How 'passable' are we really???

[sometimes-stacy]

Hello all. I very often go out dressed up. I still get just as nervous as I did the first time. Do you think people dont say anything because they dont notice or do they just not care?

[KristinSkye]

I'm sure it's a little bit of both but IMO its mostly that the average person just doesn't care enough to say anything. Sorry you're still very nervous going out; try to relax and just enjoy yourself :)

[Freddy12]

You probably are very passable, and people don't notice. I think in general we are much more passable than we give ourselves credit for. Having said that, most of us have a long way to go in the voice area.

[sometimes-stacy]

Opps I put this in the wrong place it seems. Lol still breaking my "blog virginity"

Yeah thats true actually. I compose myself fine until I get to a counter and I suddenly sound like a cross between a cat and 15year old going true puberty lol

[Melody Moore]

I find its a little bit of both, with me the majority of people don't pick me as being transsexual however on the odd occasions
I get the odd look or a nice smile from a natal female who picks up on it, but I have found that everyone I have come across
has been very accepting & respectful of me - May God have mercy on their pitiful transphobic souls if they dont! LOL

[Barbara Dugan]

I think they really don't care

[BiancaEstrella]

The average woman isn't 6'3".

The average woman doesn't wear a size 13 shoe.

The average woman doesn't have 8" hands.

Almost no woman on earth has an Adam's apple.

I know what I'm up against, and I don't expect the rest of the world to be "fooled." I just hope that, when I present as a woman, I do so with the class and respect with which I want to be treated. I'm not trying to deceive anyone, I'm trying to be as pretty as I want to be. If I sell woman despite everything I'm genetically up against, GREAT! If not, oh well...

[Nicole Erin]

Normally the TG'a who attract a lot of attention are the ones who dress ridiculous. We have all seen the older ones who are tall and try to pull a Britney Spears look or maybe wear a short skirt.
I sure don't pass all that great and I just go wherever and people don't seem to be looking at me.
Thing is, I dress presentably.

To raise comfort level, look your best when you go out and wear something conservative like maybe a blouse and jeans/slacks, or a skirt with low heels. Even if people DO detect you, they won't really care anyways especially since you look like you have made an honest effort instead of trying to look like you just got out of some kind of tranny convention.

[Melody Moore]

:iagree: Nicole pretty much nailed it - I go for the casual look throughout the day, so I often wear jeans & a blouse with sandals with light make-up.

If Im going to a business type meeting then I make an effort to look smart & conservative with low heels & the appropriate type
of make up. The only time I would wear high heels if I was going out at night and would dress trendy & sexy with night make up.

[JaytoJillian]

The average woman isn't 6'3".

The average woman doesn't wear a size 13 shoe.

The average woman doesn't have 8" hands.

Almost no woman on earth has an Adam's apple.

I know what I'm up against, and I don't expect the rest of the world to be "fooled." I just hope that, when I present as a woman, I do so with the class and respect with which I want to be treated. I'm not trying to deceive anyone, I'm trying to be as pretty as I want to be. If I sell woman despite everything I'm genetically up against, GREAT! If not, oh well...

Amen, Dani!

[Kelly Greene]

I think the others have said it best when we look presentable and try to blend in the general public is willing to let us alone, for me having nice legs helps but I still have a long way to go with my presentation.

[Sallee]

I have to agree if you look like your trying to blend you will probably do OK because no one cares. But if you are walking in 6" heels and you stand 5'9" with out and the skirt is a mini mini and your at the local walmart. Well maybe.
the key is dress to blenddon't over do it and no one cares

[Melody Moore]

The average woman isn't 6'3".

The average woman doesn't wear a size 13 shoe.

The average woman doesn't have 8" hands.

Almost no woman on earth has an Adam's apple.

