I’m a transmasc demiboy, but I don’t really like to present myself very masculine. I still love wearing skirts, I like painting my nails, even wearing light makeup.
I’m not happy about the idea of having facial hair or a deeper voice, which is why I have not yet started HRT, even though I’ll probably need to in some capacity since I do want phalloplasty in the future.
I also have no desire for top surgery since I don’t want to lose sensation in my nipples, and I don’t want to have scars on my chest. They don’t bother me anyway, they’re small (about an A cup). Just about the only masculine thing I do is that I cut my hair short, not super short, but still shorter than what would be considered feminine.
Is this normal? Does anyone else have similar experiences? I’ve been told I don’t act enough like a boy and that I need to be more masculine.
One, like everyone else has said, you’re completely valid regardless of how you choose to present or what parts of medical transition you do and don’t choose to do.
Two, the stereotypical medical transition isn’t the only option available. For top surgery, the stereotypical double mastectomy with nipple grafts like I had isn’t always the only option - you’re probably a great candidate for periariolar and keyhole types of top surgery, both of which should leave you with virtually invisible scaring and leave you with full nipple sensation after recovery, and both options are fairly commonly available.
Also, DHT is the form of testosterone that is responsible for most of the downstairs growth, and it can be made into a topical cream - there’s a few surgeons who recommend it before bottom surgery but it’s very hard to get in the US and I’m mostly just mentioning this because there may be a way to get just the effects you want in this instance, but for so many reasons this option is a lot less likely.