People are very good at reading body language. They can tell whether you are confident in yourself or if you are tense and nervous just by looking at you. Additionally, male and female body language has some distinct differences in style. As a result, it is important to know what kind of body language is attractive as an FTM transgender male. If you understand and practice attractive body language techniques, you will not only build your confidence but also enjoy an unrivaled masculine image.
Understanding what constitutes as male body language and knowing the influence it has on other people can be very advantageous, particularly when you are dealing with women. If you want a woman to find you irresistibly attractive, then you must know how to project attractive male body language. However, it is worth mentioning that body language is only part of the equation. You must also develop an attractive personality. Below are some tips that will teach you how to display an attractive male body language.
Have Good Posture
Although it may sound cliché, good posture is the first step to having attractive male body language. As an FTM trans guy, it is important to have a good body posture because it creates an aura of confidence around you. There is nothing more obviously unattractive than terrible posture. Slouching as you walk and sit will only show people that you do not have confidence. On the other hand, walking around with an elevated chest and shoulders back will certainly make you feel and look more attractive and manly.
Slow Down Your Movements
Men that display attractive body language are sure of themselves. Their body movements are often precise and calculated. As an FTM transgender male, you should also try to act like this. You should slow down your body movement, as this makes you look more confident and natural. Try to make your movements smooth and graceful. This does not mean you should walk like a tortoise. It simply means avoiding running around like a headless chicken.
Eye Contact
A key aspect of good body language for both men and women is eye contact. When conversing with other people, proper eye contact is one of the main things they will immediately notice. To be an alpha male, you need to know how to maintain proper eye contact with those you are talking with. Additionally, this will certainly get you more points when conversing with women. Looking down or averting your eyes when conversing with a lady will reveal a lack of confidence. On the other hand, never blinking or holding eye contact for too long can make your partner feel uncomfortable. You should learn the difference between staring and maintaining proper eye contact. Coupled with a smile, good eye contact will help you project attractive male body language.
Your dressing sense goes a long way towards people creating a certain image of you. It sounds clichéd but it’s true. Saying that you are essentially the clothes you wear would be probably going too far! But still, the clothes you choose to wear define your personality. As a FTM transgender guy, you can use your fashion sense to your advantage. The way you dress is very important for projecting a strong male image.
You are out there in the open now, eagerly waiting for the world to embrace your beautiful manhood. And that world, in evaluating your charisma as a man, is going to constantly check out what you are wearing.
However, the whole experience of buying men’s clothes can be intimidating for a FTM transgender guy. It’s a whole new experience for you. If you have a small body or big hips for instance, then you would think finding the right male clothes that would fit you well is even bigger a challenge.
But with a few tips and tricks, you will be ready to embrace your masculine self! And not just get by but perhaps come out with flying colours!
Buy Clothes that Fit You Well
This is the most basic and common-sensical tip for anyone. But still, people fail to follow this simple adage.
Many FTM transgender guys commit the cardinal sin of buying baggy, oversized clothing. They have the perception that bigger and looser clothes would somehow make them look bulkier and more manly. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Clothes that literally hang on your body just make you look boring and old.
So, it is important to buy clothes that fit you well. Not too tight but not overtly loose and baggy either. It has to complement your body.
This becomes even more important while you are shopping for jeans or trousers. Jeans too tight on the waist would look awkward and would also make you immensely uncomfortable while you are sitting down or simply moving around. Jeans too loose would also be totally unflattering to your body.
Well fitted clothes give the impression of a confident personality. As a FTM transgender guy, it is super important to appear confident and articulate. On the contrary, ill-fitting, baggy clothes give the impression of someone who doesn’t take care of themselves.
Remember that as a FTM transgender guy, perception goes a long way towards people accepting you in your manly image. And well-fitted clothes help create that perception.
Do not be Conscious about Your Size
Do not stress over your body supposedly not fitting a generic male body parameter. Rather, dress according to your body type and you are bound to look good.