I know what I'm up against, and I don't expect the rest of the world to be "fooled." I just hope that, when I present as a woman, I do so with the class and respect with which I want to be treated. I'm not trying to deceive anyone, I'm trying to be as pretty as I want to be. If I sell woman despite everything I'm genetically up against, GREAT! If not, oh well...
You will be surprised.... how about Zulu women from Africa or some women from Germany, Europe & Russia
for example? There are some very tall women in this world & plenty of them with some very masculine features.

There is a transsexual lady I know is 6'4" with a prominent Adam's apple. However she has no issues
now that she is choosing the right clothes to suit the occasion & has learnt how to use make up properly.

Wearing flat soled shoes jewellery such as bracelets & rings can help distract from the size of the hands and feet. Not to much you can do about the Adam'sapple except make it less obvious by using make up to hide the shape of it - lighten up the shadowed areas and darken the lighter areas.

Dressing appropriately to suit the occasion is the best thing to do so you are blending in rather than standing out in the crowd.

If you feel like you are sticking out like a sore thumb, then more than likely you are sticking out like a sore thumb - what I'm getting here at is if you worry & feel uncomfortable you will appear stressed others will notice it and the chances are greater that someone will make a comment about you & that can be devastating. The more relaxed and confident you are & selective about your style of dress, the less others will notice you & more people will be acceptable of you. I'm transsexual and have been living as a female and going out now 24/7 and as I said earlier, i have had no issues at all. Any attention I get, I obviously bring to myself - So the next time I plan on going anywhere I work on any issues to correct those issues.

[joann07]

I am fortunate, that my height (5'5), body shape, and relatively petite size fits somewhat within the range of most GGs and so it allows me to blend in fairly comfortably, but I'm not taking that for granted. I'm constantly looking at ways to perfect my overall feminine presentation.

Whenever I go out, I dress to blend in appropriately for the time and the venue. If it's a Saturday, and I'm heading to the mall, I'm going with casual wear as in a denim skirt or jeans; flip flops or sandals; casual tee, tank, or cami. During the week, I can wear a nice dress or out fit that's professional because it's work time so it's not uncommon to see GGs wearing a nice dress or outfit at the mall, or at lunch, because they're wearing their work clothes. After work hours, I can still wear a nice dress or outfit while eating out, at the grocer, or at Wally world because some GG's work late and so they don't have time to go home and dress down to run errands. On Sundays, I can get a little more dressier because it's church day and so GG's dress up for church. I can run errands in the morning to early afternoon, but after that say 2 or 3PM it's back to casual. These are just some things I think about that will help me blend in when going out during the week.

I've been to out to all kinds of public places and I'm not nervous when people look at me because it's just a casual glance. You can tell you're read because people's eyes will get wider and they'll just stare and point or look at you with curiosity. Whenever I see some GG glancing at me, I can just tell she's just looking me up and down and checking out what I'm wearing because that's what GGs do when they see a pretty woman wearing something that catches their eye. Rarely have I noticed that I've been read, but even if I am I'm not even paying attention because I'm just doing my own thing and doing what comes naturally. I'm so comfortable with my feminine presenation that I'm not worrying about the people around me nor am I doing things to draw attention to myself, such as, avoiding eye contact, trying to hide or evade, or overdoing my feminine mannerisms (i.e walking with one foot in front of the other, purposefully shaking my hips). Whenever I cross paths with a GG or whoever, I always give them a friendly smile and I always get one in return. It's amazing how a friendly smile goes a long way.

Hugs!

[Persephone]

. . . I'm so comfortable with my feminine presenation that I'm not worrying about the people around me nor am I doing things to draw attention to myself, such as, avoiding eye contact, trying to hide or evade, or overdoing my feminine mannerisms (i.e walking with one foot in front of the other, purposefully shaking my hips). Whenever I cross paths with a GG or whoever, I always give them a friendly smile and I always get one in return. It's amazing how a friendly smile goes a long way.

:yt::iagree:Right on! Right on!:iagree::yt:

In these discussions I always end up identifying with and sympathizing with the difficulty those who are ultra-tall must feel, although I know several GG women who are above 6-feet by a couple of inches or more.

