Did you know that your body language makes up more than half of the impression you make on others?
That’s a big part of your feminine image as a crossdresser or transgender woman!
Body language comes down to four key elements: your posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to develop bad body language habits that can undermine a poised and polished appearance.
In this blog post, I’ll share 27 MTF body language mistakes to avoid when presenting yourself as a woman.
27 MTF Body Language Mistakes to Avoid for a Flawless Feminine Image
- Slouching
- Constantly checking your phone (this is a biggie!)
- Biting your nails
- Rummaging through your purse
- Crossing your arms
- Fidgeting
- Shaking your leg or tapping your fingers
- Not smiling
- Scanning the room while speaking with somebody
- Talking too much with your hands
- Exaggerated nodding
- Examining your teeth or face in public
- Applying makeup in public (other than a quick swipe of lipstick)
- Resting your chin on your hands and elbows
- Sitting with your legs apart
- Clanging your silverware
- Avoiding eye contact
- Eye contact that is too intense
- A weak handshake
- Clenching your fists
- Standing too close to people
- Chewing loudly
- Talking while you eat
- Eating or drinking too fast
- Bending towards your food instead of bringing the food to your mouth
- Leaning forward too much
- Leaning back too much
Phew, that’s quite a list, isn’t it? Some of these might seem obvious, but let’s be real – we’ve all witnessed these behaviors in public!
Are you making any of these mistakes? If so, don’t feel bad. (I’ve had to work on some of these myself!) Instead, resolve to improve them.
For fun, do a “body language study” the next time you’re out in public. Notice the subtle actions that enhance or detract from people’s images.
Can you think of any other habits that should be added to this list?
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please share in the comments below.
Love,
Lucille
P.S. Ready to discover more tips and tricks to be your most polished, feminine self? If so, you will love my FREE 3-part Male to Female Transformation Mini Course.
I can think of one more, Lucille: Movements that are too stiff.
Through your blog, I’ve learned to work on all of the above body language habits; and I even use them when in around friends to maintain my knowledge. 🙂 Thank you so much.
I find this list rather odd. Women cross their arms often–you just have to cross under your boobs instead of on top of them. Weak handshake isn’t wrong, I wouldn’t think, it’s just not required. Resting chin on hand is fine if you do it gracefully rather than aggressively. I’m still trying to figure out how to rest my chin on my elbows–I guess if I were laying my head down that would work and probably be okay, although you’re not supposed to lay your head down in public. Rummaging through your purse isn’t okay???
I have the same problem with the purse!!
if you go out dressed its best if you go to the mall or shopping where its crowded so there is a lot going just relax it will be fine if you, don’t sweat the small things just remember regular women have bad habits that may be worse than yours just pull the potty trip off the best you can I dress casual no loud colors just fit in you will do fine
Since all of those things applies to cis women I wouldn’t worry too much. However a few points is flat out wrong:
– Not smiling. Yes every woman walks around with a huge smile on her face. What?
– Avoiding eye contact. You know, when you pass, and happens to be attractive, it kinda is a must to avoid eye contact. I am not in the mood all the time to meet men’s gaze. I guess I am a bitch, but I don’t want whiplash either.
– Slouching. Yes this is horrible, and I catch myself doing it now and then, so I have to do a chest out, chin up, walk in a narrower line, and make my hips work. It becomes natural after a while.
– Talking too much with your hands. I am not saying it’s wrong, but if you notice women in general their own waving has a purpose.. Sort of a language on it’s own, at least with my friends it is. I copied some of them and have even some for myself. It’s kinda fun when you do it. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, although try not to wave like a flamingo on ritalin, and you should be just fine.
A couple of points I would add is:
– Be careful how you walk. Wide legs is a total giveaway.
– Exaggeration of female traits you’ve learned is a no no.
This is great advise of course, but the thing is in our day and age femininity has become synonymous with the word weakness. Personally I don’t subscribe to that belief, in fact I think the world could potentially be a much nicer place if some of the core characteristics of femininity were embrassed, instead of being revered. Nevertheless, it seems like many women seem to feel like they have to emulate men, whether it be by dressing in pants, masculine hairstyles, androgyny, masculine career paths and so on. Fortunately that makes our job of blending a much easier one. If you can manage to get even half of the 27 suggestions Lucille makes right, then you’ll be doing a hell of a lot better than most of the genetic chicks I’ve seen lately, which includes those walking home in their 4 inch heels like they’re stepping through a minefield of sh#t in a pair of gum boots while yelling profanity as they make their way from the night club in the early hours of the morning. Sadly, femininty is almost gone. The bar is low… indeed it is!
I have been full time for almost 3 years now and I know I am guilty of doing some of the things on the list. For example, crossing my arms, not smiling enough, leaning forward or back too much and rummaging through my wallet looking for a particular credit card or some other card. My credit and other cards seem to rearrange themselves just to annoy me.
Now no one is perfect and cis women do things on the list. As in other comments a lot of the list would/should apply to men also. As a man I would not have done a lot of things on the list, they are just plain rude.
As William S said “to thine own self be true” and my advice for what it is worth, just relax and do not sweat the small stuff. It just takes time but kinks can be worked out or at least minimized.
Good luck with whatever your goals are.
Thanks Robyn, so true. In our busy times, we forget to lighten up and smile more.
Wow Robyn, you look fantastic. Very beautiful.
Thanks
Quite an extensive list! Whilst I couldn’t argue with Danielle’s reply and it makes a level of sense, for me a lot of your points are just either good manners or good advice for men and women. So yes I agree with the post.
Big things for me are smiling, keeping a good posture and paying attention to who you are speaking with.
I am just a crossdresser and i know that i’m a man in a dress. So i don’t really care if i come a across as manly when i am dressed! Besides the women in my area are really manly too, so…? I guess what i’m saying is real women in my area break everyone of those things, and so for me to fit in i most also!
I agree with, I live in the country, an the lady’s are very casual in most everything they do