If you have a somewhat smaller body, do not get conscious of it. Just look for clothes in the boy’s section. Well-fitted clothes give the impression of a fit, toned body, irrespective of one’s body size. So, if you are very small size, do not get obsessed with getting bigger. Just find the right clothes that complement your body type.
If a FTM transgender guy has bigger hips that can also become a cause of concern while shopping for male apparel. Men’s trousers usually don’t have room for big hips. But it’s not impossible to find one that would sit well on your hips. So, no matter what, do not get conscious about your size. Always buy clothes that fit you well, even if that involves putting in a bit of extra hard work!
Just remember that if you buy trousers with the right cut, you can minimize the appearance of a heavy waist. Taper cut pants are also a suitable option for a FTM transgender guy with larger thighs.
Yet another trick is to move a size or two up with the waist but opt for a trend like skinny fit. This would make the trousers sit beautifully on your legs while hiding your waist.
So, whether you are a small guy or unusually big by general standards, do not get nervous and do not lose confidence. There are all sorts of sizes available these days. As long as you don’t get obsessed with the idea of forcefully trying to change your size or body type, you will be fine.
Your Clothes Should be Your Personal Statement
Now, everyone is unique. And that is precisely why no two people look the same, even if they have put on similar-looking clothes! As a FTM transgender guy, do not feel compelled to copy the fashion choices of cis guys or anyone else, for that matter. Create your own fashion statement.
Have fun with what you wear. If you like colours bring on the blues, reds, pinks, whatever! If you are enamoured by anime, video games, let your t-shirts showcase that side of yours. You don’t have to resign yourself to wearing boring whites and greys just because you want to project a certain male image.
As a FTM transgender guy, you are certainly projecting a male image. But one that’s uniquely you. And the man who is not afraid of being himself takes up his sexiness quotient by a few notches!
So just remember that your sartorial choices should be an extension of your personality.
Use Clothes with Patterns to Your Advantage
Now, this is a practical necessity. As a FTM transgender guy, it is important to hide or camouflage any bumps on your chest. So, you have to super careful while wearing t-shirts with patterns or stripes.
A golden rule to follow in this case is: the more random or asymmetrical the pattern is, the better it is. A random or asymmetrical pattern with help you camouflage the bumps in your chest area better. When the pattern is not symmetrical, the human eye gets somewhat confused. Such a pattern would then not draw overt, exclusive attention to your chest area.
So, buying clothes with patterns is great. But you have to be careful as to what kind of patterns are these and if you can use the design to camouflage any bulge on your chest.
Check Out What FTM Trans Icons are Wearing
Now, this is an exercise that can be both fun and inspiring! You can check out the profiles of FTM trans icons on social media sites like Instagram and check out what they wear, how they carry themselves.
As a FTM transgender guy, following a celebrity who has probably had the same share of struggles as you can be a major confidence booster. There are times when we need role models to fall back on not because we are not sure of ourselves but simply because we perhaps need a new perspective to look at our own self.
Gender is a societal construct. It enables people to assign a particular set of characteristics and attributes to a person based on their biological makeup. Many people think gender is biological. But it is simply not. There are people who are born as female biologically but they identify with the male gender. They begin to experience gender dysphoria at some point in time.
Those who experience gender dysphoria get abrupt mood swings; they get anxious for no visible reason at all. Life becomes very difficult for them as they are unable to fathom the source of their unhappiness. They are often diagnosed with mental illnesses and put on medication.
It is only when they realize that the source of all their agony is their biological gender which is different from the gender, they mentally identify with that they start considering some action to live the life they have always wanted to live.
Not all of them take the path of surgery to transition from female to male. Some try to change their look and appearance by dressing and overall behaviour. Irrespective of their biological makeup, they come out as a man in front of society.
But many choose to medically transition from a female to a male. A medical transition increases their chances of passing off as a male in society by multiple times. It also makes them somewhat less vulnerable to societal discrimination and abuse as they develop the outward manifestations of the gender they mentally identify with.
Gender Reassignment Surgery enables this transformation from female to male. There are many components of this surgery. There is the Mastectomy or top surgery that is typically the first surgical procedure performed on somebody who wants to transition from female to male. Many people opt just for Mastectomy and escape other procedures altogether.