There are definitely some tall GG women out there. Several women's departments sell not only "Tall" sizes, but "Ultra-tall" sizes (Penny's defines "Tall" as 5'8" to 5'11" and "Ultra-tall" as 5'11-1/2" to 6'2") and you can be sure there are women taller than that.

But as a general rule, I believe that passing is a matter of effort. I admit I have a height advantage at 5'7-1/2", but I've also spent endless hours trying my best to hone my passing skills, my makeup, my hair, my moves, and I never quit trying to learn.

Along the way I've spent gobs of money on electrolysis and laser. And I've lost a few jobs here and there because I wouldn't shorten my hair nor my nails. I may be on the "high maintenance" side, but I'm pretty sure I'm within the average for many of my female friends.

It took me a year and a half to loose 40 pounds, but that has changed my life and my health as well as my passability. How many who complain about their inability to pass have quit smoking, given up more than a once-every-couple-of-months beer and pizza? How many run/walk 4-5 miles every morning and eat their veggies, selecting the salad instead of the steak?

Unlike a number of people here, I do believe in passing. I do it all the time.

Most of us can. But are you ready?

[Loni]

all i know is my Dr wants me to loose 30 pounds....and he does not know about loni.
so i am taking his advice and working on loosing the extra weight. but as for shoulders and height. just a work around there.
but then i have seen many a gg that is taller than me, and i am 5, 11. working on the looks, and voice, lucky for me one of the gals in a group i am in set it up at a local collage for a voice class. even the under grads are a hoot to be with, a couple of them came to our Halloween party this past sat night.
but how one presents ones self has more to do with blending in than all of the makeup in a couple stores.
the best advice told to me is to be out there looking and doing just like any other woman and like you belong there.

and to just leave them with a smile.

.

[victoriamwilliams1]

The average woman isn't 6'3".

The average woman doesn't wear a size 13 shoe.

The average woman doesn't have 8" hands.

Almost no woman on earth has an Adam's apple.

I know what I'm up against, and I don't expect the rest of the world to be "fooled." I just hope that, when I present as a woman, I do so with the class and respect with which I want to be treated. I'm not trying to deceive anyone, I'm trying to be as pretty as I want to be. If I sell woman despite everything I'm genetically up against, GREAT! If not, oh well...

Partially true:)

I have seen women who are almost eye to eye with me. I know women with size 13 feet and big hands, and yes some women do have adams apples:

Adams Apples & Women: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2317

Now for me I am 6'8" and I have been told more by GG's that I am "Passable" which for me began when I accepted myself and worked on my presentation. No one in 100% "Passable" TG or dare I say even a few GG's get sired! I know my mom who was 6'3" did!

[Angiemead12]

Hmmm Im tall for my area, 6'4 with heels is a stand out so I dont think I am.

[eluuzion]

Yeah thats true actually. I compose myself fine until I get to a counter and I suddenly sound like a cross between a cat and 15year old going true puberty lol

Identifying or gawking at a suspected CD is probably not on many peoples' "to do" list. We are all self-absorbed in our own little world when we are out there. The issues we might be subconscious about or "proud of" rarely receive the anticipated recognition that we build up in our minds.

We tend to see what we want to see in relation to the due diligence surrounding the task at hand. There are some people who are naturally keen observers of their surroundings. Most are not unless an incident engages them personally.

The last time you went up to "a counter", can you remember what clothes the person was wearing? how about specific jewelry? What was the name on the nametag? How about the other people around the counter that you did not have contact with...or the others in line at the registers at the time, or pushing carts in the aisles...

We are just not as noticable to other people as we think we are in our own minds. As long as we do not draw attention to ourselves, we really are just part of the backdrop to others. Even if we are noticed, we rarely warrant a person altering their "schedule" to stop and focus on us.

