Privilege

In our last meeting here in Crysti's Condo, I briefly touched on the idea of being privileged to be in a spot in my life when I can pursue my feminine transition with HRT.  To combine that idea with more of the comments I am receiving from my "What's in a Name" post, quite possibly, I should take a bit more time to be greatful.

Of course I realize how many of you for whatever reason can't even begin to explore a mtf transition, even it only means the freedom to cross dress when you want.  Been there, did it and I understand. Plus, my partner is fond of telling me to not forget how rare it is to have a chance to restart a new life without taking the radical path of dying.  Of course, I hear it from her when I'm having my frequent moments of thinking I should be farther along with my HRT or I take a thumping in public, so I deserve it.

Then there is the boring conversation about gender privilege, even to the point of transgender privilege. I have always been a believer in privilege is in the mind of the beholder and what the beholder decides to do with it - except in the area of male versus female security in the world.  Plus "me thinks" I didn't embark on this transgender path because of choice or all the "kicks and giggles" it would provide. So I am privileged to be here at all including choosing a name as Pat commented on:

My two cents, for what it is really worth after decades of inflation, is that on first reflection we tend to not appreciate what a gift it is to name ourselves. When I first joined Tri-ess I had to come up with a femme name and chose my initials and a simple last name. I had the option to pick a femme version of my guy name but thought that was cutting things too close to home. Years later when I started to become active on the internet I added Scales as a surname.

Or Mandy, who commented on name privilege "in flux":


How about those of us with names which are currently known as female. Not like a "boy named Sue." More like Lynn, Tracy, Dana, Shannon, Leslie, and so on. My given name, while not one of those examples, is in that category. As a male child, I absolutely hated it (and the many problems it caused me.) But, like that mythical "Boy named Sue," I survived. And now, times have changed. It seems to fit my androgynous appearance nicely. And I already have an appropriately-girly name on my ID (even though it reads "M", not "F")! If I ever do transition, it may just save me a bit of the "administrivia aggravation."

And finally there was Paula:


Sometimes I wonder if everyone had a choice of what name they would use if we would have less Johns and Claires and more Emeralds and Elvises

Thanks ladies it's a privilege to quote you!