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Trans man Thomas Beatie made headlines
when he became pregnant
Trans women seem to be turning up everywhere in the media and are sometimes quite visible in everyday society, but trans men are frequently unseen, leading non-trans people to believe that there are far fewer trans men than trans women.
While this could be the case, there are some estimates that the populations of people whose gender identity does not match their physical body are about equal. But even if this is true, there are many reasons why this does not play out in visibility.
In part one, we talked about why trans men might be statistically underrepresented. But, statistics aside, trans men are simply not as visible in society as trans women are.
There are several reasons for this.
1. Testosterone is a very powerful hormone. For people who went through puberty in a male body, testosterone often created height, a low voice, larger hands and feet, a more muscular physique, and certain facial features and other physical characteristics that are distinguished in society as “male.” Some of these characteristics are not mitigated by the use of estrogen, and therefore remain even after transition, making some trans women more visible in public.
By the same token, because testosterone is so powerful, it overpowers estrogen very quickly when taken by those who were born female, imparting traditional male characteristics such as facial hair, a lower voice, and upper-body muscle mass, making trans men less visible as trans and making it easier for us to assimilate into mainstream male society if we choose to do so.
This does not mean that trans women cannot successfully assimilate into mainstream female society. Countless women have done so. But it can be more difficult.
2. While many trans men did not accept or internalize their female socialization, some did. And many females, particularly of my generation, were socialized not to speak out, not to demand, not to make trouble, and not to call attention to ourselves. Sometimes this socialization makes it more difficult for trans men to speak out and make their presence known, which can contribute to a lack of voice and visibility in society.
3. Until recently, and possibly because of the reasons above, there were not as many public role models for trans men. Without public roles models, it is more difficult to be out, vocal, and visible. Christine Jorgensen was one of the earliest public role models for trans women, even though that was not her intention. Renee Richards was another. These visible public figures helped trans women become more open and more vocal about their existence and their needs. Now that there are many trans men who are out and publicly visible, younger trans men are encouraged to follow their lead, so I believe that we will continue to see an increase in the visibility of trans men.
But even with increased visibility, it will likely continue to be difficult to accurately estimate the number of trans men — and trans women — in the United States. And many would prefer not to be visible — their goal is to assimilate into mainstream society and live as the men and women they are. Others might prefer to be visible, but many considerations, including a lack of safety and discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, make it less desirable to do so. The most important thing to know is that we’re here.
Comments
I can not say that I am not envious of trans men's ability to be able to blend into society so much more easily than trans women. I do not dwell on it but I do envy it. Of course the really nice thing to happen would be for society itself to change, so that trans men and women can just be who they are without any thought about it. I myself (knock-on-wood) have not had any difficulties so far being out in public as an obvious and open trans women. I feel very fortunate and know that still is not the norm for most of us. If I had the chance as a teen to transition before the damaging effects of puberty could affect me, I would have quietly blended into society. Starting my transition at 43 though, even if I could "pass", I have far too much history to consider such a thing. The only thing I can hope for is a general acceptance.
Do trans men watch quietly societies interaction with obvious trans women and use those observations as any kind of barometer to gauge their own situation
In regards to role models for transmen, there were many in the past and from all walks of life. Including a medal of honor winner from the civil war. In more recent times, Diego Sanchez, Shannon Minter, Ethan St.Piere come to mind almost immediately. There are many more very public role models.
One other piece of socialization occurs for transmen. Males who are feminine in any way or are perceived as effeminate are looked down upon especially by other men in our society. Boys don't play with dolls, boys don't cry, etc.
Also, men are for the most part socialized to tough it out in silence, the strong silent type.
Another MAJOR role model for transmen, Steve Dain (from California), who hardly anyone remembers anymore, was featured on the front page of the New York Times the day before Renee Richards' story broke. Renee blew Steve out of the water because she was from NY, from the professional class (Steve was a high school girls' P.E. teacher), and because trans women are infinitely more upsetting (and therefore fascinating, too) to non-trans people. Trans men are far more easily dismissed -- we are far less threatening to the perceived power dynamic that keeps "real" men secure, and without which they might not be "real"! ;-) And, yes, I quietly watch what happens to trans women and I have learned to stay very short and not to wear miniskirts! I don't really mean to be sarcastic, but I think much of this "inequity" has less to do with our (MTF or FTM) transness and a lot to do with unexamined gender roles, stereotypes, and unbridled homophobia on the part of non-trans people.
There are many FTM role models now, including Mr. Jamison Green, who comments here and has been one of my role models for the past 12 years. Diego Sanchez, Shannon Minter and Ethan St. Pierre are incredible role models now. I know them all and they are extremely impressive. And there are many, many more--too many to list. I think there have been in the past, too, but they simply did not have the visibility that women like Christine Jorgensen and Renee Richards did, because, as James said, society finds trans women more upsetting and more threatening to the "status quo" and our defined sex and gender roles, and therefore, more fascinating. I personally think that misogyny is a driving force behind the transphobia and homophobia that is seen in our culture. And that is a much longer article, but I have written about that on my personal blog and will probably write about that here at some point as well. Thank you all for your comments and observations. I appreciate your presence here.
I am an out and open transwoman who knows quite a few transmen. In general they do assimilate into the mainstream of society in a much easier fashion for the reasons stated. Even so, as the AMA stated last year in Resolution 122, we are still dealing with a life threatening, prenatal condition (the latter which was not stated, just the deadly aspects). The problems here seem to be one of public knowledge of what we are dealing with more so than what we are. There was a time when type 1 bipolar individuals were deemed to be demonically possessed. Now we are being perceived as drag queens and drag kings gone to the extremes. The average schmo just does not get the idea that the brain is the most vital sexual organ, not the genitalia. The sooner the the mainstream of society picks up on this, the sooner that the religious and social stigma will mediate.
One final point. I do believe that the numbers of transmen are vastly understated.
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