Now if you were wearing clown shoes and boxing gloves with a see thru top and swim goggles...:heehee:


In short...pick one of these replies that works best for you...hehehe

Internet Forum Reply... "I think most of manage to pass enough to blend in and not "stick out".

Real World Reply... "Most of us will rarely be able to pass "close inspection". Fortunately, most people out there don't really care enough about us to make it an issue."

[tamarav]

As a crossdresser there are just some things you eventually have to expect. I work dressed and over the past Christmas holiday I worked at the cosmetics/fragrance counter in a local Macys. I went through the hiring process, through their extensive cash register training and then went on the floor. I half expected every customer to just stand there and stare but it wasn't the case.

I dressed the same as the other girls and wore the typical black outfits most of us wear in the beauty business. I wore hot makeup and pretty standard hair for me and did stand out against the norm, but I had only 2 incidents of flat out "OMG" statements. Everyone else just asked their questions, bought products and left.

Passing is a personal issue in our minds only. There are women out there that have a tough time "passing", I work on many of them every day in the salons I work in.

All of us, CDs or otherwise want to pass, or at least attract positive attention. We invite others to look at us when we are out and many times when they do, we feel that we aren't passing, otherwise why would they be looking? Getting looked at is common for most every woman, many times it is just innocent and at other times it is from a devious person simply trying to figure out how to approach you. But, any look you get is the standard for life. Go with it, don't go nuts trying to assume what others are thinking, they may not even be thinking about you..

[audreyinalbany]

I'm with the group that feels that most people simply don't pay that much attention. As a crossdresser, I'm constantly 'on the lookout' for sisters, and, honestly I can't say as I've ever been absolutely convinced I've seen one of us out and about. But I have seen a fair number of women who are.. how can I put this?... not handsome. As a guy, my mental process as far as observing women out in public is, "hot," "not hot," and "somehere in between." (although I admit I'm always checking out what other women are wearing, probably in an effort to best figure out how I can blend in.) Because of my crossdressing prediliction, I'm probably much more attuned to observing people than average. For the most part, I don't think others really pay all that much attention unless we make a point of making spectacles of ourselves.

[Jilmac]

Even with my ugly puss whenever I'm en femme I'm called ma'am and treated like a lady, so I guess I can honestly say thet most people don't care.

[linnea]

I just try to blend in and not assume that others who "look" are looking at me because they think that I'm CD or a freak or something else. As Tamarav has said, for women being "looked at" is very common and typical. It's the norm. I try to take it as a compliment or not take it as anything other than a normal reaction.
Still I'm trying to do all that I can to achieve a level of self-acceptance and passableness that I'm comfortable with. The most important goal for me is weight loss. No, I can't change my hands, my shoe size, or my fairly broad shoulders, but at a lower weight, I will be able to wear more clothing styles, especially ones that will flatter the shape and size that I have.
There are more women today than ever before who are taller, bigger, etc. In that sense, it's getting easier to blend and to feel comfortable.
Mostly it's our own attitudes.

[thechic]

Hi there.
I go out dressed up a lot, most people don't seam to notice me I Think .I would like to think i would pass a a woman but I don't think so after all i cant see myself from a distance, I get nervous around teenagers and young kids as you don't know what they are going to say,this is when i nearly lose my female voice.
Im not so nervous around older people,everybody treats me like a woman,this even happens at work some times in male mode.

[Lynn Marie]

Getting looked at is common for most every woman, many times it is just innocent and at other times it is from a devious person simply trying to figure out how to approach you. But, any look you get is the standard for life. Go with it, don't go nuts trying to assume what others are thinking, they may not even be thinking about you..

Tami just has a way of putting things in perspective. I like the term "good taste". "Elegant" also comes to mind, as does one of my favorites, "classy". "Stylish" is another term used to describe someone nicely dressed and maybe even "dressed up" more than is necessary for the occasion, but definitely not "over the top".

