Feminine Differential - Gender Insight

Empowerment means embracing our femininity, not rejecting it. So if you are only putting on the costume, then you are are only superfluously living your femininity. There is much more.  




Rhonda shares an article titled, Empowerment Means Embracing Our Femininity, Not Rejecting It, by Mary Claire Lagroue.

 

Alone on an Island

One of the first "facts" I discovered was most transvestites were not gay. Much to my relief at the time. Little did I know, I was just not having sexuality issues, just gender ones.






Cyrsti shares some thoughts of the dark days before the Internet when she felt like she was Alone on an Island.

How is Jules Really Doing?

....Sort of like the person is saying, hey, I know Jules is lying when she says she is fine with you being on estrogen, so why don't you spill the beans and lay out the reality that she is super pissed at you and is about to leave you.   



There are those out there who just cannot believe that a wife can put up with a husband who crossdresses and is on HRT.  So, Nadine asked Jules:

Are the benefits of me taking hormones worth the cost that has been paid?

Read, How is Jules Really Doing?....for the answer.

Moving, 'Mones, & The Mane Thing

"It will be a lot easier next time, Cass," she assured me as I sat up and gathered my clothes. "And I have to tell you: Dr. Brassard does great work. Your labia looks fabulous."
 
"On the list of things I never expected to hear growing up, J," I replied, "That is very close to the top."


Cass has an update for us.  In her usual way, she covers a few subjects including her new digs, her first doctor's checkup (as a complete woman), and her beautiful hair.  And, as she always does, she talks about music.  How can you not want to read one of Cass' posts??!!!

Living as a woman

We are women because we are accepted as women, and we are never accepted as women by everyone. I can’t force anyone to use particular pronouns, and the best I can do is to not overreact or get too upset about it. It is not news to me that I am seen as a man.




For a transwoman, it's all about the proper use of pronouns and acceptance.  Clare has done it all, including gender confirmation surgery.  Like many, she is accepted by most, but there is always the exception.  Read, Living as a woman, from Clare Flourish. 

Skirt Dropping Interview

We walked up to the back "patio" of the building, chatting. 

Then my skirt fell down. 

Completely.  As in belt on the ground.    

Fortunately, I was wearing pantyhose.  But my panties?  Boring cotton granny panties.  Nothing interesting, like maybe French cut, or a thong.  Or even stockings and a garter belt.






This has got to be any girl's worst nightmare.....and it was at a job interview.  

OH...MY...GOD!

Sophie handled this one in stride, however.  Read, Skirt Dropping Interview, to hear all about it.

a universal truth

That video I posted yesterday had a commenter stating that "Jesus can heal you" and all I could think of was slapping him because this has nothing to do with religious principles or moral fortitude; but such is the stupendous ignorance in this world. 



Joanna is one of the most well read indivisuals I know, when it comes to the subject of gender and sexuality.  In short, Joanna has a pretty good idea what we're all about.  It's really worth reading this post if you have any doubts about yourself. As is always the case, Joanna has a lot to say in a relatively short blog post.

I'm Done with Wigs! And Not Happy About It

When I had my hair transplant stitches removed last week, I asked the doctor when I could start wearing wigs again. After all he had said hats were okay, so I figured wigs would be the same. Wigs are really just specialized hats right? 


And, what was the doctor's response?  I'm sure you can guess, but Faith will tell you all about it.  Our girl also has lots of pictures in this post and, oh my, is she gorgeous!

To be or to love

For the past few years I have entertained the fantasy that I am queer enough to date across the full gender spectrum. But if I’m being honest with myself I can look back and realize that beyond the trends of convenience there is the sad fact that I just don’t connect as deeply with masculine people.


Our author is about to embark on the feminizing HRT and wonders just where this will take him/her when it comes to love and gender.  To be or to love?  Why not both?

Study Reveals Effectiveness of Testosterone Suppression in Trans Women – Transgender Universe

“A new study tests how effective spironolactone and estrogen are at reducing testosterone levels in transgender women.”







Thanks to Kira for passing on the link.  

Bathroom anxieties: a genderqueer janitor’s perspective

When I came out to the principal and assistant principal, one of the first and only questions they asked was about bathrooms.  Which bathrooms did I plan on using?  If she (the principal) could make a suggestion, it would be best if I only used the gender neutral bathrooms.  I was polite in response, even though I had not thought this through, and at the time, I used both the women’s bathrooms and the gender neutral bathrooms.  All I said was, “A lot of people are worried about bathrooms when it comes to trans-people.”


And, in the case of JQ, who happens to clean those bathrooms, there's even more to this story. 

I love this blog, by the way.  If you haven't checked it out, you should.

Transition vs Presentation

When time allowed it, minutes as Rhonda, became hours, days and extended times. People accept her, like her and my own level of comfort expands. Rhonda fits in so well at times, she scares me.




