Being A Woman 24/7

[PaulaQ]

Everyone worries about the process of medical transition. Its expensive, and care is often unavailable to those who really need it.

It is also the easiest part of transition, in my opinion, cruel and privileged as it seems.

The hard parts are the social parts. If by living as a woman you mean coming out to people as a woman, conducting all your business as a woman, working as a woman, etc., that is transition. There are a number of problems you'll likely face:
1. Social stigma, both from people in your life, as well as strangers. (Getting called 'he' or 'sir' for example.)
2. Problems with customers or coworkers on the job
3. Conducting business with IDs that don't match how you look can be hard - they may not accept that you are the person on your ID
4. Traffic stops are scary when your ID doesn't match you presentation/ appearance
5. Travel can be difficult for the same reasons
6. Public bathroom usage can be problematical in this day and age.

Unless you are genetically gifted, you will likely discover that you don't pass all the time, and some people will treat you very differently.

Getting people to acknowledge that you are a woman is really the hard part. Actually, often it is hard getting people to acknowledge that you are a human being, much less a woman.

The biggest issue you'll likely face, other than people, is your ID.

I wouldn't bet that simply presenting as a woman is going to fix your gender dyhoria. Lots of us need every medical procedure we have done to feel OK.

What difficulty do you envision with medical or legal transition? Or do you mean "24/7 except for certain situations?" Because seriously, the social issues are BY far the most difficult. You may also find that dressing like a woman, but treated as a man is increasingly uncomfortable over time.

I'm not trying to be negative - if you can be fine on no hormones / non op - more power to you. If you live someplace where ID documents aren't tied to medical stuff, that's one big problem you can avoid.