In high school my daughter wore jeans and a sweatshirt almost exclusively as a kind of uniform. If that is what it would take to "blend" and not get noticed, then I'd rather wear my male wardrobe. What's the point if I can't wear heels?

[kimdl93]

There is such a range among us, in size, stature, facial characteristics...I don't think its possible to make a blanket statement. Some of us just don't feel that the person we see in the mirror can even begin to present publically as female. Others can blend in but closer observation may betray masculine physcial traits, and some lucky ladies look totally feminine. In the end all that matters is that we are comfortable with ourselves and the situations we are in...if that means occassional dressing for ourselves (and our SOs) at home, spending time with others in safe gatherings, or being fully out there.

[Ruth]

I think if you can be within the 'envelope' of reasonable female appearance in terms of size, height, facial hair etc, then most people are too busy with their own stuff to conduct an in-depth exploration of your 'real' gender. I suppose what I'm saying is that most people don't notice you particularly unless you resemble a drag queen or a gorilla.
But it does wonders for your self-confidence and general poise if you yourself feel that you are doing a passable imitation of a woman.
(And apologies to all those gorilla impersonators out there.)

[debbie55]

I have to agree with Audrey on page 1, how many 'girls' do you see when out and about, assuming you don't live in San Francisco or somewhere similar we are a rare sight in my experience and no doubt we pay more attention and frequent the same shops.

[PetiteDuality]

Almost none of us truly passes. That's the truth. Don't let this stop you and have a great time!

[CalamityJane]

Hi Stacy,

Well I would say that any people who do notice don't feel any need to say anything, and just maybe they do not care either. When all is said and done what would be the point in anyone confronting a crossdresser, they are not doing anything wrong....just been different.

[Rhonda Jean]

I think we tend to overestimate our passability. I think people do notice and they do care. They just don't say anything where you can hear it.

That said (IMHO), trying, and I mean trying HARD, as in doing your absolute best to present yourself in the most convincing and acceptably feminine way possible is the only way to do what we do and have any possiblilty of garnering any public support and respect for yourself and our community.

[t-girlxsophie]

I dont pass,but all i ask is to be treated with respect when I am out,we all should have that from decent ppl.I would be happy with that

:hugs:Sophie

[Sophie_C]

Look, it all depends on what you define 'passable' as. If you define it as 'being perceived and treated almost consistently as a woman', almost no crossdressers pass. There are too many male body characteristics, even shown in the face, that make it pretty obvious. But, if you define it as 'being treated with respect, and maybe sometimes in a way as a woman' then plenty of people here do.

I believe there's a lot of support given here, which I do love and encourage, but that lends people to overcomplementing, at times, often not entirely grounded in reality. The reality is that, while most of us would love to be able to put on a little makeup and a cute outfit to be seen entirely as a woman, it take a whole lot more than that.

Ask yourself this question: Plenty of MTF girls aren't even passable without FFS (especially late transitioners), so why on God's green earth would you, having no female hormones in your body be?

Now, most people in this world are too busy and into their own lives to care, and there are more and more people who are learning the meaning of respect, but do not confuse a saleswoman who clearly knows you are a crossdresser and calls you 'maam' with her actually thinking you are a woman. She knows it, everyone knows it, even that 10-year-old kid over there knows it.

But, so what? You only live once, and the only way to truly enjoy it is to be true to yourself, and be what you really are...

[jacky83]

A reasonably presentable appearance and a positive attitude makes most people indifferent to us. Passing or not passing I'm not sure is the most important thing.

[Sparkles]

Hello all. I very often go out dressed up. I still get just as nervous as I did the first time. Do you think people dont say anything because they dont notice or do they just not care?

It's more about confidence and control. I've been with Carrie even at gay bars, and couldn't tell you who was male and who was female. If you believe it we will too!

[AKAMichelle]

most likely don't care in my case.

[Sara Jessica]

I think we tend to overestimate our passability. I think people do notice and they do care. They just don't say anything where you can hear it.