Mastectomy helps in getting rid of the unwanted breast tissue and gives your chest that flat, manly appearance. There are a number of techniques involved in this procedure. Depending on your body structure and the results that you are looking at, a combination of these techniques may be utilized.
Then, there is the bottom surgery known as RFF Phalloplasty. In this surgery, the skin and veins from the forearm are used to construct a male phallus. There is another technique known as ALT Phalloplasty that can also be used to create a male penis. This technique utilizes skin and vein from the thighs instead to construct a male phallus.
Then there are other procedures also which a person transitioning from female to male might choose to undertake. There is Facial Masculinization Surgery and there is Body Masculinization Surgery.
Facial Masculinization Surgery has a set of procedures that can be used to give a more manly and chiseled appearance to the face. Body Masculinization Surgery is ideal for those who want to transform their body type to a more masculine type. It is a kind of liposuction technique that reduces a feminine hourglass figure and creates a masculine physique. This procedure can get you quite close to the ideal male figure that includes broad shoulders, trim waist and very less body fat in the lower body.
The medical procedure is just a part of transitioning. Transitioning from female to male is a complex process that has a social and psychological angle to it. You have to totally transform your identity in front of society. And for that, you have to mentally very strong, confident and be proud of your new identity.
There are a couple of tips you can follow in order to make your journey from female to male easier and less hassle-free.
Be Proud of Your Identity
You have to accept yourself before other start accepting you as a man. Societal discrimination and apathy are a part and parcel of transitioning. Do not let that intimidate you. You have to tell yourself that it’s perfectly normal to identity with a gender that is different from the one assigned to you at birth time.
Once you are comfortable with your identity, it’s important to go even a step ahead and celebrate it. Remember that you are unique and different. And it’s the habit of society to criticize everything that is unique and out of the box. But once they realize how valuable that thing is, they get crazy about it. That’s the way society works. So, once you start becoming proud of your identity and begin to revel in it, societal apathy will mean nothing to you.
People who are trying to make you conscious will shut up because you are not getting conscious! Accepting yourself is the first step in your journey of transition from female to male.
Begin Your Transformation by Coming Out
People in your immediate circle need some time to get used to the male you. Your new life as a male might be unexpected for your friends and family, even if they support your decision. So, start by coming out as soon as you can. Take folks who are close to you into confidence. Tell them clearly about your newfound identity and the life you are going to live from now on.
This might be difficult because you might have a family that has issues with your identity. You are probably scared that they will not accept this. Well, you have to learn to be a bit tough here. It’s your life and your choice. You can try and convince your family for sure but you have to be willing to go solo. For someone who has a woman’s body biologically, declaring that from now on, they are going to live and behave like a man in front of their family is not going to immediately get them the understanding they deserve.
Your family might be even hostile to you when you come out in the open. So be prepared for anything. It is very important to have a set of people who genuinely support you and your identity. These people will become a bridge between you and society. They can be your friends, relatives, family members, anyone.
But it’s important to come out in the open with your identity because even after your transformation, your friends and family will take time to get used to the new you. Social acceptance will be a slow process. You have to just keep going on. Do not be disheartened by temporary troubles or roadblocks. As long as you are consistently embracing your new life as a male, it’s all good.
Start Dressing and Behaving Like a Guy
This is a very important component of your transitioning. Even if you are mentally prepared to undergo a transition and have come out in the open, it can be very difficult to discard those old mannerisms you have been so used to.
You feel like a guy. You know it in your heart that you are a man. But if you continue to dress in women’s clothes, people around you would obviously not accept your masculinity. So, it is important to change your outward appearance too.
Begin to dress in men’s clothes. Start observing the behaviour of guys around you. Pay attention to their facial expressions, body language, the way they walk. These little cues will help you learn how to project a masculine image.
The internet too can give you a lot of information on how to incorporate masculinity in your day-to-day behaviour. For buying men’s clothing, check out what other guys on the street are wearing. And then pick clothes that would suit your appearance and build and would highlight your masculinity.
