Comments on: Is There Such a Thing as a Transgender Lifestyle?

By: Keltik

Keltik — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:54:26 +0000

Looking back, I think the term Oscar uses, culture works better. I dont think geography affects it, I know Im from the UK but I wouldnt say I have different connotations on the word.

That magazine is for MTFs too… : /

By: Racheal McGonigal

Racheal McGonigal — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:42:27 +0000

I think we all get too hung up on the meanings of words. The english language is a continually evolving language and needs to be accepted as such. The word ‘transgender’ no longer means what it originally meant ‘a person who has gone from one gender to another’. In todays world crossdressers, intersex and preop’s are now considered ‘transgender’. And so with ‘lifestyle’.
Ok, im a MtF sexchage and have very much compassion for the many FtM out there.Im a member of the transgender community but no longer call myself a transgender as I am not intersex or a crossdresser. I think the biggest point raised in your editorial is something many TG will have missed. ‘To be who I am’. There is no choice, we are just being who we really are. Open and honest about it. Alas societies rules have tended to make us mix in certain groups, cultures, lifestyles because it is where we find comfort and acceptance easiest. The biggest thing TG need to do is not lock themselves in these groups but to go out into society and show we are just normal people and in time we will gain accptance. Alas it will take time but it will happen.
Just show you are who you are and proud of it.
But dont lock yourself into a particular lifestyle.
Good luck.

By: Response: Is there a transgender ‘lifestyle’? | Not Another Aiden

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:14:28 +0000

[...] will so saturate the web that even I notice it. Such is the case with the (relatively) recent editorial on [...]

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:03:18 +0000

This is great, thanks for your comments guys! I’m still thinking about this one.

Oscar, what you said about the passing down of information, history… I think that’s a pretty important distinction between lifestyle and culture. Nice one.

Transliving Magazine is “the world’s largest Transgender lifestyle magazine” produced out of the UK. Does geography influence the definition of “lifestyle” at all?

When I get to the deeper parts of this conversation, I find there’s something about labeling shared ways of being as a trans lifestyle that makes me feel like I’m putting people into slots—not good.

“Oh, this language of the solids. It’s so imprecise.” –Founder, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:19:41 +0000

At least where I am now, my “lifestyle” as a trans man is remarkably different from that of the other trans men I know. I aim to be stealth, I identify as heterosexual, I fall within gender binary norms in my dress, etc. In contrast, most of the transgender guys I know here are relatively open about being trans, identify as genderqueer, and intentionally buck gender binaries in their outward appearance.

We may (and actually do) share a lot of the same political opinions and have taken advantage of the same medical technologies in transitioning, but our personal aims are drastically different. So I’d be one to say that a “trans lifestyle” is about as appropriate a moniker as a “man’s lifestyle.”

There are lots of different ways of being a man and “lifestyle” there would refer to the distinction between a Maxim, a GQ, a Car & Driver Guy, a PC World Guy etc. etc.

All that is to say I appreciate taking out “lifestyle” as it’s a problematic word and best avoided in this context, IMHO.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:26:52 +0000

I would use the word culture and not lifestyle when I spoke to various sociology classes about gender and sexuality and it was mostly because I wanted to be sensitive to what you describe – what the word implies and it’s potential to be offensive.

I do, however, believe there is a certain lifestyle to being transgender. Like Keltik said, one chooses to do a variety of things as part of existing in that identity. Another aspect of it that I think is important to mention is the passing down of information. This is more related to the idea that trangender-(ness? ism? Idk…) is a culture with a point of reference, history and practice.

All that being said, I do not like identifying with the FtM lifestyle or culture. I do so to gain a sense of community and because I appreciate my fellow brothers and our shared experience or journey. Also, because I’d like to provide myself as a resource to younger transmen who may not have the foresight to acquire necessary knowledge as far as their transition is concerned.
But I am a man. I live my life as a man and look to fit into THAT lifestyle and with THAT culture – regardless of my missing part. I struggle sometimes with the feeling that identifying in a ftm subset calls out my different sense of masculinity and manhood and it makes me feel further outcast-ed.

By: Keltik

Keltik — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:18:13 +0000

To answer your question, yes, I think there is. When I think of lifestyle, I think of day to day living, day to day events, a mindset, a way of living your life. We don’t choose to be transgendered, but we choose to do something about it. We choose to undergo hormone treatment and surgeries, we choose to use equipment to help us pass, we choose to live our lives a certain way. Now, as I would say the majority of transmen will be following similar practicies in order to pass and transition, I think it is safe to say that there is a ‘transgender lifestyle’.

As a disclaimer, I know not every single transguy will have the same practicies or experiences as every other transguy, but my opinion is based on my experiences and from talking to other transguys, and its only my opinion.