That said (IMHO), trying, and I mean trying HARD, as in doing your absolute best to present yourself in the most convincing and acceptably feminine way possible is the only way to do what we do and have any possiblilty of garnering any public support and respect for yourself and our community.

Absolutely right on the mark. I couldn't have said it better myself, except of course that I'll add a couple things.

1. The stress level goes way down when one accepts the fact that we will be read. By one, by some or all, who cares? But as Rhonda said, do the best you can and all will be just fine. This is where blending becomes much easier to achieve than "passing". Besides, how does one really know if they passed?

2. Consider what you leave in your wake. By being the best you can be, being respectful in presentation, etc, those of us who might not be full time in presentation are considerate for those who are living this 24/7. I had a lesson in this in Vegas earlier this year. I felt the eyes, I was being read. And while I didn't care so much, my heart ached for those who feel such scrutiny EVERY SINGLE DAY. Me? I could switch back, whether within minutes or days, I wouldn't have to deal with such prying eyes if I didn't want to. This is a big reason why I always try to represent well, for our community.

[Christy_M]

I am pretty confident that I don't pass but I think the most people aren't really looking as much as we might think they are. I spent an hour this morning walking around the outer perimeter of the local mall and ran across a few people walking around, too. Not a one of them gave me a second look. I was in a dress with knee boots with 4 inch heels. certainly a large figure looming aorund the area.:battingeyelashes:

[Alice Torn]

Dani, Dittos!

[sherri]

I think we tend to overestimate our passability. I think people do notice and they do care. They just don't say anything where you can hear it.

That said (IMHO), trying, and I mean trying HARD, as in doing your absolute best to present yourself in the most convincing and acceptably feminine way possible is the only way to do what we do and have any possiblilty of garnering any public support and respect for yourself and our community.

This may be the best short answer I've seen on this issue.

Very, very few of us truly pass, and virtually none do under close scrutiny, and just because people aren't confrontational does not mean they approve. The only thing that's going to change their attitude, assuming anything can, is repeated exposure to positive examples that teach them that in every other way, we are "normal" people just like them. Actually, what we're asking them to do is expand their notion of what it means to be normal.

Which raises another question: Is it even desirable that we pass? Given that the majority of us are never going to go the full-time transsexual transition route, isn't it one of our collective goals to get society to embrace genetic males presenting in feminine ways? How could we do that if we were fooling everyone? Sure, passing might be convenient for the rare few that can pull it off, but the rest of us just have to accept the fact that we are, with varying degrees of difficulty and success, forging the way for those that come after us.

[Sarasometimes]

If you want to really know the answer, go to the mall when the most teenage girls are there (preferably in groups) and if they don't notice, YOU PASS!! now this may not be a pleasant experience but it is in my mind the ultimate test. I hope to blend. If I go unnoticed by 8 out of 10, it is a good day. I on occasion may ask an SA or a receptionist for an honest opinion. I have two key goals, dress like the GG's do and try to be confident. The second only comes with time and my choosing the right places.

[melissacd]

In my opinion, if you dress to fit in and carry yourself with confidence then regardless of whether they know you are a real female or not you will for the most part be treated with indifference at worst and respect and friendliness normally.

Passing is passe, being is more important. Just be yourself and enjoy the experience, you will be surprised at how normal it all starts to feel.

[Michaela42]

The average woman isn't 6'3".

The average woman doesn't wear a size 13 shoe.

The average woman doesn't have 8" hands.

Almost no woman on earth has an Adam's apple.

I know what I'm up against, and I don't expect the rest of the world to be "fooled." I just hope that, when I present as a woman, I do so with the class and respect with which I want to be treated. I'm not trying to deceive anyone, I'm trying to be as pretty as I want to be. If I sell woman despite everything I'm genetically up against, GREAT! If not, oh well...

True, the *average* woman does not have those sizes, but their are more than I think you realize. Go to a public place and just people watch and I think you will see what I mean.

