How can a person tell if they might be transgender?

Question

I keep hearing "you just know" but that seems awfully oversimplified to me.

Okay- more details. When I say "you just know" isn't enough, here's what I mean:
As far back as I can remember, I've wished I was a boy. When I dream at night, I'm often a male. (and yes, in the dreams, I just know I am male) If you didn't notice, I chose a male avatar. I like to play male characters in plays and rpgs. Every time I hear someone call me "she" or "her," it sounds wrong.
Is this enough? Does this mean I am transgendered? I *don't* necessarily prefer women to men. (Is it possible to be a gay man trapped in a woman's body?)

Answer 1

Are you talking about transgender as an umbrella term or transsexuality in particular? Transgender can include drag kings/queens, crossdressers and genderqueer people in addition to transsexual folk.

"You just know" might seem like a cop-out, but it really isn't. It's only been in the last few years since I started transition (M2F) that I've uncovered memories of the gender confusion from when I started grade school. I was always envious of girl's/women's stuff, personalities and bodies. It got to the point where as an adult it affected my romantic relationships with women. Finally at age 26, I had enough.

If you identify more with the opposite physical sex, then that's the prime reason for going through stuff. If you loathe your muscles/curves and hate the things that make you 'one of the guys/girls', then that can be a sign that there's something untraditional going on. Explore your own feelings about being in your body. Explore your own gender identity. You might be surprised just how not-straight some 'straight' people really are.

Also be open to other options besides surgery/hormones. Some of my acquaintances are lesbian women who pass as men so much that they feel uncomfortable using the women's restroom. There are so many different experiences that it's hard to know for sure what it is your looking for, irrespective of how detailed your question is.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have a friend who is transgender, and I know it's really painful/depressing sometimes. I know *Shane* told me that it's like being a guy in a girl's body (or vice versa, if that's the case), and you just feel like you need to be someone else, to let your other side (as *Shane* called it) out. And, it really is just a case of "you just know". I know, not the best description, but it's the best I can do right now.

Answer 3

Rather than type the same thing over and over again...there are answers here that are correct. basically if the persons answer is something to the effect of "a man being trapped in a woman's body (and vice versa)" they have the right answers. now who gets the best answer for more than one person being right?

Answer 4

It really is that simple you would just know that you were a woman in a man's body. What you did about that might involve much more questioning

Answer 5

if you are a guy and you like to wear a short skirt, pantyhose and a matching bra and panty, you can pretty much tell you may be a transgender.

Conversely, if you are genetically female, and you really would like facial hair and have "relations" with a female as a man, you may be a transgender.

Answer 6

You cannot identify with the sex you are, but rather the opposite sex. Inside yourself you don't feel like you should be [male/female] you feel you were really meant to be [female/male].

In other words, you really do "just know".

Answer 7

I used to know that girl who was living like a man....it's not about "you just know", it's more like "you're a man stuck in a woman's body". In her head, she was a man. No doubt in her mind.

Answer 8

Most will tell you they new from a very young age....

Answer 9

if you look at the same sex and you think you might like them