what does it mean "live as a woman"?

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

I gather that in order for a male person who believes themselves to be feminine they have to "live as their acquired gender" for 2 years in order to get a GRC.

Is there a definition of how women live? Because I don't think I qualify.

it means....stereotypes.

Like being paid less, carrying an unequal burden of childcare, social care and domestic chores?

Or dresses, heels and nail varnish?

Clearly it means to live and work 24/7 whilst presenting as female

I doubt it means being paid less or having your healthcare needs taken less seriously.

As in so many areas I gather most of us are living as the wrong type of woman …

I once met a transgender woman trough my job, this person was going trough this exact proces. In their case it meant dressing like a woman and trying to pass for one, in every aspect of life including work.

I'd also like to know the answer to this.

My definition would be living as a human being who happens to have a female body. Which would mean that it's impossible for a male person to live as a woman.

Now that the kids are past baby stage I can honestly say that DH and I live no differently from each other except he will use the men's bathroom when out.

Both in trackies and hoodies (wfh still). No gendered division of chores or parenting.

I don't wear make up or jewellery 99% of the time. Trainers most days.

Sexist claptrap is what it is. GRA needs to be repealed.

@LaBellina

I once met a transgender woman trough my job, this person was going trough this exact proces. In their case it meant dressing like a woman and trying to pass for one, in every aspect of life including work.

How does someone 'dress like a woman'?

I don't know.

Being a woman is something that I am, not something that I do.

Dealing with periods maybe? Buying bras? Being rung first by school when the DCs are ill? Wondering about how many contraceptive pills I have left, and whether it's time for DH to have the snip? Ignoring the misogynistic posturing by the men that I work with? Daring to have an opinion in front of my mother?

Yes, this is what I think. It's about lipstick and heels, isn't it? Long hair that you swish around and submissiveness?

It's so FUCKING OFFENSIVE!

I'm the middle of a conversation about gender at work - I actually think I might explode. They are describing stereotypes that women have been railing against for for quite a long time.

Also, I don't seem to meet any of the criteria they mention. So, am I accidentally a transman? I've got short hair, quite a decent tache (thanks, menopause), I'm wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, trainers and no make up. I have yet to giggle coquettishly or have a pillow fight - uh oh.

Maybe ‘living as a woman’ means getting accustomed to being objectified, talked over, being paid and valued less. But that doesn’t seem to happen for some strange reason.

Menstrual cramps, menstruating, hot flushes, achy boobs oh and the odd smear test. Don't think many of them would pass the test!

@Nowayhozay

Clearly it means to live and work 24/7 whilst presenting as female

So its dresses then? thats it, being a woman = dresses.

Is it something to do with knowing when everybody's birthdays are and buying cards, and knowing whether it's recycling or normal bin week without having to look at the card from the council?

I dunno because if I was to describe my choices of clothes and other accoutrements to you - you'd think I was a man.

I wear man's tops and jackets (long body and arms, difficult to find women's clothes that fit)

I wear trousers all the freaking time. I wear men's shoes. I wear men's deodorant.

I never wear make up. I don't care about hair or jewellery or handbags. I have a wallet not a purse.

I don't cook. Husband does that.

Apparently I walk and run like a man.

My interests are stereotypically "male" interests.

If there was a woman test I'd fail.

Though I do have endo, gave birth to children and breastfed them so who knows.

My body makes me a women. Everything else is just set-dressing.

Nowayhozay "whilst presenting as female" That's the bit, though, is THAT defined?

Because I think that really needs to be defined. Otherwise, it's what Dyslek says - it's wearing kitten heels, floral prints and Estee Lauder body spray?

And that can fuck right off.

Maya Angelou on Phenomenal Woman and why we are so much more than the trite stereotypes of people's impoverished imaginations.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4359887-Maya-Angelou-Reading-Phenomenal-Woman

We never get an answer to this.

I have no idea what a woman gender identity and living as a woman actually is and how I would know if I had one or was doing it.

Ok, here's the other thing that I don't know the answer to and google hasn't helped - is there a definition of "transphobia" or "transphobic abuse"?

Because, in this office it seems to mean "disagreeing with someone who has feelings of gender" or even "not putting a person with gender feelings at the centre of every decision".

As others have said before - being a woman is not a performance.

I have also often thought that. Once you start thinking about logical the whole 'living as a woman' thing unravels.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

Yes, this is what I think. It's about lipstick and heels, isn't it? Long hair that you swish around and submissiveness?

It's so FUCKING OFFENSIVE!

I'm the middle of a conversation about gender at work - I actually think I might explode. They are describing stereotypes that women have been railing against for for quite a long time.

Also, I don't seem to meet any of the criteria they mention. So, am I accidentally a transman? I've got short hair, quite a decent tache (thanks, menopause), I'm wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, trainers and no make up. I have yet to giggle coquettishly or have a pillow fight - uh oh.

Please DO explode at them...! This nonsense needs to be robustly challenged doesn't it?

LaBellina
I once met a transgender woman trough my job, this person was going trough this exact proces. In their case it meant dressing like a woman and trying to pass for one, in every aspect of life including work.
How does someone 'dress like a woman'?

I met this person only once, they wore their hair long in a bob, light makeup, nail polish and a skirt and a blouse. Quite conservative actually, my grandmother (who is very old fashioned) could have worn their clothes.

Well, living as a menopausal woman involves brain fog, aches and pains, insomnia, weight gain (like I needed more of that), shit hair and invisibility to name but a few. Strangely, no one is volunteering to live like that for a day let alone two years.