[ronny0]

I agree with Makaila average is a moving target. For those of us on the large tall side their might be more thought as to is it a he or a she. But in day to day real women that are tall must deal with the same public view. And yes if yo sit in a busy mall and do the people watching men and women all come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I'd guess that from a distance we all will pass as long as we make an effort at trying to blend in with the crowd and not draw attention by dressing to far out of the norm. I am still not comfortable enough to go out and interact with strangers. I have taken a few night time drives and a noon Sunday drive to buy the newspaper. I finally ended up with the feeling that I am not walking about with a note on my forehead saying I am a guy in woman's clothing. People might look but they are not trying to detect anything, they are just looking. If you do nothing to draw attention to yourself, no one or not many will give your gender a second thought.
But if you run into a friend or neighbor, some one that watches you come and go or knows your car, they will for sure wonder who the new girl is? My wife jokes about it, saying that the neighbors will think I am cheating on her if they see a strange woman going in and out.
If yo are trying to do face to face encounters then people will look a lot closer, and depending on your skills you will pass or not. Even then the majority of people will not be put off too much if you don't pass. I'd say just looking at the images on this site, many of us would pass 100% of the time with little to no effort. Others will draw some attention, some don't even come close. Yet real women can and do look like men so the public will more often than not just smile at you and not really care what's happening in your mind.

[BonnieAlexander]

I have to agree with all said.
1 , If I am in a mall and I see a GG, in short skirt and heels, My eyes will investigate for sure.
If I see a GG or girls just dressed casually, I really don't take much notice.

2 , thanks to the writings on these pages, I am going out for the first time, other than the occasional drive, this Sat to a club, and as of right now I am very relaxed about it. I know
I do my best but, am readable and you know what, I'll know I DID my best and won't care.
I am going to dress in Jeans instead of the knee length skirt from the advice here, I am trying to blend. Thanks.

[BiancaEstrella]

True, the *average* woman does not have those sizes, but their are more than I think you realize. Go to a public place and just people watch and I think you will see what I mean.

I'm not picking at you specifically, because others have raised these points as well. But, I chose the words I did with care. I'm very much aware that women out there exist that are taller, larger, have larger extremities, etc. I'm even friends with a few of 'em. My main point was that despite all of those things, it is still my desire to be accepted as female when physically appearing as female. Would that be easier if I was 5'6", wore a size 8 1/2 shoe, and had smaller hands? Of course it would. I'm not any of those things, though, and thus have to work harder to make the features and the fixtures sync with what my brain wants.

[crazybiker]

As far as passing goes, I'm still on the way there. I'm going out during the eveings, getting comfortable passing people in the park while dressed with out any make up, and then when I have make up, I'm way more confident in my self cause I know what I look like, and i feel better about my self. I know that most of, if not all of my passion to be girly, and dress girly is all limited to my own limitations, yet still I hold back. However, I would like to know that as a good step forward, sometimes... you really can't tell regardless of what age you are or how you look.

Watch the Youtube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RerZJJzYz7o
of a young colege jock who really can't tell the difference, and neither can the rest of these people on national TV.

[abbyleigh]

Passable, Long time ago I let this paranoia bit go... I am not concerned about this bug-a-boo. Quiet naturally I try to dress to blend in.

[tamarav]

Everybody has their own definition of "passable", but this is mine...146090

[Christy_M]

Everybody has their own definition of "passable", but this is mine...

I would define it the same way - you look great. :)

[Theresa1955]

In my opinion, if you dress to fit in and carry yourself with confidence then regardless of whether they know you are a real female or not you will for the most part be treated with indifference at worst and respect and friendliness normally.

Passing is passe, being is more important. Just be yourself and enjoy the experience, you will be surprised at how normal it all starts to feel.

Key element is "dress to fit in." Great advice! Dress your age. If you frequent and look at the GGs that our your age you will get a feeling on how you should look and act. I have noticed GG's my age that look more like males than females. Enjoy yourself and have fun.