[DomnNC]

First off, let me say I'm an old dude and all these abbreviations and splitting hairs is just so unnecessary at times and is what is divisive among us at best. I'm not trying to be judgemental here but let me ask this:

Do any of ya'll really really think that when we identify as male or have transitioned that there is a magic switch we throw where we forget, just totally forget all the struggles, hostility, bias and discrimination that we felt when we were readily female identified? Think about it, if you male identify and unless you have transitioned, (and still in some cases if you work at the same employer) that we still aren't met with the same discrimination, bias, judgemental attitudes and hate as a readily identifyable female?

We have to fill out the same paperwork as any female has to in order to get a job and for tax purposes, and if you haven't transitioned but male identify you still have to check that lil box labeled female, so therefore you are still met with the same bias, judgemental attitudes and discrimination as any other woman whether you female identify or not, there is no male privilege extended to those who male identify but still have to check that lil box (well not in my experience anyway).

Furthermore, I happen to think that those who haven't transitioned but male identify (and in some cases when you have transitioned) have opened up the job market quite a bit for other women. Those jobs where the idea was that "oh women can't do that" were proven wrong when they hired a butch woman or one who male identifies, so therefore it opened the doors for other women who followed however they may have identified because it was proven that yes, a woman can do that job!

I don't for one instant believe that anyone from this website who has transitioned has forgotten their struggles, discrimination, bias, abuse etcetcetc and what they went thru when they still had to check that little box that said female. I have seen nothing but support offered for those who female identify from the guys here who have transitioned and those who male identify as well. These guys are still the same person that they always were, your inner core and most heartfelt beliefs don't change just because you take a shot of T or transition. You are still aware of the discrimination, bias etcetc but only at a heightened awareness now because you have added something else to the pot to make you be discriminated against.

Most people don't get transitioning and unless you've truly felt you were born in the wrong body then most people will never ever get it or understand it and attempt to treat guys who transition the same as a "real cis man", declare they have the same rights/privileges as a cis man when that is simply not the truth. You may look the part, you may act the part but there is always someone who will know the truth of how you became a man and that leaves open the possibility of violence and discrimination on a whole other level.

In all the talks of male privilege I have ever seen here no one here has denied that to some extent those of us who pass and those of us who have transitioned get a little bit of "privilege", but not to the extent of a cis male. It's those posts that hammer and attempt to silence the male identified and those who have transitioned that I don't agree with at all. Even when one tries to discuss the issue within the thread it doesn't matter what anyone says there is always someone screaming you're silencing me, it gets old, really old. Either you want to discuss it AND listen or you don't! But you can't have a one sided discussion and expect the male identified and the transitioned to sit back and have it tossed in their face on a daily basis that they have ALL this privilege, they don't. The way I see a discussion is you discuss it, then it's over with, unless someone blatantly tosses "male privilege" at you in the course of a discussion over something else, it's not something to be thrown into almost every single thread here where there is a discussion of something totally unrelated going on (not in my opinion anyway). I've not seen one guy who has transitioned or one guy who male identifies tell a woman here to put a sock in it, to shut up, to leave the thread, etcetcetc. It's almost like some of you want us that male identify and can pass or those who have transition to lay down on our bellies, crawl like a snake and beg your (general) forgiveness for simply being who we are. Chuckles, I for one will never do that. I have no apologies to make to anyone for being simply who I am.

I look at my transitioned brothers as still just the same brother I always had, he's no different inside than I am. He knows my struggles intimately as I know his. He just happened to have been fortunate to mesh his outer self with his inner self, he's still the same inner self he always was.

One other thing to think of, us that male identify or who have transitioned can often be in a place to promote the hiring of women. Before I left my full time job due to my back disability, when I started working there, there were men in every place of management at the family owned company I worked for, I was the lone one that had to check that lil box that read female. I was put on the hiring committee for the management positions within the company in the office and some in the plants and remote locations. Before I left that company every management position at the main location was occupied by women with the exception of the Owner (obviously who was the President) and the Vice-President, there were others at the remote locations who were put into management. Just a little something to think about when you (general) feel like bashing those of us who can pass and those who have transitioned. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has done that.

Thanks for listening!