Yes! Sporty! I think that's quite positive, and in a sense, I'd rather be 'sporty' than 'tomboyish'. Then again, they are just labels, but they're hard to ignore when the society in which we live is based upon labels.

Quote from: Nicky on November 21, 2010, 06:40:57 PM
I have a theory that tomboys, and Janegirls (erm, is their an equivalent ), are actually part of the spectrum of trans people....

Anyway, yeah, I think it is a trap. You here it a lot "OMG I still like to play boy games I can't be a girl". In that sense the stereotyes cause a lot of heart ache. There is nothing to say you can't become a mtf trans girl who is a drag king for example.

I like how Eddie Izzard puts it - he is an action ->-bleeped-<- - "I run, leap, climb trees and put on makeup"

I concur with you on this.

Quote from: Helena on November 22, 2010, 05:04:36 PM
I always knew i was never going to be some hyper-feminine girl, and anybody who expects me to be like that because i'm transitioning has a lot to learn.

Labels to me are a way of exerting control and dominance over people, especially if used in a negative way. Be happy, live your life as you see fit, and stick your tongue out and wave a two fingered salute to the bits of the world that say different.

Exactly!  Helena, across the generations, consider me totally on board with your way of thinking.   

Many of us trans women have many complexes around feminity. I do. And it does not make me any happier. I think if you have no problems with tomboyishness (this word is a yay at scrabble, assuming it exists), I believe you will gain from it !

Quote from: Helena on November 22, 2010, 05:04:36 PM
I always knew i was never going to be some hyper-feminine girl, and anybody who expects me to be like that because i'm transitioning has a lot to learn.

Labels to me are a way of exerting control and dominance over people, especially if used in a negative way. Be happy, live your life as you see fit, and stick your tongue out and wave a two fingered salute to the bits of the world that say different.

Here in the States we generally give the single digit salute 

This is an interesting topic and one I've thought about quite a bit because of my personal situation. 

I grew up with only my mother and my younger sister in the house and neither are girly girls in the least. My mom hates wearing makeup, messing with her hair and loathes anything but jeans and a t-shirt, she doesn't mind mowing the lawn or killing bugs; my sister is pretty much the same way and neither have a problem hanging out with guys and giving them crap. I've never really thought either of them to be tomboys though, but maybe my perspective is different being that's all I was exposed to growing up.

It also makes it even stranger that I've always been much more "girly" than either of them since I was a child. I like playing with my hair, doing makeup, and enjoy a nice skirt as much as I do jeans and a cami. I'm also terrified of bugs and hate to be dirty, not because "girls are supposed to be that way", it's always just how I've been. I've always thought it to be quite interesting that these have always been my traits even though I was never exposed to any of it growing up. Nature over nurture for sure in my case.

I would consider myself a bit of a tomboy though, I will always love cars and mechanical things, but I'm not sure how much of that was influenced by growing up as a guy or has always been present in me. I have clear memories of reading popular mechanics magazine at my grandmothers house as a small child and absolutely loving it.

I dunno, it's interesting where we all end up in this "spectrum".

~Sara (who currently has grease under her fingernails but nicely pedicured and painted toenails)