Chase The Importance of Passing PDF

The Importance of Passing for Queer Transgender Men: Masculinity, Identity, and Safety
Honours Thesis
Chase Ross
5658918
Dr. Marc Lafrance
Concordia University
April 16, 2014

The Importance of Passing for Queer Transgender Men 2
Table of Contents
I. Acknowledgements..4
II. Abstract...5
III. Introduction...6
IV. Review of the Literature...........7
i. Definitions and Interpretations of Passing........7
ii. The Importance of Passing........11
iii. Building Identity During Transition........19
iv. The Importance of Maleness and Masculinity.20
V. Theoretical Framework23
VI. Methodology...26
VII. Data Analysis and Discussion...29
i. Defining Terms..29
ii. Not Passing...31
- Acting.31
- Passing as Essential ...34
- Lack of Positive Body Image.....37
iii. Passing.....39
- Validation...39
- Confidence.41
iv. Recommendations.......44
VIII. Conclusions.....45
IX. References......47
Appendix I....50
Appendix II.......51
Appendix III.52
Glossary....54
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr. Marc Lafrance for helping shape this research project and for
the hours spent in his office as he guided me towards the right direction. I would also like
to thank all 42 individuals who initially messaged me with interest in participating in this
research. This pushed me to continue the research process and understand how important
this research is to society and many transgender men like yourselves. To Zuzia, Sam,
Gavin, Zac, Justin and Stefan for proofreading endless drafts and lastly, to the eight
participants who took time out of their days to be interviewed by me. Your unique
insights have sparked many new research ideas for the future.
Abstract
Although much research has been conducted on female-to-male (FTM) transgender

individuals and their embodiment of masculinity (Rubin 2003; Prosser 1998; Koenig
2002; Ward 2010), limited research has directly focused on the important stage of
passing from female to male, and how this specific aspect helps shape their masculine
identities and body image. Therefore, in order to understand the importance of this stage
and its effect on the individual, the question this research intends to answer is: how do
queer transgender men, who have just begun to pass as men in society, experience their
body image and masculinity? The literature presented in this paper will discuss four
major themes associated with this topic such as: the different definitions and
representations of the word passing, the importance of passing as it relates to fear,
survival and necessity, how transgender individuals and those around them help in
building their identity during the transition period, and the importance of maleness and
masculinity within their lives and transition. In order to explore this further, interviews
were conducted with queer transgender men to get their personal perspectives on this
topic and to give real accounts from their lives and experiences. The research aims to
demonstrate how important the stage of passing is for these men and why it is significant
for academia to include it in their analysis of their lives.
Introduction
Although much research has been conducted on female-to-male (FTM) transgender
2002; Ward 2010), limited research has directly focused on the important stage of
passing as male in society, and how this specific period of time helps shape masculine
identities and body image. Therefore, in order to understand the importance of this
particular moment in the trajectory of an FTM and its effect on the individual, the
question this research intends to answer is: how do queer transgender men, who have just
begun to pass as men in society, experience their body image and masculinity? To
begin answering this question, an in-depth review of literature is conducted. Themes are
extracted from this literature, such as: definitions and interpretations of the word
passing; the importance of passing as it relates to fear and necessity; how transgender
individuals and those around them help in building their identity during the transition
period; and the importance of maleness and masculinity within their lives and transition.
In order to further examine these concepts and themes, eight interviews were conducted
with queer transgender men who have just begun to pass in society. The aforementioned
interviews shaped the theoretical framework by using a data-driven approach. Erving
Goffman (1959) and Charles Horton Cooley (1902) as well as others help extract and
give understanding to themes located within these research interviews. The data collected
during interviews is divided into two time periods: Pre-Passing and Passing. Within these
time periods, themes emerge. Pre-Passing discusses themes such as: Acting, Passing as
Essential and Lack of Positive Body Image. As well as: Validation and Confidence for
the Passing time period. Once completed, recommendations are offered by the
participants in obtaining a more understanding and anxiety free society.
Review of the Literature
This section examines the state of the literature done in the field of trans masculinity,
passing, and identity. This literature review will focus solely on female-to-male (FTM)
transsexual/transgender individuals. As mentioned above, four themes will be examined.
Much research addresses this group of people as transgender and transsexual, therefore
the term which will be used to discuss this group will include both: TS/TG.
Definitions and Interpretations of Passing
There are many different interpretations of what will be discussed in this paper as
passing or status passage (Garfinkel 1967; Schrock 2009; Stone 1991; Halberstam
1998; Roen 2002; Namaste 2005; Rubin 2003; Snorton 2009). Garfinkel (1967), in his
groundbreaking book Studies in Ethnomethodology, discusses a particular case which he
worked on in 1958 of a young woman named Agnes (119). In order to understand
Garfinkels definition of passing, one must understand the context of where it came
from. Agnes was born with male genitalia and was raised as a boy before puberty hit
(Garfinkel 1967: 119). Once puberty settled in, Agnes started developing female
secondary sex characteristics and took on a female role in society that she felt accurately
represented her (Garfinkel 1967: 120-121). In understanding her life as female in society
after being socialized as male, Garfinkels definition of passing is as follows:
The work of achieving and making secure their rights to live in the
elected sex status while providing for the possibility of detection and ruin
carried out within the socially structured conditions in which this work
occurred I shall call passing. (Garfinkel 1967: 118, 137)
Garfinkels definition of passing discusses the work a transgender individual must
carry out in order to pass as their desired gender identity in society. Thus, Garfinkels
definition of passing highlights the intentionality of passing within the constraints of
gendered cultural normal.
While theories of 'passing' highlight the negotiation of gender cues and
intentionality of gender presentation, other theories imply that passing requires emotional
'work' as well. Garfinkel discusses the work individuals must physically go through in
order to pass, whereas Schrock et al. (2009) and Snorton (2009) discuss the emotion
and inner work individuals must complete. Schrock et al. (2009) discusses emotion
work which transgender individuals need to do in order to move through a status
passage (702). This emotion work consisted of: preparing ones self emotionally to go
out into society; entrusting their emotional well-being to others to see if they were
passing; and emotionally processing past embarrassing and threatening public
experiences (705,707-708). This involves learning how to suppress emotions and
replacing them with new emotions in order to move through life seamlessly (Schrock et
al. 2009: 707). The term passing is seldom discussed in this work, instead passing is
presented as a process or passage an individual needs to go through (Schrock et al.
2009: 702, 709). Emotion work, according to the authors, is a process to facilitate public
gender performance, which aids their transition (Schrock et al. 2009: 702). Therefore, an
individual is only able to go through status passage if they have done the necessary
emotion work required.

In contrast to Schrock, Snorton (2009) discusses passing as a deeper
understanding of an individuals self-identification. Before discussing his own definition,
he discusses Sandy Stones influential work The Empire Strikes Back: A Posttranssexual
Manifesto and its reductive categorization of passing as the essence of transsexualism
(Snorton 2009: 77; Stone 1991: 232). Stone (1991) goes into more detail in relation to
passing: The most critical thing a transsexual can do, the thing that constitutes success,
is to pass [authors emphasis] (231). For Stone, passing constitutes the success of
transsexual identity and is the most important aspect for a TS/TG individual. The author
provides a definition for this categorization of passing as: to live successfully in the
gender of choice, to be accepted as a natural member of that gender (Stone 1991: 231).
Leaving no room for interpretation, passing is described as the only goal for TS/TG
individuals: The most critical thing a transsexual can do, the thing that constitutes
[authors emphasis] success, is to pass(Stone 1991: 231).
Discussing the psychic and psychological dimensions of passing, Snortons
(2009) explanation is different as passing for him is the way we make identity (79, 87).
The author discusses this further:
A deeper consideration of the psychic life of passing requires an

exploration of the interstitial relationships among articulation (we are
who we say we are), performance (we are what we do), and practice
(we are routinized bodily actions). (Snorton 2009: 79)
It can therefore be interpreted that Snorton (2009) argues individuals need to understand
their relationship to who they are and how they navigate this identity in their body in
order to pass psychologically. Snorton's research highlights the multidimensional aspects
of TS/TG people's lived experiences. Thus, passing constitutes not merely a social-
cultural process devoid of internal negotiations. Passing constitutes a complex interplay
between internal and external processes. Instead passing can be understood as an inner
process, as well as an outer.
Although Snorton (2009) discusses passing as an inner process, many authors
such as Halberstam (1998) and Roen (2001) place emphasis on the aspect of being
convincing to others in society (246; 505). There are other authors who discuss this
aspect in depth. For example, Rubin (2003) defines passing as: [being] recognizable [as
men] (143). For most of these authors, passing is seen as a very important part of the
TS/TG trajectory. Namaste (2000) discusses passing as presenting ones self as a real
man, where ones original sex is never suspected (140). In relation to this, Green
(2000) explains that TS/TG individuals wish to be perceived and taken seriously as
members of the gender class in which they feel most comfortable (499). In order to be a
successful TS/TG individual, one is not suppose to be TS/TG at all (Green 2000: 501).
This means that FTM individuals are suppose to let go of their past lives as females and
continue their lives as men without thinking of the F in FTM and only the M. Detloff
(2006) puts this in simpler terms by referring to passing as invisibility (89). Individuals
who pass in society now blend in and are perceived as invisible (Detloff 2006: 89). The
concept of invisibility is important for authors such as Roen (2001) as some TS/TG
individuals may not identity as TS/TG forever:
One does not proclaim oneself proudly as a lifelong transsexual. One

