So, how would you explain what it is like to be a biological female?

[TopBitchoftheWitches]

Just that really....

Being a woman who can't get pregnant is a uniquely female experience. Just like losing your breasts or ovaries to disease etc.

I don't see how you can explain. I just am female, I'm a biological woman and all that comes with it.

It's not a frame of mind it's a biological state.

I don't 'think like a woman', there's no such thing as a female brain, despite popular opinion women don't all come off the production line loving babies, fashion and make up.

I believe that we don't have to conform to gender stereotypes and within the law we should live our lives as we wish, but I don't believe that you can change your biological sex.

The first time I felt female was very young. It was in relation to others. I could see men and women were treated differently, and I had been put into the group labelled 'female'. Apart from that cerebral awareness, nothing came to disturb my sense of just being me, sexless, until adolescence. Growing boobs, onset of menstruation, the period pains and whole paraphernalia around that. These were key things that happened that made me feel my femaleness. It felt scary and unfair. I would have much rather been born male. I embraced my female side only in my late teens. Though I certainly never questioned my femaleness, it was never a thing that followed me around. I've always been far more interested in people and thoughts. It was really only at motherhood that the full force of being female came to the fore.

So yes, being female for me is a biological reality. It stems from my biology. Most of the time, however, I am unware of feeling female. I am made to feel female in the company of others: the male regard, the female judgement, my role as a mother and wife.

It is...seasonal. From puberty onwards the ebb and flow of periods and cycle, the experience of pregnancy and breasfeeding. The long bonkers ebb of menopause. Carrying the burden of society's expectations of women. Carrying on carrying on. Being female is only a part of my identity, I identify primarily as human.

Can't really imagine what it would be like to be penis-led, bloke shaped and testosterone fuelled instead, though the extra physical strength would come in handy.

I remember being told I was pretty A LOT as a preschooler. I remember thinking that mattered. I remember it being note worthy that I was a girl AND I was into maths. I remember the boys in my primary school massing around an unpleasant porn mag, and I remember thinking that I was supposed to appear to be cool/not bothered by it.

Two things make us women:

1. Biology
2. Being treated as second class citizens

As trans men have neither of these things they are not women, whatever they might think to the contrary. End of.

On a more personal note, my experiences of womanhood are overwhelming a paradoxical mix of physical pain and incredible power. What this body is capable of is amazing. It is a fact that we are treated worse than men, and there are a lot of disadvantages and inconviencies of being of a woman; but I fucking love it.

I just am female in every aspect of me and on everything that I do. And it's bloody brilliant.

For me...pregnancy (I understand and feel for the women who struggle or can't, you are still a woman) and periods, breastfeeding (didn't work out) with all of my children.
The sexual abuse I received when 17-21 from employers and colleagues.

For me it's all about fluids. Menstrual blood, retained water, the gush of fluids as my children were born, the leak of breast milk. It's very basic and primal and nothing to do with how my mind feels (which is often quite "male").

Visceral. That's the word I wanted.

I don’t feel female. I feel like me.

If i were male i don’t think i’d “feel” any different. I’d still be me, just with a penis.

There seems to have been a lot of blood involved.

hofty
I just am female in every aspect of me and on everything that I do. And it's bloody brilliant.

Another key aspect of being female for me is the affinity I feel with other women. I believe in sisterhood.

I dont have to think I am a woman I just know I am.

Anyone who has to think about being female is missing the point.

I was born female and I’ve always felt very “female” in this society. In stereotypical ways I am, love wearing skirts, sewing, long hair, make up etc. However I’m always perceived by others as being too masculine - outspoken, aggressive etc, despite being very much a “woman” so a difficult woman, I guess I was brought up by lesbian parents so who are in todays terms non-binary and could “pass” as lads so maybe that made me more “girly” or maybe that’s why I don’t give two fucks and do and act as I want. The crippling period cramps are also a helpful reminder as is the everyday sexism though

I first became aware of feeling, physically and mentally female was at puberty. Body changing shape, menstruating and especially the realisation of the physical signs of ovulation.

Again with pregnancy and childbirth and now with the very earliest signs of the approaching menopause.

This thread is based on the trans debate?

I am a woman. I have the appropriate chromosomes. I do not accept any prefix to woman. The only people who should have a prefix are "trans". Live your life looking and acting like a woman by all means. I do not have a problem with that. It is a person's right to act and dress and live as any gender you like but not at the detriment of biological women.

I don’t feel female. I don’t feel like a woman. I don’t really understand it when people say they feel like this or that - I just feel like me.

I knew I was a girl from toddlerhood: other people told me, then I knew that we had different bodies, and we used different loos at school and wore different uniform. I knew I was a woman when I went through puberty and my periods started. I’d been taught that girls grow into women and boys grow into men.

I haven’t ever felt woman-y. I haven’t felt white either. But I know I am because I can look in the mirror and look at my family and I understand the commonly accepted definition of white.

I am a woman because I can't Not be a woman. Even if I wanted to, even if it would be beneficial or safer for me in some situations to not be a woman, it's not an option.

I'm stuck with if for better or worse.

I am becuase that’s what sex I am

That’s it really

Periods, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, menopause.

Societal gender expectations based on that biology. So having men (in pubs, in the park/street/public, at university and work) touch me when I didn't want them to, having people shocked that I wanted to be educated and work, having older male colleagues make coments about my clothes, have younger male colleagues make assumptions about me because 'mothers aren't ambitious'. It's all about the biology.

I am a very un girly person and pretty assertive. I have never felt particularly feminine. For me it was having my babies that made me feel like a woman. That and getting dismissed from my job whilst on maternity leave.

Interesting question which has raised some interesting thoughts...if we just are what we are, and feel how we do, with no ability to frame that other than in the broadest terms, then what is it that a trans person is feeling to feel they are not the sex they were born with?

I’ve been seriously sexually assaulted, including on two occasions by doctors.

I’ve been ignored, my views dismissed, threatened, patronised and manipulated due to being a woman.

I’ve been expected to do all the cleaning, cooking and household management because I’m a woman.

I’ve been expected not to give in to illness and just to get on with it because I’m a woman.

I’ve been shouted at in the street by blokes in a car because I’m a woman.

Some men talk to my husband and ignore me even though I’m standing right there next to him, because I’m a woman.

Kwik Fit once tried to rip me off because I’m a woman.

A builder once sleazed me up because I’m a woman.

The rest of it comes down to periods, pregnancy and motherhood experiences.

None of it is related to clothing, makeup, handbags or shaving my fanny.

I have aspergers and I have a very weak sense of femininity due to this. I grew up as a tomboy and still am I guess. I’m still a woman though and it’s what and who I am.

Jaygee it does not in any way make u less of a female or less of a woman. Only females can worry about not being able to concieve so you are as much a female as anybody xxx

Thanks, but it sure as hell didn’t make me feel like I was a “real woman”! in the way being pregnant, giving birth seems to!