm not getting this whole "you pass but not when you smile" bit I've seen since joining yesterday.
Nope - in 7 years online with FTM/trans groups- never heard of this issue.
??
Oh hell..and now I'm feeling odd about never hearing of this before!!
;D
Apparently I have a nice smile and I use it every now and then when the situation is appropriate (a.k.a. auto-smile). However, I prefer the smirk over the smile since it suits my character better and yeah also because smiling femmes me up. Otherwise my standard expression is 'I'm going to ringe your intestines out and turn them into a window display...' 8)
I like to smile cause it makes me feel good, and also, I don't want to come off as an angry black guy (thanks society). So I smile regardless if it makes me more feminine or not.