moves into progressively less threatening identity states such as formerly
transsexual and, ultimately, woman or man (503).
This transition of moving from one identity (TS/TG) to another (simply male) causes
some scholars to be critical because they do not agree with makingthe lives of TS/TG
people invisivle. Roen (2001) mentions the thinking of a famous TS/TG scholar, Kate
Bornstein, who has written much on the topic of gender bending in Gender Outlaw
(1994). To quote Bornstein:
Passing becomes the outwards manifestation of shame and capitulation.

Passing becomes silence. Passing becomes invisibility. Passing becomes
lies. Passing becomes self-denial (Roen 2001: 508).
Her categorization of passing as shame and defeat does not consider many TS/TG
individuals experiences as well as wants and needs in terms of their transition such as
being out or being invisible. This paper will demonstrate the importance of safety.
Bornstein's dismissal of passing as a protective practice is a major omission, stressing the
importance of being openly TS/TG. Individuals, according to Bornstein, should be out
and cling onto their TS/TG label for life. Halberstam (1998) also argues in favour of
maintaining a TS/TG identity, suggesting that some FTM individuals choose to keep the
label of FTM as opposed to just male (154).
The Importance of Passing
Passing is a highly varied and personalized concept for TS/TG individuals and the
breadth of these concepts relates directly to trans peoples' well-being. Understanding
various definitions and interpretations of the term passing is a crucial part in
conceptualizing its importance for transgender individuals. According to the literature,
there are a variety of reasons as to why passing is important such as: survival and
avoiding harm (Schrock et al. 2009; Snorton 2009; Green 2000; Halberstam 2005;
Namaste 2005; Rubin 2003), avoiding the fear of being discovered as transgender or
misrecognized (Garfinkel 1967; Schrock et al. 2009; Snorton 2009), and in order to
own ones skin and be comfortable (Prosser 1998; Namaste 2000; Rubin 2003; Roen
2001).
TS/TG individuals who do not pass often experience anxiety related to their
physical safety. Schrock et al. discusses this in regards to the public spaces:
transsexuals were often anxious about passing because failing to do so could increase
the likelihood of harassment, threats, or attack while in public (2009: 703). The
literature explores statistics of these incidents and discovers that 55.5% of transsexuals
have been targets of harassment, 19.4% have been assaulted without a weapon, and
10.2% have been assaulted with a weapon (Schrock et al. 2009: 702). The key to survival
in these instances is to pass in society. Thus, survival through the politics of passing
requires much emotion work such as assuaging fear and anxiety and minimiz[ing]
doubt and reinforce positive feelings (2009: 704-705). Without controlling these
emotions, according to Schrock, TS/TG individuals will be discovered and the threat of
violence and harm will be present once again. Snorton (2009), being a non-operative,
no-hormone self-identified transsexual, discusses the importance of passing for him as
being a mechanism for survival but also in understanding different transsexual body
narratives (80, 86, 90). For him, not all TS/TG individuals have the same experiences and
narratives and he believes individuals, like him, do not get a voice when discussing issues
of TS/TG in the community and academia (Snorton 2009: 80). Snorton (2009) discusses
the need for passing in his life: passing, like hope, keeps me sane, or at least helps me
cope in an environment that does not produce the identity I psychically inhabit (89).
Although his identity does not match his physical body, Snorton feels the need to pass to
in order to continue living in his body, accept it as it is and not be discovered as TS/TG
in society.
Namastes (2000) landmark chapter Gender Bashing in Invisible Lives: The
Erasure of Transsexual and Transgendered People discusses the issue of safety for
TS/TG individuals thoroughly. Individuals who are unable to pass during their transition
are at risk of bashing because of their non-conforming appearance (Namaste 2000: 136).
The author warns that individuals who live outside societys rigid categorization of male
and female are at risk of assault (Namaste 2000: 136). Living outside the normative
gender structure of society is common for FTMs who have just begun to transition
(Namaste 2000: 140). FTMs are at risk when their gender is not easily identifiable;
therefore passing is necessary in order to avoid such risk (Namaste 2000: 144). Namaste
(2000) describes societys obsession with the gender binary as a cultural coding
network where TS/TG who do not pass are stuck and at risk (145). The culture and
society individuals live in dictates the two-gender system, and individuals are required to
abide by it. In the same view, Halberstam (2005) explains that the rape and murder of
Brandon Teena was fueled by the enforcement of the gender binary. According to
Halberstam, Brandon's 'friends' responded with violence when they discovered he was
'born female' because his passing constituted a gender transgression (42). Halberstam
illustrates that individuals from the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender)
communities were not surprised at the thought of this event as if this type of violence
were normal and a common occurrence: as if brutality was an inevitable
consequence of trying to pull off such a risky endeavor as passing for male in some
godforsaken place (2005: 45). This act of violence reiterates the risk for TS/TG
individuals in society.
The issue of public bathrooms as it relates to fear and safety is important to
analyse. Halberstam (1998) discusses the importance of passing in public places such as
bathrooms (25). The author attributes the bathroom as one of the most crucial places a
person needs to pass in: the mens room represents the most severe test of his ability to
pass (Halberstam 1998: 25). FTMs have to navigate the mens room carefully as to not
risk detection (Halberstam 1998: 25). If the FTM individual is caught, Halberstam
illustrates that the individual will go through a great deal of panic (1998: 25). The FTM
individual is expected to fear violence if he is discovered because he will be seen as a
fallacy and an intruder in this male space. (Halberstam 1998: 25). Rubin (2003)
discusses the location of the mens room as well as the bedroom as being key areas of
fear for FTMs (167). According to the author, FTM individuals who have not had any
bottom surgeries are at risk in these semi-private settings (Rubin 2003: 167). Without a
full male body, these FTM individuals are constantly on guard about their masculinity
and any potential threat (Rubin 2003: 167). Similarly, Green (2000) discusses this feeling
of constantly being on guard as common for FTM individuals (501). These feelings are
especially normal when visiting government officials, bathrooms, seeking medical care,
and being intimate with a partner (Green 2000: 501). Green (2000) also states that it is
understandable for non-TS/TG people to feel justified in treating TS/TG people with
disgust because of how the media represents TS/TG individuals (502). Namaste (2005)
discusses the issue of being refused services in places such as the government and
medical establishment (3). This type of discrimination is common which is why most
authors, including Detloff (2006), call for safety for TS/TG people who pass and do not
pass (94). The authors asks for an increase in accurate knowledge on this subject in order
to alleviate discrimination. Without passing, Detloff illustrates that individuals often die
(2006: 94).
Whereas all previous authors discuss the physical aspect of safety, Roen (2001)
discusses the emotional safety of TS/TG individuals (504). If a TS/TG person passes and
becomes invisible in society, some begin to feel ostracized from their community (Roen
2011: 504). This may lead to isolation and loneliness, which affects the TS/TG
individuals emotional safety (Roen 2011: 504). The emotional state may also be in
danger in individuals who do not pass, as passing is viewed throughout the community as
necessary (Roen 2011: 504). Paradoxically, individuals who do not pass will feel
ostracized from their communities as well (Roen 2011: 504). These individuals will also
face much transphobia, employment risk and threats to personal safety according to the
author (Roen 2011: 504). Roen (2011) is one of few who addresses issues of class, race
and education. She states:
Who counts as transsexual rests on who can pass, which depends partially
on who has access to reassignment technologies and is therefore influenced
by class, race, education, and so on (Roen 2011: 511)
This type of assessment is crucial when discussing transitioning and passing in society.
Taking into account race, class and education makes for a more inclusive representation
of the population and a view of how individuals who do not have these privileges are
marginalized further than white, middle class, educated FTM TS/TG individuals.
Being misrecognized or found out is hurtful for the TS/TG individual who
intends on passing and fear goes along with this discovery (Garfinkel 1967; Schrock
2009; Snorton 2009). Many TS/TG individuals are fearful of this discovery because it
could cause physical and emotional abuse, as well as a failure of identity. In Garfinkels
(1967) chapter mentioned above, the young woman, Agnes was afraid of not passing as
what she was (137). She believed she was meant to be a woman, but because of some
unfortunate circumstances, was born with male genitalia and raised as male (Garfinkel
1967: 131). Garfinkel (1967) explains: Passing was not a matter of Agnes desire. It was
necessary for her. Agnes has to be female. Whether she liked it or not she had to pass
(137). Garfinkel explains that Agnes would have felt a sense of failure of identity if she
did not pass, manifesting as a failure to herself and who she truly was (1967: 137).
Passing is necessary for many TS/TG individuals and being identified as TS/TG can
affect an individual's view of their body and themselves. Schrock et al. (2009) explains
that individuals who are identified and recognized as TS/TG, disrupt the status passage
and no longer pass (703). In other words, once the TS/TG individual is identified, all the
emotion work and practice they put in their own psychical gender performance
disappears. The work these individuals put into their inner selves gets rejected, which can
be devastating. As mentioned above, once this occurs, the individual is left with feelings
of embarrassment, hopelessness, and that society does not see them as who they really are
(Schrock et al. 2009: 703). Snorton (2009) discusses misrecognition as a common
occurrence in the lives of transgender individuals (82). Being misrecognized/ unseen/
wrongly viewed affects the production of the self which serves as a context for the
emergence of selfhood (Snorton 2009: 82). Therefore, those who are trying to pass in
society and do not succeed will suffer in the development of their selfhood and identity.
The next aspect in understanding why passing is crucial for many TS/TG
individuals relates to owning ones skin as well as being comfortable in ones body. As
mentioned above by Snorton (2009), passing affects the production of self, identity and
selfhood, therefore successfully passing in society is key to owning ones self. Prossers
(1998) chapter entitled A Skin of Ones Own, discusses transsexuality, body ownership
and embodied experience (61). Prosser explains: transsexuality is precisely a
phenomenon of the bodys surface (1998: 62). For TS/TG individuals, owning the
experience of this phenomenon is key to understanding and owning their own bodies. The
way to own this body is to make it your own. Prosser discusses the metaphor of the body
as a divers suit to elaborate on this (1998: 68). The individuals authentic self is only
revealed if the outer layer of the individual can be peeled off, just like a divers suit
(Prosser 1998: 68). The individual knows it is their body, but their true authentic self is
hidden under the divers suit (the skin) (Prosser 1998: 68). Without removing this outer
layer, the body is covered in a fake outer casing with nothing but a hollow shell inside
(Prosser 1998: 68). Finally, he states: [t]o be oneself is first of all to have a skin of ones
own (Prosser 1998: 73). Once passing is complete in society and there are no
possibilities for misrecognition, the individual has found their own self, according to
Prossers definitions. Schrock et al. (2009) also mentions something similar:
transsexuals become confident once they accept their gender as unquestionable (703).
Once the definitions and interpretations, as well as the importance of passing have been
outlined, a greater look into how transgender individuals and those who surround them
help them in developing their identity, masculinity and further passing in society is key.
Passing is a crucial element of TS/TG individuals quality of life. Green (2000)
discusses how many FTMs lives improve after they start passing. Individuals are able to
let go of their previous worries related to passing such as safety (502). To outline this
feeling, Green (2000) conducted interviews and one FTM described passing as:
It was a great relief to be able to shake off layers of defensive behaviours

