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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Husband transitioning help!

462 replies

LifeIsAGameYouCannotWin · 10/02/2022 12:57

Hi all, name change for this. DH has been talking about transitioning for many years now. I was pretty much in denial the whole time, thinking maybe he's a cross dresser, etc. Anyway I'm now realizing that he is serious. We have very good relationships, he's fully aware of how it affects me and our child. He loves me very much but as much as I want this to go away I can't accept his sacrifice of not transitioning and not being himself. He will eventually transition but I guess it's best done when he's still young. Anyway I'm all over the place and don't know how to navigate this long journey. I said I will fully support him but I don't think I will stay with him, we'll see I might who knows. Is there anyone hear who can talk to me about it? I'm afraid of what the future holds for us, I'm worrying about my kid, is he going to be bullied? Is this going to traumatize him? What to do?

OP posts:
FlakeyFish · 11/02/2022 16:44

@PleasantBirthday

If one organises it or the other organises it, what's the difference.

It's about not being dragged into doing the work to enable the transition. If a spouse plans to transition (especially if it's a man), they can't expect their partner to do the wife work around it. In order to maintain your own distance and sanity, I think there has to be a clear demarcation, otherwise you could end up being sucked into being overly supportive at your own expense and forget to watch out for your own needs.

I do understand, but without knowing the OP and her partner, it's making a bit of an assumption (my opinion). I think anyone who has had, or has a family member with depression, with an eating disorder, with extreme anxiety, etc, will know that being told to sort it themselves can be overwhelming, exhausting, all the other "ing" words. The OP loves the person she married, that person is struggling, wouldn't you do what you can to help in that position? You say yourself "you could end up being sucked into being overly supportive at your own expense". Maybe, maybe not.
TinselAngel · 11/02/2022 16:57

@SoItWas

Has he tried to be more stereotypically "feminine" in small ways? If atm he has no notion of what he wants or how he really feels, other than he wants to present as more feminine, could he give it a go, without having to go all the way? A more androgynous style, to test the waters?

Eg growing his hair, wearing some black nail varnish and a bit of black eyeliner, having his eyebrows styled. A bit of fake tan. Waxing his arms/armpits/chest.

Also, would he consider getting some stereotypically feminine piercings done, both ears, nose, belly button? Or a feminine tattoo?

I actually personally find this sort of aesthetic very sexy, and have dated/slept a fair few androgynous types over the years (male and female).

How does your dh normally present? What's his style like? What's his personality like?

You said you carry the mental load/do the wifework, and I think you could use that as a way to broach the idea that actually being a woman, is much much more than just looking like a woman (which doesn't require one to actually be a woman). Does he have sisters, neices etc? I think many men don't understand how differently boys and girls are often raised, and the social conditioning females undergo, from we're ridiculously young. The ones who didn't enjoy male conditioning, wouldn't have nesseccarily been any happier with the reality of the female version.

9

It's not about being seen as an androgynous man. It's about the desire to be seen as a woman.
SoItWas · 11/02/2022 17:15

"It's not about being seen as an androgynous man. It's about the desire to be seen as a woman"

Yes, but it's hard to say if op's dh is ready or wants to go full on with being seen as a woman yet. He hasn't begun to transition yet, hasn't indicated a change of pronouns etc, is still known as a man. He can try dressing in a more stereotypically female way (to whatever extent he wishes), without first having to relinquish his masculinity. This may help him decide what he wants, and help op decide how she feels about it small changes, well in advance of any big changes that could be "outing".

TinselAngel · 11/02/2022 17:25

@SoItWas

"It's not about being seen as an androgynous man. It's about the desire to be seen as a woman"

Yes, but it's hard to say if op's dh is ready or wants to go full on with being seen as a woman yet. He hasn't begun to transition yet, hasn't indicated a change of pronouns etc, is still known as a man. He can try dressing in a more stereotypically female way (to whatever extent he wishes), without first having to relinquish his masculinity. This may help him decide what he wants, and help op decide how she feels about it small changes, well in advance of any big changes that could be "outing".

My ex did this and I saw it as him being a more feminine man. But he saw it as the start of transitioning to being a woman.
SoItWas · 11/02/2022 17:42

When are men considered as having transitioned? The line between man and transwomen does baffle me a bit.

Is it the first time they wear all female clothing? When they change their pronouns and name? Finally feeling like they pass enough, to use the ladies loo?

Is it when they start carrying the mental load, sharing the brunt of the housework and childcare, being paid less for the same work, and being subject to misogyny and harassment?

Are there two or more distinct types, those more akin to dysmorphia, and those more fetishistic, is there an overlap. Are there links to childhood trauma?

Does it really start back when they're admiring themselves in their sisters underwear as a teen, or even further back when they preferred barbies to other toys? I read the phrase "living a lie" a lot, which suggests transmen can think of themselves really being women, even before any attempt to "transition".

More research would be so beneficial, but that seems to be quite frowned upon, compared to conversion therapy etc.

SoItWas · 11/02/2022 17:45

*transmen transwomen

Akela64 · 11/02/2022 18:14

You might want read this twitter account twitter.com/ArtemesiaJade/status/1464676959858823170?s=20&t=x6p_s1KRfINnwDMagUzp6w

It's a man with AGP who has decided to not transition because he wishes to maintain his marriage. Its fairly honest about the obsessive, sexual nature of his condition. And the likely outcome of transition on himself and his relationships.

Might give you a different perspective.