Rhonda hasn't transitioned, and may never do so, although she keeps that door open for the future.  Indeed, she is not even comfortable with the term, "transition".  Read more from Rhonda in her post, Transition vs Presentation.

To purge or not to purge? That is the question.

Now for those who don't know that bit of trans slang, a purge is - perhaps somewhat obviously - when you chuck everything. Not just a ruthless clearout, but anything and everything related to *ahem* crossing over is disposed of. While there are various reasons why someone might do this - guilt, shame, clean break, etc - I think the idea is to get rid of any temptation and make a clean start of it.


I'm sure that most of you who are reading this know all about purging.  I certainly do.  Been there, done that, threw away the tee shirt!

Lynn has a few things to say about a very common word in our world, yet few bloggers actually write about it.

Keeping It Real: Stick-on Nail Review

.....removing the polish is time consuming and you cannot always be certain that you have removed all the polish. Tell-tale streaks of polish on your nails or cuticles (I find cuticles seem to hold the polish better than the nails) will certainly raise a few eyebrows.




For several reasons and she lists them all, one of which is above, Daniella is not a fan of painting her nails.  She prefers disposable nails.  If you're a part-time girl, read this one.  Good stuff, from Daniella.

T-Girls – The Next Generation

When I started the MN T-Girls, I had thought there would be many members in their early 20’s joining the group as that was the age that I had started to grow bolder and wanting to meet others like myself.  But that’s not really the case and I often wonder why.







Yeah, Hannah, I've had the same thought many times.  Our local group, the Gems, has few members in their 20's.   Why is that?  Hannah has a few thoughts in, T-Girls – The Next Generation.

Letters from Beth

I wrote my Mother-in-Law, I knew she was home and could let my Father-in-Law read it as well.



Beth had come out to all but her mother and father in-law.  How did she do it?  What did she tell them?  How did they react?  Read, Letters from Beth, for the answers.

living in peace

Those of you who are already there know what I am talking about and there is really no easy road to self acceptance whether it happens early or late in your life. 



It's short.  It's sweet.  And, it has a message.  It's about living in peace, from my friend, Joanna.

A New Chapter for Trans-Advent

I’m writing today because I’ve recently realized something fairly significant about myself and my journey.


You're going to have to read this post to find just what Emma found out about herself.  I'll give you a hint: Emma has had her blog up since 2014.  In 2015, she had 135 very interesting posts.  The number went down after that, with only 8 posts in 2017 and this is the first post in 2018.  What happened?   You're going to have to read, A New Chapter for Trans-Advent, to find out.  And, after you read the post, leave Emma a comment.

Does "Passing" Equal Privilege?

If you are fortunate enough to have (or are transitioning) favorably, does that give you the right to say you are more trans than another, or worse yet, turn your back on the entire LGBT community? Well, first of all, no one is more trans than another. Where does that even come from?




Unfortunately, I know of several former friends who have transitioned and have totally abandoned the trans community who helped them to get to where they are today.  They transition, they pass, and they're afraid of being clocked simply by being around those who are in transition or have not yet in transitioned.  Good post from Cyrsti. 

Sex dysphoria

It is a package. Way of being + way of presenting + physical changes. If I could have tolerated the way of being without the way of presenting, that would have been better, but it seemed impossible to me. Then, if I could have had the way of being and the way of presenting and realised that did not necessitate physical changes I might regret…


Does someone born male need "the operation" to live full time, legally, as a female?  Does that same person need to present as female while, perhaps having had "the operation"?  Clare has some well written thoughts on the subject, in Sex dysphoria. 

2 Hours To Rectify 51 Years Of Physical Abnormality (and 48 Years Of Wrongness)

I have now been through the momentous event of having my (cosmetic) gender reassignment operation to make the anatomy between my legs match the rest of me, the woman that I should have been from the start of my life… and all it took was two hours of expert surgery! 



Andrea has shared her experience from hospital arrival until the return to home.  It's really nice to read this but, for some, it could be a trigger.  I used to cry when I read posts like this one....tears of happiness for the blogger....tears of pain and sorrow for myself.  I know how to handle these posts now, but beware if you are subject to the "trigger".  Nicely written and well worth reading.

Authentic

So I live my everyday life in accordance to what my body tells me to live, even if I suffer a spiritual and emotional discordance from it. People know me as male, so I plod along as such, and I’ve grown adept at it. No one who I haven’t told has ever suspected that I harbor such a secret. Scandalous!


Wow!  What a positive blog post, from Stef.  If you're in need of a "feel-good" post to read, Authentic is for you.

Fertility and Hormones

The thing that I’ve had on my mind a lot lately is the question of when to begin my hormonal transition in relation to what to do about having a child. I’ve known I wanted a baby since I was pretty young, though in more of a maternal parenting role than a paternal one.


The author of this blog post wants to begin her transition from male to female.  She's worried about the fertility issue and wondering just when to start the family.  This is not an uncommon dilema in the trans world and an issue with both Male-to-Female and Female-to-male transitioners.