Male

From Susan's Place Transgender Wiki

[edit] Male

Possessive or pretending or perceived as having male attributes. These are typically based around strength and power (in their various forms).

Male refers also to gender characteristics, in relation to roles within society, typically authority roles (in any given relationship).

Male can be used to mean masculinity, which again is largely a societal invention, and relates to a mix of physical attributes and gender role.

Finally, male in the biological sense typically means people possessing male sex organs, i.e. penis and testicles.

It is very important when contemplating transgenderism to understand what is meant by male and its relationship to gender identity, and its relationship to birth sex.

From a very crude perspective, a transvestite man would perceive himself as male. A MTF transsexual is however female. A FTM transsexual is (despite a birth sex of female) male, and will (typically) display "male" attributes.

Society as a whole is irrationally attached to concepts of "male" and "female" and transgendered people often cause distress (leading to aggression, lack of acceptance or other societal breakdowns) by causing confusion against those concepts.

Furthermore, there are classical stereotypes and stigmas that males are told to follow, I.E. Having short hair or being the latter -- Bald, not being able to express your full emotions (Like crying which is typically seen as "Feminine") and that men should work while the other loved one stays at home. Usually by breaking these barriers some people will argue and fight with you, this just goes to show though that with subtle changes of expressing yourself, people around the world will be more willing to embrace YOU! Which then in turn will give males more freedom to express and expand themselves.

[edit] See Also

• Heteronormativity
• Male on Wikipedia.

[edit] Discuss

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*Some information provided in whole or in part by http://en.wikipedia.org/ This page was originally authored by members of Susan's Place Wiki Staff.