I'm still pre-T and everything though I do tend to pass given that I have broad shoulders, deep voice and light facial hair, but something that was asked of me recently was why I don't act like a macho man. When I thought about this I couldn't help but laugh. I don't know if they had expected me to come out then change everything about myself. Like I would go out and become a lumberjack, survive only on beef jerky, and wrestle a bear cuz he looked at me funny (though the jerky thing would be awesome!) It took awhile for my friends to realize that I was still the same person. I still like musicals, my favorite color is still purple, I still shop endlessly for clothes and accessories. All that has changed about me is my confidence in knowing who I am and not feeling like I am a walking lie. Has anyone else experienced this?

To a certain extent, yes.
It is like the people around you expect this from you. After all, you 'want' to be a man, so you should act like one. And if you don't act like a stereotypical guy, then your 'desire' to be a man is not real. Of course, this is utter bullfeces.  Yet it seems to happen a lot.

As an example, I'm wearing pyamas that I've had for a decade now. They are the soft, girly kind. The boyfriend of my mother once commented that now that I was 'turning' into a man, I should get rid of them. Like the definition of manliness or being a man is based on what you sleep in. It's ridiculous. I'll wear what I want to wear, thank you very much.

So really, don't mind these people. They are just blabbering about what was drilled into them by society. They don't know any better. Keep on being confident, I say! That's the right route to take.

Oh I really hate that one! I haven't heard this re: myself. But I have heard other people say they have had people express this to them. And sometimes if they say no, they aren't trans enough. I hate the "not trans enough" meme with such a passion.


--Jay

Purple is manly. Why? because it is my fave. Fooey on the rest. You are who you are, it is perception that is usually off in others.