developed to communicate my humanity from inside my incategorizability
(2000: 502).
Previous to this, the individual did not pass in society as male. But once he regularly
started passing, it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Instead of being
stared at, the individual was able to live his life without constant worry (Green 2000:
502). This constant worry is enforced by societys pressure of a two-gender system where
individuals in the middle are marginalized. The need and necessity for passing increases
when individuals are caught between ambiguity and uncertainty from society (Namaste
2000: 136, 144)
According to Rubin (2003), once an FTM individual passes in society, there is no
need to worry about being read as female (125). The research does not explore how
individuals feel once they start to pass, therefore Rubin assumes these individuals no
longer worry about it. For Rubin (2003), FTM individuals expressed their need for
passing during their interviews (125). They were no longer being read as female, they
were being read as men (Rubin 2003: 125). Most times, these men would be read as
heterosexual or homosexual, as opposed to lesbian butch individuals or individuals living
between the lines of the two-gender system (Rubin 2003: 125). Roen (2001) explains this
as not having to prove to anyone that they are men anymore since they now pass in
society (513). TS/TG individuals no longer had to worry about passing as they were
finally bring seen as who they are.
Building Identity During Transition
The third theme among these readings is exploring how transgender individuals and those
around them help in building their identity and masculinity during their transition. For
Agnes, in Garfinkels work, the individual used the resources around her to understand
and interpret how women are and should be in society (1967: 146). Garfinkel explains
that Agnes had to follow certain rules which she learned from observing other women
in society in order to participate in social interactions (1967: 146). This learning
behaviour is quite common as it also occurs for individuals who are partners to
transgender men. In Wards (2010) article titled Gender Labor: Transmen, Femmes, and
Collective Work of Transgression, the author discusses the work female partners of
transgender men do in order to validate their identities and masculinities (236).
According to the author, there are three types of labour which effectively validate
transgender mens masculinity (Ward 2010: 242). The labour of being the girl, where
the female partner takes on the feminine role in all aspects of the relationship (Ward
2010: 242). Transgender men view masculinity as not being the girl, therefore the
female partner needs to take on this role: trans masculinity has frequently been
described as the experience of not being, or not wanting to be, a girl (Ward 2010: 242).
The second labour being the labour of forgetting, where the female partner forgets, or
does not see signs of femaleness (Ward 2010: 246). Here, the female partner is expected
to forget any known aspect of their partners previous femininity and make them feel as
though being transgender has no bearing on their relationship (Ward 2010: 246). This
labour is put in place in order to authenticate trans masculinity (Ward 2010: 247). The
third and final labour is the labour of alliance, where female partners find their space in
the community by attending SOFFA (Significant Other, Family, Friends and Allies)
meetings (Ward 2010: 248). In this realm, partners are better able to understand the
struggles and learn how to manage their relationships and their partners identity and
masculinity (Ward 2010: 248).
Rubin (2003) discusses how queer men who are in relationships with FTMs aid in
building the TS/TG mans masculine identities. The author explains three ways their
husbands or boyfriends help this identity: (1) by being their sexual partners, they are able
to reinforce their queer sexuality; (2) by being models of masculinity that FTM
individuals can pattern themselves after, and; (3) by being vehicles into gay life (Rubin
2003: 118). By modeling themselves on their male partners, FTM individuals are able to
visualize maleness and masculinity and translate that into their lives and bodies.
Importance of Maleness and Masculinity
The embodiment of maleness and masculinity for FTMs is crucial in developing their
identities in society. Halberstam (1998) first discusses the importance in understanding
how masculinity is not and should not be reduced down to the male body (1). Once an
individual is able to understand this, they can start to form their own masculinity
(Halberstam 1998: 2). The author describes these alternate masculinities as queer and
something one can reshape (Halberstam 1998: 2). Halberstam (1998) puts emphasis on
many different types of masculinities such as: lesbian masculinities, butch masculinities,
FTM masculinities and male masculinities (1998: 154). According to Detloff (2006) and
Halberstam (1998), different types of masculinities allow the FTM individual their own
ground and own personal masculinity (88; 154).
Rubins (2003) book Self-Made Men is crucial in discussing trans-masculinity and
embodiment. For Rubin: bodies are a crucial element in personal identity formation and
perception (2003: 11). Therefore, to shape ones body according to their needs is key in
forming identity. Rubin (2003) discusses the early stages an FTM individual goes
through when his (first) puberty starts (94). This aspect is important to understand
because of the disembodiment FTM individuals feel when this first puberty starts in
relation to how they feel during their second puberty (going on hormones and
experiencing new and different changes) (Rubin 2003: 94). During adolescence (first
puberty), FTM individuals [lose] a sense of themselves (Rubin 2003: 94). Once the
process of sexual development took over their bodies, they felt simultaneously
disembodied and acutely aware of their bodies (Rubin 2003: 94-95). Becoming aware of
their female bodies, FTM individuals experiences of disembodiment give them
awareness of their difference from other females and their relationships to their bodies
(Rubin 2003: 95). This can cause much trauma in FTM individuals lives, such as no
longer feeling able to socialize with others and alienation (Rubin 2003: 96, 99). Social
alienation occurs frequently for FTM individuals during their first puberty, which comes
in three parts: menarche, breast development, and hair growth (2003: 99). Once the
individual decides to transition, their true identity and bodies are able to be seen by
society (Rubin 2003: 145).
The distinctions some FTM individuals make between their sexed bodies and
their gender roles reflect the value FTM individuals place on social coding (Rubin 2003:
144). They believe all men posses male bodies but reject that all men act the same (Rubin
2003: 144). Rubin (2003) illustrates that all the FTM individuals in his study identified
themselves as men, but not all act masculine and therefore were not masculine in
temperament (144). This meant these individuals did not act in a stereotypical macho
way. The author emphasizes that rejecting a macho masculinity was their own
embodiment of masculinity as opposed to the behaviours and social roles society labels
men with (Rubin 2003: 144). Therefore, FTM individuals do not need to demonstrate
their masculinity once they begin to pass, as their embodiment and appearance is
masculine. These FTM individuals develop alternate forms of masculinity by modifying
their bodies and projecting their mannerism in whatever way they feel comfortable with
(Rubin 2003: 145). Their male bodies are more important to them than their male roles
(Rubin 2003: 145). Once these individuals start to pass in society, their embodied
masculinity changes to a point where they no longer need to abide by these male roles
they had attached themselves to before passing (Rubin 2003: 146). Testosterone is seen
as the source of male embodiment as it drastically changes the appearance of an
individual over a period of time (Rubin 2003: 153). FTM individuals value and rely on
these changes in order to be interpreted by society as who they are and more accurately
reflect[s] their core identities (Rubin 2003: 153).
However, some FTM individuals believe they need to compensate more than
other men in society because of what societies views as female bodies (Rubin 2003:
166). This is seen as a threat to masculinity, where if discovered, their core identities
and self would be disregarded (Rubin 2003: 166). FTM individuals in this situation tend
to practice hypermasculine behaviours before passing and after (Rubin 2003: 167). While
other individuals as mentioned above, remake masculinity into something they are
comfortable with when they are secure in their maleness (Rubin 2003: 170).
Conclusions
The importance of passing for TS/TG FTM individuals is extremely important in
developing their identities and embodied masculinity. The literature presented in this
review examined the different definitions, interpretations and representations of
passing; the importance of passing as it relates to fear, safety and necessity; how TS/TG
individuals and those around them help in building their identities; and the importance of
maleness and masculinity before and after an FTM individual start to pass in society as
male. The literature however fails to address how the FTM individual feels as soon as
they start passing in society as their true gender. With the exception of Rubin (2003),
which goes into detail about the experiences of FTM individuals once they start to pass in
society, the author fails to explore crucial aspects of identity shaping and safety.
Understanding how the FTM individual feels when passing and how crucial passing is to
their identity is not explored by Rubin or any other literature on the subject. This aspect
needs further exploration in order to understand how the FTM individual feels about his
masculinity and body image once he starts passing.
Theoretical Framework
A data-driven approach was taken in establishing the theoretical framework of this paper.
Basing the theoretical framework on symbolic interactionism, I will discuss how the
work of key theorists in this field, such as Cooley (1902), Goffman (1959), and Kessler
and McKenna (1985), West and Zimmerman (1987), help to elucidate the themes that
emerged in my analysis. I chose to integrate Cooleys (1902) The Looking-Glass Self in
order to relate to how queer TS/TG individuals view themselves to be based on how they
believe others see them. Cooley (1902) describes this as:
As we see our face, figure, and dress in the glass, and are interested in
them because they are ours, and pleased or otherwise with them
according as they do or do not answer to what we should like them to
be; so in imagination we perceive in another's mind some thought of our
appearance, manners, aims, deeds, character, friends, and so on, and are
variously affected by it (184).
It is common for individuals to believe others view them a certain way and this affects
the way they personally view themselves. This is key in understanding embodied identity
and perception for queer TS/TG men.
Goffmans (1959) The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life is the most relevant
piece of work for this thesis. Goffman (1959) discusses important concepts related to this
research such as performance, setting, front, dramaturgical self, and impression
management (22-23). Performance refers to any event where there are observers
watching the individual and this has some influence on his behaviour (Goffman 1959:
22). The performance that is altered is labelled as the front (Goffman 1959: 22). Setting
refers to a physical space that does not move, but aids in the individuals performance
(Goffman 1959: 22). The dramaturgical self refers to the practice of highlighting an
