Not All

There are no standards for transitioning women to live by anymore. There used to be with the one year real-life experience, often deemed a test, for approval for Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) where you were judged if you passed successfully as a woman.

As a therapist would tell you, the experience is to get used to presenting and living as a woman. In truth it was then and still is bullshit as anyone knows because while many pass most if not all the time, all transitioning women face the reality of being clocked or outed, creating more harm than good.

I've always argued that if you have been diagnosed with Gender Identity Condition and you accept the process with the understanding you make your choices and accept responsibilities for those choices, then you should have the right to the SRS and get your documents changed so you can get on with your life.

The truth is that even if you don't pass, that won't change after one year, and if you pass, then you don't need the one year. The one year test was a compromise years ago with the APA over those who argued no time is necessary and some who wanted 2-3 years.

It was those therapists who then used it to set standards of what was acceptable with the woman's presentation, meaning everything feminine and nothing masculine, and why many transitioning woman threw out their entire old wardrobe for their new one.

While some cherished this as a milestone, it was expensive for many and it was really stupid for some as they often threw away their favorite or best clothes for ones to get through the test and get the letters for surgery.

The point is that there are no standards anymore as some transitioning women don't throw out some of their old clothes and continue to wear them as women's styles now allow it. They aren't into makeup outside that which is necessary for the occasion.

They don't live to go shopping and for clothes and all the "normal" stuff they're expect to do as women. They live as who they are, and wear whatever they like, and do whatever they want. Some in and post transition don't fit the model or stereotype because it's not them.

The reality is that some don't like women's clothes because they often don't fit, it's tedious to find and then remember all the sizes which fits for each makers of clothes you like or want to try, and they often like colors found with men's clothes not availble in women's clothes.

In short some women keep and still buy men's clothes because they fit, they like the style, they prefer the colors and they're comfortable. They still wear women's clothes because they like them too but for some types, the men's are their preferred.

And the funny thing is they're still seen as women. And that's what some therapists have realized and accept with those women they're in therapy for their transition. Just be yourself and the letters will still get written and you'll still get the surgery.

That's because the diversity of women is far greater today where the diversity of transwomen now fits completely inside it. If only the APA can realize that to write standards which fits the new diversity than their narrow-minded ideal.

Not all transwomen fit their ideal but they're still women.