Be Your Own Man (Deconstructing FTM Hypermasculinity)

A submission project that aims to deconstruct the hypermasculinity in the FTM community and make sure that every guy can express himself in any way he desires.

[elishaalexzander]

Want access to clothes that give you the freedom to create your own style? Want a shopping experience that is about style and not your gender? Want clothes that give you style options beyond what is available for your body type? Does it annoy you that department stores & online boutiques seem to think having a men’s or women’s sections is necessary? Could you imagine a shopping experience where you weren’t misgendered? Where your gender identity was accepted, respected and the clothes for sale didn’t make you feel the need to conform your personal style according to any standard other than your own? I know for myself, this is something I truly desire. That’s why I had GenderFlux developed and we are so close to being able to deliver. But I can’t do it alone. Please have a look at the IndieGoGo crowd funder my team and I have worked very hard on. Even if you don’t want to donate, or can’t donate, just take a look, leave a comment and share with your friends and family. It would mean a great deal to me. ❤ https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/genderflux ❤ Xoxo -Elliott Alexzander

[beyourownman]

[micdotcom]

Watch: Bernie Sanders responds to anti-Semitic question at Harlem campaign event.

[mvttshroomarchive]

To my trans boys who;

don’t have clear skin

don’t have defined jawlines/collar bones

don’t have a six pack

aren’t all muscle

aren’t over 5′6

are chubbier

are still kinda slim with big hips and thighs

are still kinda slim but with a big chest and no hips

are kinda slim but with a “feminine” figure

aren’t exactly skinny but aren’t exactly fat either

still love dresses/skirts/makeup but can’t express that without being called she/her/miss/ma’am

still love the colour pink 

still love princesses

have long hair

shave their legs

are straight (attracted to girls)

are ace/on the ace spectrum

don’t know who they are just yet and are still figuring themselves out

go against the norm and the typical ideals of what being manly means

have severe dysphoria almost constantly

have no dysphoria at all

don’t bind their chests

don’t have “masculine” names

don’t have deep voices

don’t have the courage to correct people when they use the wrong pronouns

don’t fit tmblrs “trans boy” mold

aren’t in a safe enviorment to come out

are in a safe enviroment physically but are scared to come out

don’t have/want any sugeries

aren’t confident enough to be shirtless

are insecure about their scars (surgery or self harm scars)

aren’t on/don’t want to be on testosterone

have physical disabilities and/or mental disorders

don’t have physical disabilities or mental disorders and don’t feel like they’ve “suffered” enough to be part of the lgbt community ((not kidding, that’s something I’ve seen?? and its super dumb??))

are still struggling with being proudly trans

have always been proud of who they are

have been trans for years

have been trans for weeks, days, hours 

Here’s to all my trans boy looking for support and looking for a sign to keep going. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to ask a friend, family, or a professional.

You are all valid and all handsome as hell. If you aren’t happy right now, I truly hope you will be one day. Hopefully soon. Until then, stay safe & stay alive, friends.

**also please feel free to add on about other genders or about more trans boy things if you’d like. tag a friend who needs to here some of these?**

[medievalmargiela]

[buyile-talks]

Shamed & Ridiculed... But Still I Believe... I AM ENOUGH.

Take Note: As i share one of my life experiences, I have allowed myself be quite vulnerable (I’m actually kinda scared, but it’s okay). So, as usual, it’s December holidays (2015) and I’m at the rurals in Mkhumbane (home).

One of our neighbours are in our yard chatting with my sister. I go to them, in fact, I particularly went to them just to say Hi to this guy. All that respect, and guess what I get in return?

After the greeting the guy starts to foolishly compare me to my masculine brother. He asks questions like “Why don’t you hang out with other boys? Why don’t you play soccer us? Why do you lock yourself in the house like a girl?”

And in my head I’m like, “Dude, unguWho? waWhere? waWhy?” 😳

And yes, my brother is the total opposite of me. The typical masculine dude. ❤️

My voice is shaking 😩, tried to reply to him. I told him that I am not my brother. And that I am sorry but not sorry if he expected me to be like him or like any other boy in the community.

He laughs scornfully and says, “Weh, look at him” and starts ridiculing me, blatantly – imitating how I femininely speak! In front of my sister! 💔

Man, my heart shattered, tears in my eyes and with so much fury within me, I just looked at him and smiled. As usual, I failed to stand up for myself. 😭

If none of you have had the demeaning experience of being ridiculed and disrespected because of being the way that you are and because of the way God created you, please do accept your privilege.

I’m sitting here in my room, typing this, and my heart is filled with so much resentment, thinking of all the mean things I could’ve said to him in return… And fam, I’m definitely not looking forward to seeing him again. He is so much of a fool that I don’t even think he knows that what he did offended me & wounded me emotionally.

Such incidences have ALWAYS happened since my childhood up until now and most probably till forever. People there have constantly made me feel like there’s something wrong me. Because people make you feel this way, you start to believe it. Not only do such incidences happen in the rurals, but society as a whole.