aspect of the individual self that is usually hidden in order for others to see it (Goffman
1959: 30-31). This leads to the final term coined by Goffman, impression management
which is when individuals are influenced to believe something about themselves or others
by someone else. Individuals, according to Goffman, are characters playing a role on
stage (Goffman 1959: 208).
Many contemporary symbolic interactionists who discuss gender theory built on
Goffmans work, including Kessler and McKenna (1978) and West and Zimmerman
(1987). These texts are suitable for this research as they describe and connect with gender
theories. These theorists make distinctions among gender identity, gender performativity,
sex and gender roles. Such distinctions provide a helpful framework for the distinctions
FTM individuals make in their own identity negotiations For the authors, sex is classified
by genitalia at birth and chromosomes, and based on this, an individual will be placed in
a sex category (West and Zimmerman 1987: 127). Gender is the behaviour which is
categorized as appropriate for ones sex category (West and Zimmerman 1987: 127).
Doing gender, according to the authors, refers to socially guided interactions and
perception activities which express feminine and masculine traits (West and Zimmerman
1987: 126). Sex roles are therefore socially constructed gender categories which society
ascribes (West and Zimmerman 1987: 128). By referencing Goffmans account of
gender display, West and Zimmerman (1987) demonstrate how gender is enacted and
portrayed through social interactions, even as these interactions are understood in the
larger culture as 'natural' (129).
Kessler and McKennas (1985) book, Gender: An Ethnomethodological
Approach, discusses gender and the problematic views society holds towards it. Society
categorizes people as either female or male with no room for differences. For example,
female attributes are seen when it is impossible to view the person as male (Kessler and
McKenna 1985: 3). This can be problematic for a TS/TG individual who is transitioning
and still has female attributes while trying to pass (Kessler and McKenna 1985: 13).
These factors outline the importance of gender research as well as the understanding that
gender and gender roles are socially constructed.
I utilize several core terms in my research, including: gender, sex and sex
category. Gender is defined as the socially constructed roles which are imposed onto
female and male individuals (Kessler and McKenna 1985: 7). Sex is defined as the
biological criteria mostly based on genitalia (West and Zimmerman 1987: 127). Finally,
sex category is enforced and applied through the sex criteria (West and Zimmerman
1987: 127). Goffmans (1959) various terms such as: performance, front, setting,
appearance, dramaturgical self and impression management help to shape the theoretical
framework. These terms will be further analysed in relation to the research conducted in
the Analysis and Discussion section of this paper.
Methodology
This research began with a question that is seldom asked in academic work related to
TS/TG individuals: how do queer transgender men, who have just begun to pass as men
in society, experience their body image and masculinity? To explore this question, many
steps were taken in order to accurately outline the experiences and views of the TG/TS
men who were interviewed for this project. In October 2013, a review of the literature
was conducted including the work of a variety of TS/TG and non-TS/TG authors. I soon
discovered that in much of the research TS/TG individuals were not the voice of the
research and its findings, it was the authors findings and analysis that were viewed as
important. I decided to make sure that the TS/TG trajectory had a voice and that their
voice was crucial in understanding this part of the TS/TG individual that is rarely
discussed: the importance of passing.
In order to have a diverse, yet coherent group of individuals, I sought out
participants who were: between the age of 18-25, living in Canada or the United States,
identifying themselves as queer (by their own definition), on hormones, have been
passing 100% (they were being read as male consistently) for the last 1-6 months and
have access to Skype. I chose participants who self-identified as queer to narrow down
the participant pool and to add literature on a subject seldom discussed in academia. With
the exception of one, all articles and books mentioned in the literature review discuss
TS/TG men as heterosexual. This compulsory heterosexuality sweeping academic
literature on TS/TG men excludes many individuals in the trans community. Rosario
(1996) explains that mental health workers are encouraged view with extreme
skepticism any clients declarations of [Female-to-Gay-Male] sentiments (39). The
erasure of queer TS/TG men in medical and academic literature is the reason why it is
important to specifically engage and research these individuals. I also chose participants
who had began to consistently pass 100% because I wanted their views and experiences
to be fresh and easily recalled.
I designed a poster-like image (see appendix I) and posted it on the social media
sites Tumblr and Facebook. I made sure to tag the posts #ftm, #transgender, and
#research so that anyone who would look through these tags would be able to find my
post using hashtags and keyword searches. I created a research-based only email to be
used by potential participants for the purposes of contact. I expected three to six emails to
come to my account because I felt like I had made the conditions of my research too
limiting for most people. I checked the research email account four days after posting and
much to my surprise, I received 42 emails from potential participants. This reiterates the
fact that there is not enough research on queer TS/TG people conducted by TS/TG
individuals themselves. Many individuals who contacted me but did not fit the exact
criteria were still excited in reading this material once it is completed. These individuals
need a TS/TG academic that will provide accurate information and representation of the
TS/TG community. All 42 individuals who contacted me wanted to be part of this and
have an accurate representation of themselves in academic research. Once all emails were
replied to, eight participants were chosen based on the diversity of the sample regarding:
age, ethnicity, and amount of time they were passing. They were all given consent forms
and scheduling a time for a Skype interviews.
The interviews were conducted between Feb 10, 2014 and Feb 15, 2014. Eight
interviews were conducted between 45 minutes to 1 hour each, depending on how
talkative the participants were. Each participant chose a pseudonym in order to remain
completely anonymous. The interviews were semi-structured as I allowed the participants
to discuss and bring up any topic related but not limited to: masculinity, safety, passing
and transgender experiences. Participants were informed of the sensitive nature of certain
questions and they were allowed to reject or skip questions. No questions were skipped
by participants. During the interviews, two key themes emerged which were not foreseen:
individuals performing in society in order to pass and the issue of bathrooms.
Once the interviews were completed, transcriptions were done for all eight
interviews. The transcriptions were then coded into a data set and themes slowly started
to form. A preliminary thematic map was created based on themes collected in the
interview transcripts. A more succinct map was created and themes were outlined for the
Analysis and Discussion aspect of this paper.
Data Analysis and Discussion
As previously stated, there is ample research conducted on female-to-male (FTM)
transgender individuals and their embodiment of masculinity (Rubin 2003; Prosser 1998;
Koenig 2002; Ward 2010), but there is little research that directly focuses on the
experience of passing for these individuals. In addition, there is rarely any research
done on queer TS/TG men. This section will explore the primary research question by
analyzing and discussing the data collected during interviews and linking it to the review
of the literature and theoretical framework. The beginning of this section will define
concepts and terms found in the research, also known as semantic themes (Braun and
Clarke 2006: 84). The larger aspect of this analysis will look at latent themes, where
themes are explored and analyzed rather than just defined (Braun and Clarke 2006: 84).
This analysis is divided in two time periods: Pre-Passing and Passing. Pre-Passing
will look at themes such as: acting, passing as essential, and lack of positive body image.
Passing will discuss themes such as: validation and confidence. Once these two time
periods are explored and the themes and subthemes analysed, recommendations in
alleviating fear and anxiety in the lives of TS/TG will be addressed.
Defining Terms
According to the literature review, many authors define terms such as: passing, queer and
transgender, without incorporating the experience and voices of queer TS/TG men
(Garfinkel 1967; Schrock et al. 2009; Stone 1991; Halberstam 1998; Roen 2002;
Namaste 2005; Rubin 2003; Snorton 2009, etc.). The terms that are defined according to
the research participants who are themselves queer TS/TG men, include: queer,
transgender and passing.
In the words of Emmett, a Persian 18 year old from California, queer is: the
freedom of not having to pick a label that will forever put me in a box. Agreeing with
this statement, Raul, a 25 year old Spanish-Mixed trans man from Connecticut defines a
queer individual as: someone who cannot be placed into a specific label. Finally, in
order to get a variety of definitions for one term, Ben, a 19 year old White man from
Ontario explains it simply as: anything not straight. For these three individuals, the
identity of queer allows space for them to open about their sexual preferences rather
than be constricted by a heteronormative society.
Transgender has been defined by many academics in the past. Green (2000)
describes that TS/TG wish to be perceived and taken seriously as members of the gender
class in which they feel most comfortable (499). Similarly to this definition, Avery, a
White 25 year old trans man from Ontario, describes transgender as anyone who
doesnt identify as the gender they were born as. Emmett describes it in similar terms by
saying being uncomfortable with the sex you were assigned. The common aspect in all
these definitions is that there is some sort of discomfort with the assigned sex, therefore
the individual in question needs to transition to the other sex in order to be comfortable.
The term passing or status passage is defined by multiple academics
(Garfinkel 1967; Schrock et al. 2009; Stone 1991; Halberstam 1998; Roen 2002;
Namaste 2005; Rubin 2003; Snorton 2009). These definitions come from the authors
interpretation rather than the TS/TG participants in their research. Ben describes
passing as consistently being perceived as the gender you want to be perceived as.
Going further, Peter, a 22 year old White man from Washington describes it as being
read as your gender by strangers. Lastly, Joseph, a White 22 year old trans man from
New York, simply puts it as: just being seen as male.
Not Passing
This section is divided into three categories with their own subcategories and will be
analysed and discussed individually. These categories include: Acting, Passing as
Essential, and Lack of Positive Body Image.
Acting
The theme of 'playing a role' emerged from participants' interviews. According to the
participants, 'playing a role' was compared to taking on a performance or acting.
Individuals such as Joseph describe this as:
I like to say I was an actor before I started T [and started passing]

