Change is scary. Our brains want to be certain about things or else they start making us anxious, overthinking about all of the various possibilities, especially right when you need to get a good night’s sleep. This change is especially scary when it’s related to your identity.
Trans Redditors sat down to discuss some of the things that changed and surprised them after transitioning to their gender. Here are some of the most interesting examples of the “culture shock” people experienced after their transition.
More info: Reddit
#21
i'm a trans dude and people actually find me funny now. it's fantastic for me but sad to think about the root cause of that because my sense of humour hasn't changed.
also, i'm still figuring out the handshake thing dudes do to greet each other. like are we gonna fist bump, are we gonna go for the clasp and hug, are we gonna just go for the business standard? there's gotta be some rule for it but i am still mystified by it and f**k it up every time
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35points
#22
Female friendships are weird af
Guy friendships were just straight up bullying
eachother consensually they were so much easier
eachother consensually they were so much easier
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33points
#23
Woman here.
One of the first days I started presenting female I got hit on by an Uber driver.
That was kind of an awakening for me...
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31points
#24
The difference between being friends with people of same and different genders is shocking
Now that I'm out to my friends my guy friends treat me much differently. I'm one of them now, and it's a lot different than being friends with guys as a girl, or even being friends with girls as a girl.
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30points
#25
Benevolent sexism stings worse than I thought and it's so, so pervasive.
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30points
#26
Men’s restrooms are weird slits in the fabric of the universe where social norms don’t make sense anymore. Do NOT look at anyone. Do NOT speak to anyone. Grunting and moaning (to a gentlemanly degree) is acceptable so long as you are actively pissing or s******g. If you make eye contact with someone, it feels like they’re looking inside your brain at your most tragic secrets and you’re doing the same to them.
Also, there’s a fine misting of p**s on every surface. Which imo is an upgrade to pads on the walls.
26points
#27
Many women seeing me as a threat or feeling uncomfortable around me. That kinda stings. Before transitioning I had more female friends than male but now I feel it's really hard finding new female friends. I miss those relationships.
Edit: For clarification: I'm a transman, aka ftm, I'm sorry, I didn't make that clear.
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25points
#28
Almost no touching by non family members. When I was living as a woman they would give hugs, touch my shoulder or arms, even stranger wasn't always appreciated. As a man now they will shake your hand nothing else.
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24points
#29
just how open guys are with other guys
and how trusting they are.
i never thought that guys liked sharing their emotions until people started counting me as a boy.
for example:
recently my bsf opened up about how scared he is about being a teen father (he's 16, going on 17, and he accidentally got his gf pregnant.)
i helped him out and long story short i got asked to be the godparent.
and how trusting they are.
i never thought that guys liked sharing their emotions until people started counting me as a boy.
for example:
recently my bsf opened up about how scared he is about being a teen father (he's 16, going on 17, and he accidentally got his gf pregnant.)
i helped him out and long story short i got asked to be the godparent.
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23points
#30
The conversations I have between men and women I guess. I feel like conversations with women are often deeper and more vulnerable whereas topics with guys are very much surface level and secretive. There's always more that should be said but never is when talking with guys. It feels limited in a way, but it is more than welcome by my social anxiety.
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19points