Passing

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Many cross-dressers and most transsexuals want to be able to participate in normal social activities (such as shopping, going out, going to work and/or simple activities like walking down a street) without being recognised as a transgendered person.

Where the person is being perceived by the public as anything other than their birth sex this is described as passing. Thus, a man cross-dressed as a woman would be deemed to pass if nobody realised that the person they were seeing was not in fact female.

If someone correctly determines that somebody is transgendered then they are said to have been read. However, many members of the public will be very discreet if they think they've read someone - this may be out of politeness, sympathy, respect, shyness or because they are uncertain and are too embarrassed to mention it in case it's not.

Some transexual persons find the term "passing" to be inappropriate. From their perspectives, "passing" suggests trying to appear as something you are not, while their concern is in trying to appear as they actually are. "Passing" can sound like one is trying to fool others, when one is actually trying to be recognized as they see themselves.

[edit] Degrees of Passing

It is possible to pass at a distance, but be noticeable close up. Some people can pass in all respects except voice, and so are 'undetectable' unless they speak. Often the majority of the public wont read someone but they wont pass completely and a small minority will notice.

[edit] Barriers to Passing

body size
beards (on genetic males)
voice
posture and movement
adams apple (or lack of)
body shape (bulges in the wrong places)
facial characteristics

[edit] See also

How to walk like a woman

[edit] Discuss

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