because what I did in public was not at all what I held in my own
mindWhen I was with my friends and family, I could be my regular
self. And then with people I was just meeting, I was kind of an asshole
because I thought thats what I needed to be to pass.
While Joseph felt he needed to adopt a disguise, Emmett embraced what he called a
stage voice where he deepened his voice when out in public in order to pass. Peter used
the experience he had in theater to observe and adapt what he perceived to be male
characteristics:
Ive been in theatre my entire life and so Ive done a lot of study on
body language and movement. Non-verbal cues that deal with
portraying characters on stage, and before I transitioned and before I
was out at all, I got assigned male characters to play all the time...so I
had a lot of practice playing a guy on stage and so I adopted that
Being in theater and studying body language helped him understand masculine
movements and postures in order to pass in society.
Acting is crucial for these queer TS/TG men because without this type of
performance, they would not have felt as though they were passing. Goffman (1959)
discusses the concepts of performance, setting, and front. Goffmans explanation of life
as a performance and each individual playing a role in society is emphasised even more
when discussing the lives of these queer TS/TG men. Joseph, Peter and Emmett who
were interviewed for this research, described their pre-passing life as a series of
performances. These performances were not accurate representations of who they were,
but they all felt as though they had to put on some sort of disguise in order to pass. As
Joseph outlines, he was only able to be his true self with himself. The outside world saw
a front performance. Thus, acting and performances can take multiple shapes and
forms, such as overcompensation of masculine behaviour.
Overcompensation of Masculine Behaviour
Many queer TS/TG men interviewed for this research indicated that they went through
some type of acting or performance while they were not passing. For Avery, Joseph,
Mason, Raul, George and Emmett (six out of eight participants), this included adapting
more masculine behaviours, attitudes and mannerisms. George, a 22 year old White
trans man from North Carolina, explains it in simple terms: in the beginning of my
transition, I felt that need to act more masculine, you know? This sums up all of the six
participants need to act more masculine. Raul also dressed in a masculine fashion, but felt
as though he was not able to bring out his true self in front of individuals who were not
his friends and family without fear of not passing. This is the same for Mason, whose
feminine side was being repressed as he was trying to pass. Rubin (2003) explains that
with his research, some FTM individuals believe they need to compensate more than
other men in society because of their female bodies (166). If these individuals, such as
Mason, Raul or George were to be discovered as trans, it would be a threat to [their]
masculinity (Rubin 2003: 166). Therefore, these individuals felt the need to practice
hypermasculine behaviours in order for society to view them as their true self (Rubin
2003: 167). Avery and Emmett both describe using a deeper voice; Ben stopped moving
his arms as much when he talked; Mason dated only extremely feminine women; and
George acted more butch at work:
I work in the tree care industry and thats a very masculine field. I
looked so young before and I wasnt passing but I was around all these
big-hairy-manly-chainsaw-men and I often felt like I needed to butch up
In order to feel as though he fit in, George had to butch up and hypermasculinize his
way of walk, talk and how he acted.
Goffmans (1959) explanation of the dramaturgical self examines individuals in
society as they dramatize features they want individuals to notice (30). This aspect is
valid when discussing the queer TS/TG men included in the research. Each individual
needs to be read as male in society and therefore will dramatize masculine features and
overcompensate their masculine behaviours in order to accomplish this. What happens to
these dramatized masculine features once the individual starts to pass in society? This is
examined in the section of Passing.
Passing As Essential
Looking back at previous research conducted in this field and the above analysis, it is an
understatement to say passing is a necessity. Although problematic in tone, Stone (1991)
argues that passing is the only essence of transsexualism (232). Seven out of eight
participants expressed and agreed that passing was important, crucial and even vital in
order for them to survive. It might not necessarily be the only essence of transsexualism,
but it is a crucial step for these queer TS/TG men to be accepted in society and avoid
harm.
Safety
The issue of safety as well as the fear of threats are are shared by all eight participants in
this study. Each individual described their fears and anxieties as related to not passing
and being found out by other individuals. There is only one study that discusses the
incidence of violence and passing in the literature reviewed. Schrock et al. (2009) found
that in their sample of over 402 TS/TG women (male-to-female), 55.5% were targets of
street harassment and 10.2% had been assaulted with a weapon (702). The authors
sample did not include TS/TG men as their primary focus was on TS/TG women, and
there are a lack of statistics for TS/TG men and violence. Although men naturally have
more privilege than women in society, TS/TG men who do not pass forgo this privilege.
When analyzing the data collected from the interviews, these statistics prove to be too
low as most TS/TG interviewed were targets of street harassment and physical abuse.
Peter was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Utah in order to receive reparative
therapy. After one year, his parents let him come home but he chose to stay in the
institution, finish high school and go back to California once he was mentally ready. He
still suffers from the discrimination and abuse (emotional and physical) he received
because of these events and is currently seeing a therapist about it. This aspect is related
to safety in that if society had educated these individuals, Peter would not have been
placed in an institution and his safety from his family would not have been compromised.
Avery from Ontario recalled multiple incidences of verbal harassment and physical
assault. The common slur for TS/TG men has been directed towards him multiple times
(tr*nny). He has feared for his life more times than he can remember. Once, before he
started passing, he used a public restroom. When he was finished, he walked out of the
stall and another man punched him in the face:
I did not pass and I didnt want to go in there [public bathroom] because
every time I would go in there some man would either look at me funny or
Id get verbally harassed. One time I actually got punched, so you can
imagine why Im terrified of going to the bathroom.
Threats of violence are not uncommon among FTM communities, especially among the
small sample of individuals in this study.
The most common story of threat, violence, and anxiety relates to public
bathrooms. The participants broached the subject of restrooms independently; a common
thread among the many interviews. Joseph, Avery, Emmett, Peter and Mason all
mentioned and discussed a type of public bathroom-related story without being prompted
to do so. Ben, Raul and George were all asked: do you have any bathroom stories?,
which led to all three of them laughing nervously at the understanding that everyone they
have ever spoken to who was trans dreaded public bathrooms. The idea of being in small
spaces with other men who might unmask them as TS/TG was horrifying for the research
participants. Ben recalls his experiences:
I tried to go to the mens bathroom one time but I got really weird
looks from this older guy and it freaked me out so I kind of just left. I
didnt feel safe before passing completely because I have this fear that
someones going to know...someones going to pick up on it
Ben was scared that men in would identify him as a TS/TG person or worse, as a woman.
Therefore, he avoided bathrooms as much as possible.
Most of participants refused to use any public bathrooms unless there were gender
neutral ones available. Three individuals suffered bladder infections and were
hospitalized because of this. These individuals suffered from anxiety and feared entering
public bathrooms so much that they held in their urine and waited hours until they were
home or found a gender-neutral bathroom. The threat of violence and participants'
avoidance of public restrooms had physical and medical consequences on their bodies.
Participants reported bladder infections: the biggest issue with bathrooms was I decided
that unless there was a gender neutral bathroom, Im not going. Like thats it and I ended
up with a bladder infection. It was awful
Emmett recounts his experiences with public bathrooms pre-passing as events
filled with fear and anxiety. He had watched the film Boys Dont Cry about a TS/TG man
who is discovered to be TS/TG and then raped and murdered. This film instilled fear of
society into him and caused him much peeing anxiety. In order to avoid any potential
threat in male public bathrooms, Emmett would use the female public bathroom. Emmett:
I would just pop out of my chest a little bit and I would use the womens
bathroom and be like ohhhh. I would try really hard to be feminine like
hi, thank you, haha. I felt like I had to pass as female.
In order to avoid anxiety and potential harm, Emmett brought out the more feminine
features he possessed. All individuals in this research, except Emmett, refused to use the
womens public bathroom because they did not identify as female and did not feel
comfortable in that space. These individuals know they are male, they just did not look
male yet. They would rather take the chance in the mens public bathroom, than in the
womens where their identity would be invalidated. Avery discusses in more detail: it
was either go in the womens bathroom and have them yell at you, or go into the mens
bathroom and potentially have the shit kicked out of you. The individuals in this
research went to great lengths in order to avoid public restrooms and the physical and
emotional abuse that could occur.
Lack of Positive Body Image
Multiple individuals in this study reported that they did not have a positive view of their
bodies. Avery and Joseph both suffered from low confidence before they were passing.
Joseph explains: before I started T [hormones], I was uncomfortable with everything.
Like no limited. Everything was terrible, I hated it all. Whereas Avery recalled looking
at himself in the mirror: I remember looking in the mirror before I passing and I was like
Im not attractive at all. They both felt as though society was not viewing them in a
way they were. Rubin (2003) discusses the issue of the disembodiment FTM individuals
feel when they are aware of their female bodies (95). This mostly occurs during their
first (female) puberty where the FTM individuals start to change into a body they do not
see themselves in (Rubin 2003: 95). The individuals in this research are from the ages of
18-25 and have already gone through female puberty. Their bodies have already
experienced change but as they look at society and at cisgender (non-transgender) men
around them, the puberty they originally went through causes them to feel disembodied
from themselves and their own bodies (Rubin 2003: 95). These men crave what male
puberty will do to them and the recognition of them being male from society. When this
does not occur, and the individual does not pass, it causes them to be alienated from
others, experience disembodiment and have negative images of their bodies (Rubin
20003: 99).
When thinking about how an individual views themselves related to how they
believe others see them, Cooleys (1902) explanation of The Looking-Glass Self is
important. Cooley explains: in imagination we perceive in another's mind some
thought of our appearance, manners, aims, deeds, character, friends, and so on, and are
variously affected by it (184). The individuals in this research had negative outlooks on
their body image and lacked confidence because of their beliefs in how others in society
viewed them. Believing they did not pass as men in society, these individuals projected
those views onto themselves and this created negative outlooks on their body image. Raul
explains this:
I use to compare myself to cis men (non-TS/TG men) all the time and
hate myself for it. My body didnt look like theirs and it made me feel
horrible. I was like a bigger girl, I wasnt tiny and Ive always had these
muscles but I wasnt jacked. I always compared myself to them and never
felt good enough, I felt intimidated.
This changes drastically once the individual starts to pass, which will be discussed further
down.
Passing
This section is divided into two main themes: Validation; and Confidence, which
includes sub themes for each. This section will end by potential solutions for society in
order to elevate violence, emotional abuse, anxiety and fear from and directed towards
these TS/TG men in society.
Validation
Almost all participants in this research passed at least once before they were on
hormones. They all used the same term to describe the feeling: it felt good. Once each
participant started to pass 100% as male in society, they were asked what passing meant
to them. All eight participants expressed a feeling of validation of identity once they
started passing. Not having to worry about others in society knowing you are TS/TG is a
relief for all participants. Each individual felt as though they had accomplished their life
goal, to be seen as who they are. Joseph put it in the simplest of terms: I kind of just
exist now. Green (2000) demonstrates this by explaining the feeling of liberation once
he started passing:
It was a great relief to be able to shake off layers of defensive

