I was just flicking around flickr, as I seem to waste an increasing amount of time doing these days, and I read a t-girls comment that said something a long the lines of "if only I had been born a woman, my life would be so different". I know a lot of people feel this way, they talk about being "trapped" in a mans body, unable to do all the things they've always wanted to do. I kind of picture them sat in an empty grey room on an old tea chest eating a can of cold beans with a stubbly face and an army haircut, when they could have been a hollywood actress with a string of wealthy husbands, appearing on the cover of every glamour mag. We can never know for sure, but I can't help thinking that for a lot of people, their lives wouldn't have been very different at all. As they say, life is what you make it.

Maybe this could be a bit of a meme, what do you think your life would have been like if you were born a genetic female? (If you are one, try it the other way around)

As for me? I think I'd probably be where I am now, I could imagine I'd still be a programmer (just like the other female programmers in our office, they're pretty cool) I'd probably have similar friends to the ones I have, except without the large number of gay and tranny friends. I'm sure I'd have some gay/trans friends, as I would still be quite liberal and open minded (it's in the family). I would probably have still been bullied at school, although it would have been vicious verbal bulling from girls instead of the violent kind from boys. I still wouldn't have done my homework, and scraped through exams on a bit of luck and some common sense. In fact, the only difference would probably be that I'd wear skirts a lot more! I definitely wouldn't shun an opportunity to draw attention to myself! It's hard to do that as a boy while still keeping within the bounds of socially acceptable and safe.

So do you think being born the opposite gender would really have changed your life? Or do you think you'd still be just you anyway?

Becky EnVérité:

I dunno. It's hard to think about such a fundamental change, cos it would basically make you a different person. So that person would either have a very different life to the one you've had, or be very similar. It's all a bit arbitrary.

I think I'd have spent less money in Transformation, though. 

Emily S:

I think that the only big difference would have been a lot less soul searching with regard to what on earth is wrong with me. I've started my transition and I can already feel the difference in the amount of my (already meagre) brain power I have to divert to working it all out. Before, when I was in my "fighting it all" stage, I know I was overly preoccupied with trying to understand my gender and I made a few mistakes because of that. I can't help but feeling that not having dedicated so much time and energy to working that out would have made a difference.

On the flip side, I know that in several of the places I have worked, it would have been a great deal more difficult to carve out the career niche I have done had I been a natal female (I've found myself in some really misogynistic companies, unfortunately). I really cannot complain: I've lived a really good life as a man, even if I never wanted to be one. However, it doesn't stop me wondering, because wanting to live as a woman is something I've wanted for so many years. Now, I'm just going to see how that really feels!! :D 

Jane:

I've found that when ever I've seen a post or a forum entry which starts "If I was born..." it will normally be a whinge where the poster will blame all his or her ills on being born, rich/Swedish/in the 1940's/male/gifted at tennis.

As for being born the opposite sex, well I'm gonna pick up that meme and run with it.

Really interesting thought provoking post. 

Steph Angel:

If I'd been born female I'd probably have the biggest hands & feet on my street... For a girl anyway ;-) 

Connie Cox:

If I had been born a female.....jesus no idea what would have happened. However I doubt I would have gone to an all boys school...errr thats all really.
Hard to tell as there are too many variables that can change ones life. 

Joanna:

Same as Connie, All-boys school would not have happened and so a major part of my social circle would have been different.

And if I was female.. there'd be no Angels ;-) So I wouldn't know any of you lot! 

Pia aka charlie:

hey baby...if i'd been born a girl..i'd probably be a really butch dyke...yes i'm a bit of a girl now...but if it was the other way i'd probably want to be a boi....
and i think it would be as much fun...hhhhhmmmm lesbians ...if they didn't exist you have to create them ...as for the whole ts thing ,,,it cuts both ways...grass always being greener..and if i was born a girl...i'd probably spent alot less time hell bent on destroying myself.....
big love...pia/charlotte (bull dyke!) 

Chrissy Rogers:

Um... If I was born female I'd be my sister's role model instead of her childhood bully. I wouldn't have been a mercenary and I wouldn't have been an armed robber; instead I'd have worked in a mill or a typing pool and developed some horrible lung disease or an RSI. Oh, and I'd have had three kids by a man called Owen or Gareth.
I'll stick with who I've been, thanks... but thanks for the question. 

Cathii Scott:

If I had been born a girl I would probably have spent a lot less time in the shrinks office complaining that I wasn't born a girl. No, instead I might have been in his office complaining that I hadn't been born a boy. Who knows? 

Alli' Cat':

I don't think there's any way I'd still have been me.
If the 'people in lab-coats' are to be believed: my brain would be a different size and wired differently, its pathways would have been formed by a whole other set of circumstances (both nature and nurture, to say nothing of 'social conditioning'). In fact, I can't think of one aspect of my life that would be the same!
Oops, just thought of one: I'd still put my panties on one leg at a time ;) 

Kate Weston:

I'd have spent a lot more on tampons and a lot less on shaving foam. And I reckon I'd be a mother by now instead of a geek. 

Anonymous:

I wouldnt have wasted time thinking about what it would be like in another gender ,infact i'd be in topshop most of the time , conforming to a stereotype ,Freud and the like wouldn't even come into it 

Kath Adams:

as I'm a nurse, there's a good chance I'd have still been in a caring profession.

I'm damn sure I'd have got more sex in my teens & early twenties until marrying etc.

Although, that would mean I'd have to fancy boys [eww, yuck!]. If I'd fancied girls still, I'd probably have got even less sex as I'd have spent years worrying about being a lesbian rather than worry about being a crossdresser! Probably easier to come out as a lesbian as that would be there 100% instead of CD about 10%? 

Tiffany Welch:

hello i am new at this i was just saying hey
Love Always,
Tiffany 

Jayne:

If I had been born a girl I would probably have been pregnant at 15 married at 16 and divorced at 17 !!