When I tell people about my work with the TG/CD community, I occasionally get responses like:
“Oh, you mean drag queens?”
Or…
“You work with transvestites?”
There’s a lot of ignorance out there and I get annoyed when people mislabel “my girls”.
The fact that there are so many identities under the transgender umbrella only adds to the confusion.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this and would love to hear YOUR thoughts on the topic:
Which “label” do you identify with?
- Transgender woman
- Crossdresser
- Transwoman
- T-girl
- Something else?
Or do you not identify with ANY of these labels?
How do you feel about labels, anyway? Do you hate being labeled or do you wear your chosen label with pride?
I’d love to know, so let’s continue the conversation below!
Love,
Lucille
I’ve had difficulty in this area. I’m more convinced of what I’m not than defining what I am. When asked if I am transitioning, I’ve replied, no, I just look different. I’m not a drag queen. I’m not female, nor born in the wrong body. I’m not particular when it comes to pronouns. When dysphoria was wreaking havoc, the need to express my feminine side was essential for relief and now that I present a feminine appearance, I still have masculine attitudes. Yeah, quite confusing. If understanding and labeling myself is difficult for myself, I can’t expect others to get it right either. Most labels are opinions and judgments made by appearances. I’d rather not label myself.
When enfemme I just want to be referred to as a girl or woman. Most gg women that I run into in public do this.
The first peace I had to make in my identity struggle was with myself.
Years ago I thought I was just a crossdresser but I didn’t want to just dress as a woman I came realize I am simply am a woman. I will use trans woman because I feel like we are almost forced into some kind of disclosure or be seen as somehow trying to con people. Also having Native American (& Irish) ancestry I have learned about the old traditional gender variances among the tribes and the term two spirit has been coined by the native LGBTQ community. In my tribe a name assigned to a person born male but who spirit is female and lives as a woman is M’netokwe (Manito plus female suffix) in my native language translates as “supernatural, extraordinary”.
i consider my self mixed gender person since i like wearing women’s clothes n being feminine at time’s but being stuck in male body so i put it to use most of people I’m around don’t recognize my female ways but do male thing’s to so im not labeled odd or weird person even though im being female right in front of them n my own way
I have been crossdressing since I was about 12 yrs old. I have purged many times through dating and a marriage. I am now 60 and in very good health and have finally found my true life as Darla. I am working at being passable and wish I had the support 20 years ago. It would of made my life a lot more easier. Thank you for helping me. Darla
I don’t like labels, except for Human. However, liked or disliked, they do help others attempt to relate to us. Attempt being the key word. Maybe the real question is: If we had to label ourselves for the sake of others, what would we call ourselves?
For me, currently, it’s Crossdresser. I wear panties 24/7, and love how they feel. I’ve come out to a very small handful of people, at the Victoria Secret at the local mall, and Payless Shoes. At work, during the 10 months school is in session, I’m known by my male side. At home, I’m usually in comfortable feminine lounge clothes. (Don’t live alone.) So, this is how I currently choose to present myself. Will this label change over time? Hopefully. However, right now, it’s the one that I think currently fits.
I am unsure where I fit in as so many others also. I am preparing thru my Endo. to switch from T to E & P. My gonads are already useless and my breast are almost a C already. I feel sure if given the chance I would have an orchiectomy. After an adjustment period I love having breasts and always think about CD, applying makeup, and wearing skirts dresses and corsets. I hate body hair and every 3 days rotate to shave my entire body due to body dysphoria. In shoe stores I love dreaming of high top high heeled boots but can never find big enough sizes. It is hard to decide to step into the abyss if you can only pull together 80% of the resources. Would you reach out and help me see my way thru a couple of things.