behaviours developed to communicate my humanity from inside my
incategorizability (502).
As Prosser (1998) explains, transsexuality is precisely a phenomenon of the bodys
surface (62). Owning this transsexual experience is key in owning ones body. The
individuals who have begun to pass are now able to understand their bodies and view
themselves in terms of positive body image. The individuals authentic self is only
revealed once the outer layers are peeled off (Prosser 1998: 68). These layers are peeled
off once the individual starts to pass and their true and authentic self is able to show. Raul
explains his disdain on the emphasis of passing:
I hate that its so important because when you say passing you like feel
like youre wearing a disguise and like youre fooling people but its like
passing is like finally having people see you the way you feel
This individual is not keen on the language and importance placed on passing. Raul
wishes as though he would be able to live his life without worrying about passing or
using such terms. However, he understands the importance of being seen as who you are
in society in order to feel validated.
Confidence
Confidence takes places in many different forms. The sub-themes that are discussed in
this section include: positive body image, embracing feminine side, and the individuals
who helped them validate their identities.
Once individuals begin to pass in society, their confidence increases drastically.
All eight participants indicated that their self-esteem and personal body image improved
a significant amount. Emmett states: Im just really happy with how I look and how I
feel and how it all matches. Having his inside and outside match for him is the goal of
happiness. As Prosser (1998) mentions, the authentic true self is shown only when the
layers are peeled off (68). For Emmett, these layers have been peeled off and his true self
is able to thrive. Ben explains:
Its a good feeling to me being really hairy. I like it. It makes me feel
really great and I dont know, it give me this weird feeling of
confidenceI think that passing has helped me feel better about myself
This understanding of body image is similar to Georges experience: I feel just much
more comfortable and much more attractive. Since these individuals are being perceived
as who they are and believe other individuals see then as men, they are able to feel better
about themselves based on this perception (Cooley 1902: 184).
Although all eight participants had better self-esteem and positive outlooks on
their body image, many still felt as though not everything was right. Raul and Mason
both discussed their height and how they both had to accept that this is an aspect they
would not be able to change. These two individuals compared themselves to the tall
cisgender men they were close to (family, friends, acquaintances, and co-workers). This
left them with a feeling of hopelessness but soon after discussed other aspects about their
personal transitions they were happy with and excited about, such as having top surgery
(removal of the breast tissue and reconstructing the chest in a masculine shape).
Embracing Feminine Side
As previously discussed, many of these individuals felt they needed to overcompensate
their masculinity. Once these individuals started to pass in society, they let go of this
dramatization of masculine traits and started embracing their feminine side. This was true
for six of the participants. In order to overcompensate certain masculine traits, Peter
adjusted is posture. Once he started passing, he felt relief that he no longer has to alter
this posture as it was uncomfortable. As previously states, Emmett used a stage voice
when out in public, once he started hormones and his voice began to deepen, he no longer
needed to engage in a behaviour that irritated his throat. Raul still feels as though he
needs to be more masculine in the workplace, but when meeting new individuals outside
of work, he is able to bring out his goofy, feminine behaviour, which he repressed
previously:
Its not that I care if people think Im gay. They all know I have a
girlfriend so Im able to act gay and goofy in front of my friend and
acquaintances but at work I hide this part of me
Rubin (2003) explains this as these TS/TG individuals begin to develop alternate forms
of masculinity by modifying their bodies and projecting their mannerism in whatever way
they feel comfortable with (145). In being able to pass, queer TS/TG individuals are able
to bring out and embrace this previously repressed feminine self and translate it into their
own form of masculinity.
Individuals Who Helped in Validating Identity
This subtheme explores a question posed which is directly correlate with Wards (2010)
work: were there any people in your life that were instrumental in helping you pass?
This question was designed to get the participants thinking about the individuals around
them and how those people have helped them validate their maleness and transitions.
Ward (2010) discusses three types of labour which succeed at validating transgender
mens masculinity (242). The labour of being the girl, where the female partner takes on
the feminine role in all aspects of the relationship (Ward 2010: 242). Raul explains that at
the beginning of his transition, he needed his girlfriends to be very feminine because he
wanted to feel as though his masculinity was dominating in the relationship. Now that he
passes he still dates feminine women, but, as he states, they dont need to be overly
feminine. Mason describes his experience:
I guess before I liked more feminine girls, they had to have a certain
level of femininity whereas now the women Im attracted to can be a
little more androgynous or on the masculine side. They have to be
feminine but Im just more comfortable with have a not-completely
feminine partner. In comparison to them, I am still much more masculine
and its still validating to me
Since he began to pass in society, Mason no longer looks for a certain level of femininity
in a female partner. His identity feels validated as long as his partner is the feminine one
because he now passes 100% in society. Ward (2010) describes this as not being the
girl; therefore the female partner needs to take on this role (242). The second labour
being the labour of forgetting, where the female partner forgets, or does not see signs
of femaleness (Ward 2010: 246). In this aspect, Raul feels as though all the girlfriends
hes had while he was transitioning saw him as only male and did not think of him as
being TS/TG. The last labour deals with partners going to SOFFA (Significant Others,
Friends, Families and Allies) meetings in order to better understand their partner. All
participants in this research said their partners (or ex-partners) were well versed in TS/TG
issues and therefore did not need to attend meetings.
For many of these queer TS/TG men, the person who helped them validate their
identities the most was another FTM who began to transition years before. For Emmett
and Raul, other TS/TG individuals were key in understanding what being TS/TG was
like, and what to expect. This helped them envision their own future and felt as though
they had someone to look up to.