You might feel a bit awkward at first but if you keep at it, you will soon get used to it. And there will come a time when behaving like a man will come naturally to you. It won’t seem like you are acting or trying too hard. You already felt like a man in your heart. But with time, you will automatically start behaving like one externally as well.
Look for Professional Help
Your physical transformation is a very important part of transitioning. Of course, whether you want to undergo a medical transformation or not is totally your call. But if you are constantly anxious about not looking like a man enough physically, then surgery can help you get rid of that confusion.
You should first consult a therapist who would help you figure out the emotional and psychological problems you might be going through. The idea of transitioning from female to male can throw anyone’s mind into chaos and confusion. It’s a difficult state to be in. Your body is craving for an identity that is different from the biological identity assigned to you at birth. All this can get very complicated for your mind. So, a therapist will help you with the emotional and mental aspect of your transitioning.
Then you should look for a reputed and professional doctor who can offer you the best advice on the probable route you should follow for physical transformation from a female to male.
Gender transitioning in a transgender person is a complex process. There are two main components at work here, social transitioning and medical transitioning. Social transitioning involves coming out as a transgender in front of society. It means asserting one’s new gender identity. So, someone who was born a male biologically will assert their gender identity as a trans woman and vice versa. Social transitioning often begins before medical transitioning. In fact, some transgender folks prefer to live out the life of their new gender identity without making any physiological changes. Instead, they adapt to their new gender by dressing up, voice projection and by trying to adopt the mannerisms and behaviour of the gender they feel they belong to.
But a vast majority of transgender people undergo some sort of medical transitioning. For a trans person who was assigned female gender at the time of birth but feel that they are male, medical transitioning can go a long way towards helping them balance their life and relationships. Having a body that stands at odds with the gender he strongly identifies with can be a source of acute distress to a trans man. This can induce feelings of gender dysphoria; a state where a transgender person’s biological gender becomes a source of agony to them and they even strongly desire a change in the sexual and bodily manifestation of that gender.
Medical transitioning can indeed offer a new lease of life to a trans man undergoing gender dysphoria. It can also do wonders for his love life and relationships. If he wants to date somebody through a transgender dating site or a transsexual dating app, he no longer has to worry about her biological characteristics standing at odds with his new gender identity.
Whether you are a cis woman wanting to date a trans guy through a trans dating site or a layperson curious to know more about transgender people, it is important for you to understand the basics of female to male gender transition. Once you understand the kind of transformation a trans man goes through in order to embrace the male gender biologically and socially, you’d be able to appreciate and understand him in a much better way.
This article lists out the most important components of female to male gender transition.
Gender Reassignment Surgery begins with Hormone Therapy
There are different kinds of procedures and treatments involved in gender transitioning from female to male. Gender Reassignment Surgery is the blanket term used for all such treatments.
In female to male gender transition, medical transitioning usually begins with hormone therapy. During this therapy, the transgender person is giving the male hormone testosterone. Hormone therapy is used to induce physical changes in your body so, in the case of a female transitioning to a male, it will induce the biological characteristics of the male gender in their body over a period of time.
Once you are administered hormone therapy, you start noticing increased body hair growth as well as facial hair growth. You might also notice the loss of hair on the temples. Receiving the male hormone testosterone can also deepen your voice, giving it a more masculine texture. However, if you are into singing, your voice might start cracking for a while and you might lose your singing range while you are transitioning. Male hormone therapy can also thicken your skin, thus making you more tolerant of cold.
Testosterone would also stop your menstrual cycle. This would generally happen within three months of receiving your dose. It will also increase your sex drive as well as appetite. Experts say that if hormone therapy for female to male transition begins before the changes of female puberty start, then female biological characteristics like the development of breasts can be avoided altogether.
Mastectomy or Top Surgery
Mastectomy or top surgery is the most common surgical procedure for trans people undergoing female to male transition. In this procedure, unwanted breast tissue is removed in order to flatten out the chest and give it a more masculine appearance. Depending upon your body structure and specific needs, the surgeon can utilize a number of techniques to achieve the desired results.
