u/Flightless_G0ose

I feel like a big issue within the ftm community is the fact that as trans men we are expected to fit into what a basic guy looks like and to not seem alternative or different from the norm to simply pass ot deserve respect off cisgendered people or even some trans people.

I dressed very stereotypical and basic for a long period of my transition (I've been trans for 5 years, dressed basic for 3 and a half or 4 years) and one day I realised that I hated the fact I just could not express what I like and am passionate about out of pure fear of not passing. I now dress in the way I want, dyed my hair and got the piercings that I was so afraid of for such a long time and I don't pass as much as I used to and it does upset me but I've made that choice to choose my happiness as a person over being someone I'm not just to pass.

I have a lot more confidence in myself and my identity being an alternative man being able to find people who will accept me for being trans and treat me just like they would treat anyone else and I'm no longer around people that just view me as some tomboy and refer to me as a girl simply out of pure arrogance.

I think that self expression can be lost to dysphoria, especially pre t (which is what I am) and there should be less stigma around it and I just wanted to make this post to hopefully reach someone who felt the same way that I did back then and realise that your identity as your own person matters