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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

But HOW CAN YOU TELL

94 replies

KatieAlcock · 18/12/2019 13:04

I have written something about how we perceive the difference between men and women.
I know you weren't really in any doubt, but just in case you are a little confused.

medium.com/@katieja/but-how-can-you-tell-7901324d0919

OP posts:
LemonGingerCakes · 18/12/2019 20:01

He's so masculine.

She's so feminine (in a shirt and jeans).

It's not about the clothes and make up 🤷🏽‍♀️

But HOW CAN YOU TELL
LemonGingerCakes · 18/12/2019 20:04

I LOVE that the acronym for Facial Feminisation Surgery is FFS Grin

CrissmussMockers · 18/12/2019 20:14

a horse that’s most likely a TERF.

Nay, lass

(It's panto season, right?)

Angryresister · 18/12/2019 20:16

When in disguise it is the tilt of the head and the stroking of the hair.

PlasticPatty · 18/12/2019 20:21

@LemonGingerCakes - he was a very beautiful man. Possibly the most beautiful man I've ever seen. And I've been looking...

averylongtimeago · 18/12/2019 20:32

Thanks Katie- for putting into words what we all know by instinct and adding the actual science.

hoteltango · 18/12/2019 20:34

I watch a lot of documentaries on TV. There's one series which is about military history. Experts do brief video segments, just head and shoulders. There's one expert who I suddenly got puzzled about. There was nothing in particular - voice sounded like a woman's, no visible Adam's apple, or brow-line or hair-line - nothing obvious, and yet... I did a quick google, and she's a transwoman.

That's not to detract from her expertise or her presentation - in fact, I'd certainly enjoy having a chat with her - it's just that even though the signs were really very minimal, there was nevertheless something that didn't quite fit.

MrsNoMopp · 18/12/2019 21:09

Women don't mansplain, manspread or display male entitlement.

Voice0fReason · 18/12/2019 22:34

That's a very interesting article. Thank you Katie.

ArnoldWhatshisknickers · 18/12/2019 23:00

Yes men move like men, yes they smell like men, yes they have male facial features.

Have to disagree on top removal though. My partner does the same as me, cross hands, grab hem, lift from front and he has arms so stupidly long he can link his hands and 'skip' with his own arms.

(I'm not convinced he isn't part gibbon)

RetreatingWeasels · 18/12/2019 23:05

Small children can usually tell whether another small child is a boy or a girl; I've noticed with both my DDS.

DD1 as a toddler in a supermarket trolley wearing generic shorts/T shirt and blue shoes. Another small child acknowledged her as a girl and was "corrected" by mother. It struck me then that the adult was looking for "clues" in the clothes, shoes and hair, while the other child just took all of that at face value.

FF 20+ years and DD2 wearing a blue all-in-one puddle suit and green wellies. Another child complaining that she was splashing them and their father doing the "boys will be boys" routine.

In that first video it was telling to watch the TW stomping across the field in a way that actual women don't.

Original poster
KatieAlcock · 18/12/2019 23:08

I take my top off sleeves first... But only after I worked out as a teenager you could take off your jumper without your t-shirt more easily that way (I'm not skinny by the way).

OP posts:
WrathofFaeKlop · 18/12/2019 23:18

hoteltango
I know exactly who you mean.
Forget the name but has an impressive CV on military history.

Original poster
KatieAlcock · 19/12/2019 15:40

Gosh there are some delightful people out there who make delightful comments, aren't there?

OP posts:
nauticant · 19/12/2019 15:57

For anyone newly addicted to Portlandia, this is a must see:

There's a surprise in that sketch that's worth watching for.

moimichme · 19/12/2019 16:01

Katie that is very true! And I love how much some people try and convince us that their perspective is 'scientific'. 🤣

Thanks for a great article - I know a bit about this topic, but I'm grateful for the new articles you've shared. Keep up the good work!

EverardDigby · 19/12/2019 16:10

Our brains are constantly scanning the environment for things that are out of place, it's the same thing as when you turn a corner and some buildings have been knocked down and there's a big gap and you immediately know something is wrong without necessarily knowing what. Mostly there's nothing to report so your brain feels as though you're safe. Occasionally there's something unexpected. When DD (16 and woke-ish) were walking down the pavement in Brighton there was a transwoman walking along, not particularly close to us, dressed in office-y type clothes, not at all ostentatious, but I noticed DD do a double take, only very quickly, but she clocked something wasn't quite as she expected. She didn't say anything though and I doubt she noticed that I noticed. Of course it would be better if we were in a world where men could dress in skirt suits if they wanted to and no one batted an eyelid, but we are not there yet.

WrathofFaeKlop · 19/12/2019 16:13

Gosh there are some delightful people out there who make delightful comments, aren't there?

Agree, why do they even bother to do that? It's a very selfish attitude imo.

You are doing sterling work Katie.

XXcstatic · 19/12/2019 21:31

Have posted this before I think. I am an emergency/urgent care doctor Over the years, I have seen tens of thousands of people with their clothes off following medical emergencies. I have had many patients who were cross-dressing, some of whom were probably trans and some cross-dressing for other reasons. But, in all those tens of thousands, I have never, ever been surprised to find a patient was male, even if she or he (not misgendering - I don't know how many identified as women) was dressed as female. I have occasionally been surprised to find that someone who presented as male was actually female, but never the other way round.

No TW passes. I don't mean that as belittling - I don't think they should feel a pressure to pass, and I am sorry for those who do. But the idea that there are loads of TW using female facilities without anyone noticing is sheer fantasy. We know.

Antibles · 19/12/2019 22:08

Even tiny children can tell. When mine were about eighteen months or summat they went through a phase of being very scared of strange males.

Ozgirl75 · 20/12/2019 01:57

At my child’s school at the moment they’re doing a funny skit in chapel every week where a teacher dresses up in a costume and mask and does a little funny dance and they have to guess who it is.

If they were standing still, you couldn’t tell as they’re often in a voluminous cloaked type thing, but they second they come in the kids are shouting “Mr so and so” or “Miss X”. It’s immediately obvious to them both that it’s a man or a woman, and 8/10 which person it is, entirely by the way they walk. It’s very interesting actually - they’re better at doing it than the parents are (I guess because they spend more time with them).

theflushedzebra · 20/12/2019 02:24

That sketch is bloody hilarious. I have read any twitter threads that run like that Grin

theflushedzebra · 20/12/2019 02:25

*many

BitOfFun · 20/12/2019 03:56

The gait of that transperson in the video about voices is utterly, unmistakably male. I feel that paying for vocal coaching may be a bit of a waste of time for them.

BitOfFun · 20/12/2019 04:04
nails the differences: apparently, women have boring noses Grin.