LifeIsAGameYouCannotWin · 11/02/2022 18:49

@Akela64 thank you! Interesting, but she is still looking like a woman and has a female pronoun although she didn't go with the surgery... it's still not the same as having a man as a father

OP posts:
DrSbaitso · 11/02/2022 19:04

[quote LifeIsAGameYouCannotWin]@Akela64 thank you! Interesting, but she is still looking like a woman and has a female pronoun although she didn't go with the surgery... it's still not the same as having a man as a father[/quote]
Not really the point, but I believe that picture is of a computer avatar, not the account owner.

irene9 · 11/02/2022 19:28

"3 get therapy for DH"
You mean he'll get therapy for himself.

MrsSkylerWhite · 11/02/2022 20:10

TinselAngel

Also "Ooh I could jump over a dolls house."

I used to love Stu Francis on Crackerjack“

Wasn’t that Bobby Ball?

Melroses · 11/02/2022 20:16

No, definitely Stu.

I went to a pantomime that he put on once. Hadn't a clue who he was until he said "Eee I could crush a grape" and the lightbulb went on 🌞

TinselAngel · 11/02/2022 20:20

@MrsSkylerWhite

TinselAngel

Also "Ooh I could jump over a dolls house."

I used to love Stu Francis on Crackerjack“

Wasn’t that Bobby Ball?

From Wikipedia

Francis had numerous catchphrases on Crackerjack, mostly based on his prolific "Ooh! I could crush a grape!!". Other variations included: "I could pop a balloon", "I could rip a tissue", "I could jump off a doll's house", "I could wrestle an action man", "I could duff a daffodil", "I could test drive a Tonkaa*", "I could pummel a peach", and "I could eat a whole sausage roll".

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 11/02/2022 20:22

Bobby Ball was ‘Rock on Tommy.’

I’m now trying to think whether Eric Morecambe had any catchphrases.

TinselAngel · 11/02/2022 20:24

I used to like Bob Carolgees (sp?) and Spit the Dog too.

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 11/02/2022 20:25

Basil Brush was in panto in Windsor over Christmas. I had no idea he was still around.

MrsSkylerWhite · 11/02/2022 20:29

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn

Bobby Ball was ‘Rock on Tommy.’

I’m now trying to think whether Eric Morecambe had any catchphrases.“

Yes he was but many more besides. He was “ooh, I could crush a grape” too.

TinselAngel · 11/02/2022 20:30

@MrsSkylerWhite

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn

Bobby Ball was ‘Rock on Tommy.’

I’m now trying to think whether Eric Morecambe had any catchphrases.“

Yes he was but many more besides. He was “ooh, I could crush a grape” too.

Eric Morecambe didn't say "Ooh I could crush a grape"!
MrsSkylerWhite · 11/02/2022 20:31

No, I meant Bobby Ball!

To many quotes Grin

Actually will stop now. Feels a bit disrespectful on a serious thread.

CatherinaJTV · 11/02/2022 20:50

@LifeIsAGameYouCannotWin

Hi all, name change for this. DH has been talking about transitioning for many years now. I was pretty much in denial the whole time, thinking maybe he's a cross dresser, etc. Anyway I'm now realizing that he is serious. We have very good relationships, he's fully aware of how it affects me and our child. He loves me very much but as much as I want this to go away I can't accept his sacrifice of not transitioning and not being himself. He will eventually transition but I guess it's best done when he's still young. Anyway I'm all over the place and don't know how to navigate this long journey. I said I will fully support him but I don't think I will stay with him, we'll see I might who knows. Is there anyone hear who can talk to me about it? I'm afraid of what the future holds for us, I'm worrying about my kid, is he going to be bullied? Is this going to traumatize him? What to do?
maybe reach out to couples who have gone through this and are still together? Jette Knox on twitter is one person I can think of and they have kids, too, but I am sure there are more who have gone through this and can give you an idea of what worked well for them? Good luck!
TinselAngel · 11/02/2022 21:01

I'm not sure the OP would find Amanda Jette Knox's story particularly comforting at this stage given it involves

  1. Having a trans identifying child
  2. Husband then transitioning
  3. Vocally declaring you're a lesbian now
  4. Child deciding they're actually non binary
  5. Declaring yourself genderqueer because trans activists got fed up of a "cis" woman speaking for them but you need to keep selling books

It's the sort of rollercoaster most of us could do without.

Melroses · 11/02/2022 21:02

@EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn

Basil Brush was in panto in Windsor over Christmas. I had no idea he was still around.
I was looking at a trailer for something on twitter about Derek Fowlds who was Bernard in Yes Minister, which I always thought was terribly serious, and also on Heartbeat for years and I realised he was "Mr Derek" who used to appear with Basil Brush. 🤦‍♀️
CatherinaJTV · 11/02/2022 21:09

@TinselAngel

I'm not sure the OP would find Amanda Jette Knox's story particularly comforting at this stage given it involves
  1. Having a trans identifying child
  2. Husband then transitioning
  3. Vocally declaring you're a lesbian now
  4. Child deciding they're actually non binary
  5. Declaring yourself genderqueer because trans activists got fed up of a "cis" woman speaking for them but you need to keep selling books

It's the sort of rollercoaster most of us could do without.

They look like a very happy family, warts and all - also, I am sure they are not the only family in which one partner transitioned out there.
IWillBeSeeingYou · 11/02/2022 21:10

You can also say that being gay is a perversion of sexuality and is similar to being say a necrophile. But it's not. It's been accepted that gay and trans people do not with harm to other people and are normal people living their lives as they see fit.

It’s absolute bollocks to compare being gay to trans, gay people are not pretending to be another sex, forcing themselves to be seen as another sex or moving into spaces not designed for them. They don’t ask others to deny what’s in front of them either. The T should never have been included with LGB, it’s not even remotely similar and as a gay person I want no part of it.

Doubletoilandtrouble · 11/02/2022 21:18

I am trying to understand this better. Why should the t be with LGB? LGB is all about who you fancy. T is about how you view yourself…?

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