My Trans Life

Im bored... lets talk FTM recommendations :D

Oh boy, do I love my life being absolutely boring.

Just to keep this book going, I'll try to post something every week. So... something?

1. Passing tips
So, for FTM, sure your identity is top priority. But don't expect being called the right gender if you're wearing a dress and have crazy long hair. But everyone is different, and priorities can vary.

For me, passing is a pretty high priority. I want to be perceived as a man at school, so I cut my hair short, wearing boxy clothes like flannels and straight cut jeans, and maybe a hat.

Oh, for some things like facial hair, adams apple, etc., I haven't fully found something that works besides going on T. Don't know for sure, but I've read something about people using coconut oil and applying it to their upper lip which causes minor hair growth? I've tried it for a few months, and the most I got were barely visible whiskers (or those small little hairs near the edges of you "mustache.") At least that's what I call it. There's also some hair growth products I know are common that may work, I've never used them.

For other things, I don't often focus on them. Maybe some makeup could make the appearance of an adams apple or darker eyebrows?

2. Feminine Dysphoria
Ah yes, this.
We all hate those horrible glands sticking out of your chest, and that hole that bleeds every month or so.
For those things on your chest, I see people use binders to flatten them. I honestly think binders are expensive and you can only wear them for 8 hours before taking a break! I suggest getting a sports bra (maybe a smaller one) which you can wear for longer and still flattens your chest, at least a little bit.
As for that time of your month, you can't really do anything unless you're on HRT or puberty blockers, which sucks. I take some Tylenol every so often so it feels like it doesn't hurt. As for the bleeding itself, I just put on a pad and go on with my day. I never liked tampons, to awkward to put in and I think I got scared at a young age after reading that medical toxic shock warning on the package? I dunno lol.

3. Do you use the girls or boys bathroom/locker room?
This one is a kicker. I remember being in this weird limbo stage where I looked too masculine to be a woman but too feminine to be a man. If I went into the girls bathroom, weird looks shot me everywhere. I even got removed from there once, stupid old lady. And when I went to the guys restroom, i also did get some weird looks.

But now, looking much more masculine, I find myself using the men's restroom. I get much less weird looks there than if I went to the ladies bathroom. Plus, it makes me feel euphoric to be in the right place. Locker rooms are still relatively new to me, so I don't change in the men's locker room (yet) but I do change in an unused room/the bathroom.

Honest opinion, it's hard to enter the men's bathroom, especially on that time of the month. Walking out with a bloody pad definitely would fetch some bombastic side eyes. Plus those freaking wrappers around the pad makes such a noise, what a nuisance. In my experiences, I've never have been on my heavy time while having to use the men's restroom, so..?

I've also heard some rumors or something about trans guys getting raped by men in the bathroom, or "trans women" raping women in the bathroom. Probably in places like Ohio and Florida. This connects to safety. If you don't feel safe, don't feel obligated to use that restroom. Also, I put the quotation marks around "trans women" because normal trans women wouldn't do such a thing, it's usually just perverted men who dresses up as a woman to get access to women in vulnerable areas. I've been lucky enough not to witness or experience such a thing.

To summarize, do what you feel most comfortable and safe with and makes you feel euphoric.

4. Relationships
You gender identity does not shape your sexual orientation. Sure, they're similar, but at the same time they're different. Identifying as a man does not force you to like women, or trans women. Vise versa with identifying as a woman. Your gender identity is based on you and who you are attracted to. For me, I'm straight, being a man who's attracted to women. But you can also be gay (man likes men), lesbian (woman likes women, but less common for FTM people), bisexual (liking 2 genders), pansexual (liking all genders), aromantic (not liking anyone romantically), asexual (not liking anyone sexually), etc. Do some research, find one that can fit you, or best fits you. Labels aren't important too, if you can't find one that fits with you, that's okay.

5. Is it pronounced "GIF" or "JIF"?
GIF (with a G) is 100% the correct way. Saying JIF just makes you look like somebody who loves JIF peanut butter (which I'm not saying I'm not..) But yeah, call it GIF or else.

Wowie, we'll look at the time. I better skedaddle because my teachers are still expecting me to finish 3 major assessments by tomorrow. Bye!