Recommendations
Although many themes outlined in this section demonstrate the negative aspects of not
passing in society. It reiterates the importance for the queer TS/TG men to pass in
society. Rarely has research asked participants what their recommendations for the
problems that have faced in society. The final question posed during the interviews was:
are there any services or support that our society could have offered to make you feel
less at risk? All responses were positive and five participants demanded we have better
education on these issues from an early age. Whether it be in elementary school, high
school or even college, safe zone/space training is crucial in educating individuals. Avery
explains: in school, when they give you sex ED, they should also give you an LGBTQ
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) lesson. Raul agrees:
I dont know what they teach in school anymore because I graduated

high school 7 years ago but I didnt even know what transgender was
until my best friend transitioned. I always thought it was only drag
queens [female impersonators who perform for entertainment]. I had no
idea, so I think if one day in health class, even if it was one day or we
watched one good documentary, so at least peopled talked about it and
maybe its 1 less stupid question people ask now.
Emmett discussed getting better representation of TS/TG people in the media:
I think the media has a lot to do with it TS/TG feeling at risk] because of the negative
representations. If you look at TV shows like The L Word, the FTM character there is
suppose to familiarize people with the idea of being trans, and they fail so hard. They
always focus on the negative aspects of being trans as if only horrible things happen to
trans people. And thats the only thing people will think of.
Focusing on the negative aspects of TS/TG individuals lives causes people in society to
believe that is the only experience TS/TG individuals have are horrible.
Mason and George both suggested more gender neutral public bathrooms to be
available everywhere. They both did not see the point in gendering bathrooms at
restaurants that were one-person rooms. Both bathrooms had the same toilet and sink and
it made no sense to them that they would be gendered. Mason explains: If there were
more single gendered bathrooms that would be the best because thats definitely the main
source of my anxiety. These services and support are crucial in society to make the lives
of TS/TG men more comfortable and to reduce fear, anxiety and threat.
Conclusion
While much research has been conducted on female-to-male (FTM) transgender
2002; Ward 2010), limited research has directly focused on the important stage
of passing for these individuals, until now. As previously stated, the research question
this paper sets to answer is: how do queer transgender men, who have just begun to pass
as men in society, experience their body image and masculinity? This research
examines texts from transgender and non-transgender academics writing about these
issues. The review of literature included four major themes: the different definitions and
interpretations of the word passing; the importance of passing as it relates to fear,
survival and necessity; how transgender individuals and those around them help in
building their identity during the transition period; and the importance of maleness and
masculinity within their lives and transition. In the theoretical framework of this research,
much emphasis was given to Goffmans (1959) work on dramaturgical self and
performances and Cooleys (1902) looking-glass self. These theories helped understand
many participants explanations and experiences of their lives as queer TS/TG men.
Using a data driven approach, the theories were discovered once the interviews were
conducted. Certain aspects emerged during these interviews and were translated into
themes in order to further investigate their meanings. Queer TS/TG men place much
importance on the stage of passing as it causes them negative views on body image,
anxiety, fear and abuse (physical and emotional). Once these men start to pass in society,
their self-esteem increased dramatically and their outlook on life improved. In offering
solutions to alleviate this anxiety, this research hopes to further the understanding of the
experience of TS/TG men and the hardships they go through before they start passing. In
adapting these solutions, society could lessen the amount of fear and anxiety these TS/TG
men face everyday. Queer TS/TG men who pass in society have a better quality of life
and feel better about themselves and therefore the importance of passing should not be
dismissed as is it crucial in their identity development and selfhood.

