I'm a manly woman it seems..how can I be more feminine?

[OkilyDoke]

Despite my best efforts I appear to be a "manly" woman. Orat least people keep mistaking me for a man, particularly at work. I'm not beautiful, definitely less attractive than average, but I dress well, I keep my (admittedly short) hair well styled and cared for, I wear nice jewellery and scent, not much make up, but primer and mascara..I have a high pitched voice. I'm caring.and gentle, so possibly feminine in that way. But, still. What can I do to be more feminine? I can't do high heels or lipstick, and I like my short hair and get a lot of compliments. What's left?

How do people mistake you for a man exactly?

You sound lovely as you are. Please don't change for other people!

Don't bother

It’s obviously the short hair but if you like it, keep it.

I look very 'feminine' but I get called Sir all the time (teacher). Maybe we have a male energy 😬

Why do you care though? Feminist / masculinity are social constructs - I'd just go with presenting yourself however feels natural to you.

Just be yourself. You’re fine as you are.

^Femininity / masculinity

Obviously you want to change things or you wouldnt ask. I think a softer hairstyle might be worth considering. And try different clothes. No point in saying I want to look more feminine and then say but Im not changing. Or see a professional stylist.

I wouldn't bother changing. You re probably fine as you are. People make lots of mistakes misgendering People.

what clothes are you wearing?
eyeliner feminises eyes a lot.

I've been told I drive a man's car.

I just give them the look.

People need to re-educate themselves.

We're not all into pink frills and botoxed lips.

Ask a friend you trust why people are mistaking you for a man. Short hair doesn't explain it, flat shoes don't explain it...there must be something else.

Oh, I forgot to ask your heigh if you are 6'2" people will tend to assume male.

I have short it's upsetting being mistaken for a man. Was ok when I was a teenager and I used to get called sonny by bus drivers but not so nice now to be called that man.
Are there any ultra feminine clothing colours you like?
A fushia coat or fake fur?

I think people are oblivious. I've got 34K boobs, and am obviously female, with a feminine name (Samantha for example) and I've had people at hospital stand in front of me and say "Samuel?"

No, not Samuel

Ignore this.... People generally just aren't hugely observant especially if someone doesnt dress super feminine. Whats your poor friend supposed to say?!
If you want to wear them, dangly earrings look amazing with short hair, i bet that'd do it.

But completely agree with everyone else- don't change for others.

Ignore this.... People generally just aren't hugely observant

Nonsense. Even very young children can tell men and women apart. If the OP really wants to know what is going on here, she needs to ask someone who can actually answer the question.

It's not a case of changing for others - she is tired of people thinking she is a man! Most women wouldn't love it.

An Adams apple and 5 o'clock shadow would be a masculine trait, but I'm assuming you don't have these!
Longer, Sharper/more angular facial features?? The list that you have put up is difficult to fathom as aside from longer hair I am/do none of the other things mentioned and never been mistaken for a man, equally I don't think I have ever mistaken a female for a man. Is it women mistaking you, or men?

Are you tall? I'm pretty tall and have been addressed as 'sir' a few times when people have just glanced and seen a tall person. Also deeper voice sometimes does it too.

I get called sir too. I'm very defintely not manly, even though I'm tall.
I have a friend who's taller and broader than me, with short hair and a less female shaped body. She never gets mistaken for a man though.

U sound sexy

My DP gets this too - it's strange, isn't it? People often say they can easily tell men and women apart, but actually, it's all much more socially constructed and cued than we think.

I am taking it you want to do superficial things to give people a little subconscious 'nudge' to recognise you as a woman, is that right? It is hard to know without seeing you, and I totally get why you don't want to change some things (I have short hair and love it). When people mistake you for a man, could you, instead of ignoring it or whatever, could you brace yourself and react quite strongly? Eg., if someone calls you 'sir,' can you stop and stare at them? Or if someone in a meeting says 'as he said ...' referring to you, can you do an obviously shocked reaction? It might feel a bit panto, but you shouldn't have to politely ignore people not realising you're a woman.

I guess if you are just thinking clothes etc. ... and it doesn't always work, but ... men rarely wear floaty scarves. Nor, of course, do some women. But, weirdly, that is the one single thing that reliably 'feminises' DP to the sorts of unobservant types who don't notice her feminine figure, high voice, etc. etc.

I'm sorry people upset you. It's depressing and unfair.

I'm not tall. I am overweight. I don't have angular features or a 5 o clock shadow. I wear a mixture of trousers and skirts dresses and I accessorise a lot. I do wear dangly earrings. I really love my hair short, and finally feel I have a handle on it, so honestly I'm not changing that for anyone. A Lithuanian friend said it was the short hair and my broad shoulders..well I can't change my shoulders and I've explained about the hair.. other friends say it's nothing and I'm not. So, who knows? Other co workers have called me stylish in the past. A few customers have repeatedly told me my hair is beautiful...but still, I so often get mistaken for a man. It does.get me.down.

I also have a 38G cleavage, so it's not invisible!