I grew up an emotionally crippled being because of how people have treated me. I was told I’m not enough. I remember this one year where one of my New Year resolutions was to make sure that I play with other boys 😩. I remember times where i consciously made my voice deeper when talking to people 😰… All because society… It was damn hard being so insecure and hating myself. It was damn hard people making you feel as if you’re not enough. It was damn hard being me, being Siyanda Buyile Shabalala. It was damn hard to breathe and exist.

I just hate how every time I get out of the house I get asked dumb questions like, “Why do you lock yourself in the house?” Most probably they think that it’s because I’m full of myself or whatever. No no, I just do not want to be outside. It is what it is. I do not want to play soccer with other boys. I do not want to hang out in the neighbourhood/streets. Nor is doing the garden my cup of tea, hey. That is who I am. That is who I am. That is who I am. People need to understand and accept that. I do not owe anyone an explanation for how God has created me nor did God give me an explanation, actually. That’s how it is. All I know is that I am His dynamite and I radiate His glorious beauty!

All this emotionally messed me up. Guys, I’ve had suicidal thoughts all my life… I did not wanna live. I felt as if I’m a mistake. People made me feel that way.

God’s grace rescued me last year! I went through an amazing process of self-actualization and self-acceptance. I’ve never been this happy in my life ever before. I know who I am and I am content with who I am.

At the same time I do understand that because I have accepted myself does not mean that now everyone will. Ridiculing and shaming of feminine/hypomasculine, or as how most of you say it “sissy” boys, will never end.

Now that I’ve accepted myself I have absolute no desire to fit in and be like other “men”. I rather be ridiculed and discriminated against for being myself than to be someone that I’m actually not.

Child, find who you are. Find your true self and that you can only do by looking deep within you. And that’s where the greatness is. That’s where the treasure is. Find it and unleash it! Start owning and embracing who you are. You are a dynamite! You are beauty! When God created you He was filled with joy! The angels were making a joyful jubilation! The heavens were clapping blissfully and they qualified you and validated your existence! You are one in a million! Made in the glorious image of God! YOU ARE PERFECT! YOU ARE ENOUGH!!! Your existence is enough!

Lastly, as a society we need to understand that it is NOT okay to make fun of someone because of the way they are. We need to understand that some people are just different. We must stop policing people and allow them to be what God has created them to be. As a society we need to stop enforcing gender roles and sex-role stereotypes because it is oppressive and emotionally crippling to people like me who were not born to be like the rest. In fact, no one is born to be like the rest.

I LOVE YOU ALL, guys! ❤️

Do not forget: Do you. Be you & stay true to yourself. And yeah, it is okay to live a life that other people do not understand.

And again, I LOVE YOU ALL. I really do. 😍

[beyourownman]

To South Dakota, From a Trans Student

The bill in South Dakota, HB 1008, has advanced the furthest in the country. Today, the bill arrived on the Governor’s desk, and in no more than five days it becomes law unless he vetoes it.

We need to defeat this bill to protect trans students in South Dakota. Tell the governor to veto HB 1008 NOW! 

[satans-homo]

If you’re a boy and you wear makeup, that doesn’t make you any less of a man.

[beyourownman]

Hi my name is Eric I am a transgender male (he/him pronouns) I found out I am a man this year (I'm 19). The reason for the late self discovery is because I don't have normal gender dysphoria. I just feel unsatisfied being female bodied and being looked at like a girl. I like jewelry, skirts, tights and dresses I wish they were not so gendered, I don't like wearing those items with this body so I am looking forward to starting Testosterone and getting top/bottom surgery so I can rock out a dress in the body I'm suposed to have.

[beyourownman]

I started a new hashtag!

It's #makeupisforeveryone and you should use it whenever you wear makeup as a non cis woman person! I started this because I feel like people always judge me for wearing makeup as a Trans guy on T. Spread the word! You can also submit pics and stories here.

[thequantumsystem-deactivated202]

Protect trans boys and trans masc people who are cutesy and girly 🎀🌷

[beyourownman]

Is this blog still active? I was wondering if you had any advice for explaining gender stuff to small children. I work at an elementary school as a tutor, and while one of my kids has been awkward enough to ask if I'm a "boy or a girl" (I'm actually nonbinary but told him boy because it seemed easier), I'm starting to feel really stressed over the little ways I'm constantly read as femme by students and teachers.

Yeah it's still active I just haven't gotten any submissions lately so I haven't posted. I'm sorry that you are in that situation. I've been there before and it's never easy. I used to try to hide my femme identity in order not to get read that way. However, I feel like you need to be confident in yourself who you are and if you really feel uncomfortable you could always talk to your co workers about it. Sorry I don't have better advice. -Emet

[clownblood-moved-blog]

im gettin real tired of ‘trans boy’ meaning conventionally attractive white androgynous skinny kid with an undercut so heres a shoutout post to:

- chubby trans boys

- trans boys that don’t bind for comfort or physical health reasons

- non-white trans boys (i’m one of them so huge shout out to you guys i luv u !!)