References
Journal Articles:
Braun, Virginia & Victoria Clarke. 2006. Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology.
Qualitative Research in Psychology 3: 77-101.
Detloff, Madelyn. 2006. Gender Please, Without the Gender Police: Rethinking Pain in
Archetypal Narratives of Butch, Transgender, and FTM Masculinity. Journal of
Lesbian Studies 10 (1/2): 87-105.
Koenig, Sheila. 2002. Walk Like a Man: Enactment and Embodiments of Masculinity
and the Potential for Multiple Genders. Journal of Homosexuality 43 (3/4): 145-
159.
Roen, Katrina. 2002. Either/Or and Both/Neither: Discursive Tensions in

Transgender Politics. Journal of Women in Culture & Society 27 (2): 501-522.
Schrock, Douglas P. et al. 2009. Emotion Work in the Public Performances of Male-to-
Female Transsexuals. Archives of Sexual Behaviour 38 (5): 702-712.
Snorton, C. Riley. 2009. A New Hope: The Psychic Life of Passing. Hypatia 24 (3):
77-92.
Ward, Jane. 2010. Gender Labour: Transmen, Femmes, and Collective Work of
Transgression. Sexualities 13 (2): 236-254.
West, Candace & Don H. Zimmerman. 1987. Doing Gender. Gender and Society 1 (2):
125-151.
Academic books:
Cooley, Charles. 1902. Human Nature and the Social Order. New York: Charles
Scribners Sons.
Garfinkel, Harold. 1967. Studies in Ethnomethodology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey:

Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Goffman, Erving. 1959. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Anchor
Books.
Halberstam, J. 1998. Female Masculinity. North Carolina: Duke University Press.
Halberstam, J. 2005. In a Queer Time & Place. New York: New York University.
Kessler, Suzanne J. & Wendy Mckenna. 1985. Gender: An Ethnomethodological

Approach. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Namaste, Viviane. 2000. Invisible Lives: The Erasure of Transsexual and Transgendered
People. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Namaste, Viviane. 2005. Sex Change, Social Change: Reflections on Identity, Institutions
& Imperialism. Toronto: Womans Press of Canada.
Prosser, Jay. 1998. Second Skins: The Body Narratives of Transsexuality. New York:
Columbia University Press.
Rubin, Henry. 2003. Self-Made Men: Identity and Embodiment Among Transsexual
Men. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press.
Edited Collections:
Green, Jamison. 2000. Look! No, Dont!: The Visibility Dilemma for Transsexual
Men. Pp. 499-508 in The Transgender Studies Reader, edited by Susan Stryker
and Stephen Whittle. New York, NY: Routledge.
Rosario II, Vernon A. 1996. Trans (Homo) Sexuality? Double Inversion, Psychiatric
Confusion, and Hetero-Hegemony. Pp. 35-51 in Queer Studies: A Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, & Transgender Anthology, edited by Brett Beemyn and Mickey Eliason.
New York: NYU Press.
Stone, Sandy. 1991. The Empire Strikes Back: A Posttranssexual Manifesto. Pp. 221-
235 in The Transgender Studies Reader, edited by Susan Stryker and Stephen
Whittle. New York, NY: Routledge.

APPENDIX I
APPENDIX II (Thematic Map)

APPENDIX III (Interview Guide)
After introductions, reiteration of consent and so on:
1) Ask about age, sexual orientation, how long they have passed for and how they
identify.
a. Get their definition of what queer means
b. Definition of transgender
c. Get their definition of what passing means
2) Was there a time when you passed without being on NRT?
a. Explain
b. How did you feel?
c. What were you thinking?
d. Was it important for you to pass at this time?
3) Can you remember the first time you passed while on HRT?
a. Where the feelings similar to when you werent on HRT?
b. What was different?
c. Was it important for you to pass at this time?
i. How do you feel about passing within this time? (maybe sense of
accomplishment? example for me, not for interviewee)
4) Was there an event or moment where you realized I have arrived and I dont
have to worry about this anymore? (Mark this moment as when they successfully
passed in society as male)
a. Explain the situation
b. How did you feel? Did you feel any different than before?
c. Did you place more importance on passing or stop thinking about it?
d. Was there anything in your behaviour, attitude, way of dress, etc.. that
changed? (If so, please elaborate if they arent sure, explain personal
experience with passing and mannerism) SPACE?
5) Have you ever felt at a disadvantage or threatened state while you werent
passing?
6) Now that you pass 100% of the time, if you were to not pass at this point in your
life, what would you think about the situation? What would your emotions be?
7) What does passing mean to you right now?
8) Before you started passing, were you ever fearful that something might happen if
you didnt pass?
9) Did you use any methods to help you pass better?
a. Probe around clothing, height, strategies (shopping in little boys section)
10) Were there any people instrumental in helping you pass?
a. What did they do?
b. Did they help you in validating your identity?
11) What is your definition of masculinity?
12) Do you feel like your masculinity has changed pre-passing to now?
13) Is the importance of passing related to your masculine identity?
14) Did your perception of your body image change once you started passing?
15) Are there services/support that our society could have done to make you feel less
at risk?
16) Do you have anything else youd like to discuss about passing and masculinity?
Glossary
Transgender An umbrella term for anyone who feels that their sex does not match their
gender.
Transsexual Individuals who medically transition from female-to-male or male-to-
female using hormones and/or surgery.
TS/TG Transsexual/ Transgender
FTM Female-to-male TS/TG
Passing When an individual is seen as the true gender they are, as opposed to the
gender they were assigned at birth.
Queer Any non-heteronormative sexuality.
Transition Going from one sex to the other (ie: someone assigned female at birth, but
their gender identity is male will transition in order to be seen as male)
Cisgender Any non-transgender individual.
Top surgery Surgery for Female-to-male TS/TG individuals where removal of the
breast tissue is done and reconstruction into a more male appearing chest is
made.
Hormones For FTM individual, it includes testosterone as a form of HRT (hormone
replacement therapy).

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The Importance of Passing for Queer Transgender Men: Masculinity, Identity, and Safety

Dr. Marc Lafrance

April 16, 2014

IV. Review of the Literature...........7

i. Definitions and Interpretations of Passing........7

ii. The Importance of Passing........11

iii. Building Identity During Transition........19

iv. The Importance of Maleness and Masculinity.20

VII. Data Analysis and Discussion...29

ii. Not Passing...31

- Passing as Essential ...34

- Lack of Positive Body Image.....37

Although much research has been conducted on female-to-male (FTM) transgender

Although much research has been conducted on female-to-male (FTM) transgender

interviews shaped the theoretical framework by using a data-driven approach. Erving

participants in obtaining a more understanding and anxiety free society.

Review of the Literature

transsexual/transgender individuals. As mentioned above, four themes will be examined.

Definitions and Interpretations of Passing

groundbreaking book Studies in Ethnomethodology, discusses a particular case which he

worked on in 1958 of a young woman named Agnes (119). In order to understand

after being socialized as male, Garfinkels definition of passing is as follows:

definition of passing highlights the intentionality of passing within the constraints of

gendered cultural normal.

While theories of 'passing' highlight the negotiation of gender cues and

work which transgender individuals need to do in order to move through a status

passing; and emotionally processing past embarrassing and threatening public

experiences (705,707-708). This involves learning how to suppress emotions and

presented as a process or passage an individual needs to go through (Schrock et al.

emotion work required.

In contrast to Schrock, Snorton (2009) discusses passing as a deeper

understanding of an individuals self-identification. Before discussing his own definition,

Manifesto and its reductive categorization of passing as the essence of transsexualism

[authors emphasis] success, is to pass(Stone 1991: 231).

Discussing the psychic and psychological dimensions of passing, Snortons

The author discusses this further:

A deeper consideration of the psychic life of passing requires an

order to pass psychologically. Snorton's research highlights the multidimensional aspects

cultural process devoid of internal negotiations. Passing constitutes a complex interplay

process, as well as an outer.

Although Snorton (2009) discusses passing as an inner process, many authors

individuals may not identity as TS/TG forever:

One does not proclaim oneself proudly as a lifelong transsexual. One

(1994). To quote Bornstein:

Passing becomes the outwards manifestation of shame and capitulation.

Bornstein's dismissal of passing as a protective practice is a major omission, stressing the

importance of being openly TS/TG. Individuals, according to Bornstein, should be out

label of FTM as opposed to just male (154).

The Importance of Passing

breadth of these concepts relates directly to trans peoples' well-being. Understanding

various definitions and interpretations of the term passing is a crucial part in

conceptualizing its importance for transgender individuals. According to the literature,

no-hormone self-identified transsexual, discusses the importance of passing for him as

Namastes (2000) landmark chapter Gender Bashing in Invisible Lives: The

were normal and a common occurrence: as if brutality was an inevitable

The issue of public bathrooms as it relates to fear and safety is important to

individual is expected to fear violence if he is discovered because he will be seen as a

and education. She states:

(Schrock et al. 2009: 703). Snorton (2009) discusses misrecognition as a common

occurrence in the lives of transgender individuals (82). Being misrecognized/ unseen/

and embodied experience (61). Prosser explains: transsexuality is precisely a

Prossers definitions. Schrock et al. (2009) also mentions something similar:

Passing is a crucial element of TS/TG individuals quality of life. Green (2000)