(no subject)
Mar. 21st, 2003 10:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Just back from seeing HWiPfI; it was frustrating today, though subject matter specific, rather than anything else. We talked a lot about the move from theoretical issues to actual, and the concommitiant move from theoretical fears and difficulties to actual ones. In case you didn't know, I'm way, way better at theory than actuality, or at least I like to think so.
I'm growing quite concerned about losing protective coloration, or possibly the ability to take cover in the herd. Don't get me wrong; I'm pretty pleased with the morphological changes taking place, but I'm not at all looking forward to the anticipated social effects they'll likely bring about. Specifically, it looks quite probable that, within about six months or so, it will become necessary to bind if I want to "pass" as a boy anymore (which, in theory, I don't). However, I have serious doubts as to my ability to "pass" as a girl. As well, the whole feeling of having to pass is offensive to me, but just because it offends me, it doesn't change. In a lot of cases, it feels like a safety issue. Ideally, I'd want the ability to change categories, if you will, as the mood takes me: today, boyish; tomorrow,girlish;day after, something else. Unfortunately, I don't think the world is ready for that kind of flexibility. Even more unfortunately, it seems like precisely that kind of flexibility is what I need. HWiPfI could only nod and affirm that yes, indeed, it sounds difficult and complicated, and that he had not heard of others aiming in the direction I intend to go, either.
Sigh. If it wasn't for this perverse need to interact with people, I could live as a hermit.
I'm growing quite concerned about losing protective coloration, or possibly the ability to take cover in the herd. Don't get me wrong; I'm pretty pleased with the morphological changes taking place, but I'm not at all looking forward to the anticipated social effects they'll likely bring about. Specifically, it looks quite probable that, within about six months or so, it will become necessary to bind if I want to "pass" as a boy anymore (which, in theory, I don't). However, I have serious doubts as to my ability to "pass" as a girl. As well, the whole feeling of having to pass is offensive to me, but just because it offends me, it doesn't change. In a lot of cases, it feels like a safety issue. Ideally, I'd want the ability to change categories, if you will, as the mood takes me: today, boyish; tomorrow,girlish;day after, something else. Unfortunately, I don't think the world is ready for that kind of flexibility. Even more unfortunately, it seems like precisely that kind of flexibility is what I need. HWiPfI could only nod and affirm that yes, indeed, it sounds difficult and complicated, and that he had not heard of others aiming in the direction I intend to go, either.
Sigh. If it wasn't for this perverse need to interact with people, I could live as a hermit.
no subject
Date: 2003-03-21 08:26 am (UTC)Nope, can't ever see you "passing for boy," or "passing for girl"
For those who don't know you, you'll probably pass pass for...er... um... ?..
- Primary social reprecussion forseen: confusion (confusion can be disarming btw)
For those who do know you, you'll pass (no probably this time) for Allen
- Primary social reprecussion forseen: none. You've always passed for Allen, more or less. Our job to figgure out what exactly makes an Allen, success or failure depending on all of 'us' as much as you.
But...
Somehow that does not seem like such a bad place to be. Is it?
no subject
Date: 2003-03-21 09:10 am (UTC)- Primary social reprecussion forseen: confusion (confusion can be disarming btw)
This is where I anticipate issues/difficultiy/strife/etc. If I could just deal with friends and loved ones, I don't think it'd be anywhere near as frightening or the like. But it's that, "What the hell are you supposed to be?" reaction that I worry about (employability is at least one such practical concern).
no subject
Date: 2003-03-21 11:57 am (UTC)Most people gloss over details in non-essential interactions, especially when the interactions don't apply.
I do understand the desire for the accessory mutability - when it could just be
"Damn, that person looks good in that dress" instead of "Hey, look at that cross-dresser."
zB.
no subject
Date: 2003-03-21 12:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-03-21 09:00 am (UTC)But, the past few years of history has shown that there can be more support and tolerance than you've learned to expect in the past.
So, while this is all still really scary and, chances are it will be hard (just learning to change is pretty damn hard), but I'm hopeful that you'll see less trauma than you fear and more rewards than you dare hope for.
And, uh, living as a hermit ... nothing doing! 1. you're stuck with me, which kinda messes up the hermit deal 2. *no way* am I going to go live a cave or something equally as ooky and non-urban!!!!