- tall trans boys

- trans boys with long hair

- trans boys who wear makeup

- trans boys who love generally ‘feminine’ things

- physically disabled trans boys

- mentally ill trans boys

- trans boys that have health issues that prevent them looking the way they want to

- trans boys who cosplay non-male characters

- trans boys!! with!! dark!! skin!!

- gay trans boys

ur all rly great we in this together high school musical up here…. if ur cis u can reblog this btw !

[nottransenoughzine-blog]

NOT TRANS ENOUGH! A COMPILATION ZINE ABOUT THE ERASURE OF NON PASSING AND NON CONFORMING TRANS IDENTIFIED PEOPLE. –>Submission details at the bottom of the description<– ——————————————————————————- ‘Well you don’t look trans so how am I supposed to know that you’re trans’? ‘You don’t try hard enough so of course people don’t know you’re trans.’ ‘You should really pick a side already.’ ‘You don’t look like an *insert binary gender here* therefore you’re not really one.’ ‘Have you ever thought about hormone replacement therapy or surgery?’ Many, if not most trans people are familiar with hearing these kinds of comments, and having the validity of their (a)gender(s) criticized is nothing new. Trans people whose appearances and transitions do not match the ‘traditional’ transgender plot line or who do not follow binarist notions of gender and passing are constantly having the validity of their gender identities or lack thereof judged by both cisgender people and other trans people. I ask you, Why does what we wear matter? Why can cis people wear whatever they want and not have their gender identity called into question? Why is it that neutrality is instantly assumed to be masculine? Why isn’t feminine seen as androgynous or neutral? Why must all trans women be feminine presenting and all trans men masculine presenting? Why must all trans people have body dysphoria and want to exemplify opposite binary qualities in order to really be trans? How does one look genderqueer, agender, two spirit or non binary? Why is it that trans women are held to such higher standards when it comes to their gender presentation than everyone else? Why must trans people have surgeries and go on hormone replacement therapy before they are seen as really trans? “Not Trans Enough” is a compilation zine that wants to ask all these questions and more. It wants to dig deep into the erasure that non passing and non conforming trans people experience everyday and expose it. It wants to build a platform for these trans people to share their stories and struggles. It wants to honour the lives and gender(s)/lack thereof of these people and affirm it. We exist and we are real and we are valid! We are not confused, we are not wrong, we are not ‘not trying hard enough’, we are not cis! ‘Not Trans Enough’ wants to demonstrate that there is uniqueness to every trans person’s gender journey and that the pink washing agenda of corporate pride, mainstream media, the medical industrial complex and all other garbage under capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy does not get to define us and tell us whether or not we are real. Fuck gatekeepers! This zine is for: -Assigned male at birth trans people who do not pass, do not care to pass, do not present feminine (some or all of the time) -Assigned female at birth trans people who do not pass, do not care to pass, do not present masculine (some or all of the time) -Trans people whose neutrality is feminine/femme -People who identify as genderqueer, genderfluid, non-binary, two spirit, agender, genderfuck, etc -Trans people who do not want or cannot be on hormone replacement therapy -Trans people who do not want or cannot have surgery -Trans people who cannot pass for a variety of reasons some being (but not limited to) disability, poverty, lack of access to healthcare, lack of support, risk of violence or abandonment, job loss, etc. This zine accepts submissions from all trans identified folks who meet this criteria and accepts submissions in a variety of formats. Writings, drawings, photographs, collages, anything that can be photocopied or pasted on a page is a-ok! *Access note: All folks who fall under this criteria face erasure but NOT TRANS ENOUGH! acknowledges that folks who fall under this criteria who are black, people of colour, disabled, and feminine face higher rates of erasure and violence, and are also made to meet even more impossibly high standards when it comes to having their (a)gender(s) validated. This being said, these voices will be prioritized if submissions are overwhelming. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: -Please keep submissions to about a full 8.5 x 11 page max. -Emailed submissions should be in DOC, JPEG, or PDF format (if you don’t know what this means, email me!) -Please try to keep writing/font a decent size. I know it can be hard to fit everything you want to say on a page but really small font is difficult for many people to read -Please submit pieces by: September 30th, 2015 -Email submissions to: [email protected] with ‘NOT TRANS ENOUGH’ in the subject line. 

[nottransenoughzine-blog]

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing this call for submissions and thank you to everyone who has submitted pieces so far!! Keep sending them in! There is still over an entire month left to submit!! Dooo it!

[nottransenoughzine-blog]

Just under three weeks to submit!!!!!!

[nottransenoughzine-blog]

two more weeks to submit!!!!

[torontoqueerzinefair]

One week left to submit to this zine! 

[beyourownman]

I’m Jamie, non binary masculine currently waiting for a sexologist appointment I have in October to start taking T as soon as possible. (He/they).

[markusbones]

Working it ⭐

[badgender]

irlsa tagged me in a selfie thing! I tag all my mutuals who want to!! Just tag me or @ me!! (He/him/they/them)