Many trans people undergoing female to male transitioning opt for Mastectomy as the only surgical procedure. The reason for that is that it is a very safe procedure and one that can be performed by a relatively large number of surgeons.
Facial & Body Masculinization Surgery
Now, this is an optional procedure. Trans men who desire a close to perfect and well-chiselled masculine face can opt for Facial Masculinization Surgery. This surgery utilizes a range of techniques and procedures in order to give the face a more masculine contour. A combination of techniques like cheek augmentation, rhinoplasty, forehead lengthening, jaw contouring, etc., can be utilized, depending upon your specific needs.
Body masculinization surgery can be used by those who are looking for the perfect male physique. This surgery utilizes a broad range of techniques to target fat deposits in those specific areas where the female body usually accumulates fat like thighs, breasts, buttocks, etc. The liposuction technique is then utilized to transform your feminine hourglass figure into a masculine body type. The sought-after masculine body type involves broad shoulders, a super flat stomach and little or no fat in the lower part of the body. The surgery tries to replicate this kind of body structure for you.
Facial and body masculinization surgery can be great for trans men who are looking at dating someone through a transsexual dating site or a transgender dating app. Looking like the perfect guy you dreamed you always were can do miracles to your self-confidence. However, it is important to maintain this great body through proper diet, exercise, adequate water intake and ample rest.
Bottom Surgery
Bottom surgery is the final step in your transitioning process from female to male. Also known as Gender Confirmation Surgery, this type of surgery involves the construction of a penis through the procedure of phalloplasty or metoidioplasty. Before undergoing this procedure, a trans person might wish to undergo a hysterectomy. In partial hysterectomy, the uterus of the person concerned is removed. They can also opt for additional and more complex procedures in which fallopian tubes and ovaries can also be removed.
Bottom surgery is quite complicated and it is only a very experienced surgeon who can perform this type of surgery. Not all trans men undergo bottom surgery. It is also a very expensive procedure. The concerned person undergoes detailed counselling before they decide to opt for bottom surgery.
Medical Transitioning is just a part of Transitioning
This is the most important point to understand. When we talk about a trans person transitioning from female to male, medical transitioning is just a part of it. Transitioning is a complex procedure that involves social transitioning. Even before undergoing any medical procedure, a trans man begins to come out in the open by dressing up as a guy, by creating a bulge in the genital area by using a rolled-up sock or through various prosthetic devices and by wearing clothing that camouflages the bulge in the chest area.
A trans man closely observes the body language and mannerisms of other men around him and then tries to adapt accordingly. He regularly checks out the latest trends in male fashion and then picks up male apparel that is suitable for his body type. He also joins a trans dating site or a transsexual dating app to look for a prospective partner. In fact, he is always on the lookout for the best transgender dating sites. A trans man also goes through a transgender blog and becomes part of a transgender forum where he gets to learn from the transitioning experiences of other trans guys.
Medical transitioning is just a part of the entire transitioning process. What matters most is the confidence with which transgender guy can embrace the male world.
It’s all about Striking a Balance
Balance is the underlying principle of life. It’s the same with female to male transitioning. A FTM trans guy needs to find the right balance. Some trans men try to overdo the masculine guy part. They go all over-aggressive, domineering and try to feign insensitivity just to show how tough they are. That’s just not needed. Being a man doesn’t mean that you have to feign some kind of toxic masculinity. Just like everything, hyper-masculinity has some negative traits which need to be avoided.
A real man is all about empathy, kindness and magnanimity of heart and spirit. He is a tough guy on the exterior but his heart is soft and vulnerable. He can do anything to take care of his lady love and also has compassion for human beings in general. This is the kind of guy a trans man should want to post transitioning. And this is the type of guy any woman would fall for once she meets him through a transgender dating site or a transsexual dating site.
During transitioning and after it, a FTM trans guy has to find his unique sweet spot and project a masculine image accordingly while he is dating someone through a trans dating app or a transsexual dating site.
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