Question: Insight into androgynous expression?

Someone asks…

I was assigned female at birth, but I identify as androgynous. I’m lucky, since I don’t look very feminine anyhow, and since I prefer to dress very casually, I seem to pass as male in most situations.

That’s fine on a daily basis, but every now and then I feel bad about it, because I’m not a man and I’d rather be read as androgynous. I’d like to incorporate something more feminine in my gender expression, but that seems like a minefield, since I don’t want to go back to being read as female.

On the other hand that may just be something I tell myself because I’ve gotten so used to the privileges of being read as male and am secretly afraid of the repercussions of being read as a femme man, even though that would seem to be a more accurate description of my identity on some days.

I’m not even sure what I’m asking. Insight into androgynous expression? Tips on how to be more confident about not presenting traditionally masculine? Anything’s welcome.

Please post your response in the comments below.

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Posted by on May 13th, 2017 at 08:00 am

Category: questions 6 comments »

6 Responses to “Question: Insight into androgynous expression?”

  1. Paul Travers

    A very courageous profile, beautifully and sentimentally written from the heart. This one really touched my heart, too.

    [Reply]

  2. Anna/ ALix

    Beanies. Get, like, a purple beanie. some bright color. it has helped me. if there are small feminine things that you can do that will be balanced out by the masculine dress, etc. maybe do them? just some stuff I have done.

    [Reply]

    Anna/Alix replied:

    If you wear lip balm that can feel like lip gloss and help. Or really subtle makeup that can’t really be seen but you can feel.

    [Reply]

  3. Paul/Paula (Paul Travers)

    How right you are! Small feminine things do indeed balance things out. I agree 100% with your sentiment, Anna. x

    [Reply]

  4. Anonymous

    Today I wore a summer dress with a men’s short sleeved button up shirt unbuttoned over it. I really liked the way that it looked because I felt like it combined the femininity and masculinity and balanced it out perfectly. I also love wearing my most traditionally masculine clothes and then wearing a full face of makeup… I’m quite simple so I don’t have many accessories but I find it’s easier to balance things out by wearing one really masculine thing and one feminine thing…. hope this helps
    -B.D.

    [Reply]

    Paula replied:

    I agree fully with everything you say, BD. This is a very courageous message which should reach out to all like-minded people. You deserve respect and admiration for having the courage to be the real you. Kindest regards, paultopaula@gmail.com xx

    [Reply]


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