People often think I'm a boy, especially on this site.

Post Reply New Topic

I've had a lot of friends in real life who say I'm pretty manly, and one of my friends told me today to stop wearing eyeliner because I'm a boy in her mind. I DO look like one when I don't wear makeup, with my short emo dude hair and masculine face. I'm really small though, I'm only 5ft and weigh JUST ENOUGH not to be counted as underweight. I guess I'm confuzed as a really tiny guy (?)
On here the same thing happens, only not because of how I look. Could there be a reason why people confuze me as a guy on here? Do I sound like one? Do you guys get confuzed as the opposite gender?

I used to get mistaken for a guy on this site too, before I became a regular. I've also mistaken female members for male and vice-versa.

I think that the confusion is due to the tendency for autistic people to not conform as much to gender stereotypes.

One of the ways that Asperger's can be characterised is that it is an exaggeration of male traits. Things that men are stereotypically good at, aspies tend to be good at too. (e.g. obsessive academic interest) Things that men are stereotypically bad at, aspies tend to be bad at too. (e.g. reading emotions).

So yeah, maybe you think / type in a more male way than the average female. But just own it. And don't let it confuse you into thinking that you are gender-confused. You might be, but that's a separate issue.

I am human, despite what my avatar states.

I was always mistaken for a girl growing up... which is a good thing cause i'm transsexual.

I don't see what's wrong with wearing eyeliner if you look like a boy.

I don't even see what is wrong with wearing eyeliner even if you are a boy.

You have no idea how much I would give to be mistaken for male again. People used to always "mistake" me for male...until my stupid breasts grew to size D... ...now very few people "mistake" me for male. And then there's my voice...it's too childlike for my age, so to other people it seems feminine.

Count yourself lucky. You may or may not actually be male, but you're blessed with something most people like me can only dream of.

It's because there's nothing overtly feminine about your avatar photo or your demeanor.

In my culture (North America, I don't know where you are...) and many others, "male" is the default, so unless a person gives indicators that they are female, the former will be assumed.

^ I think most of that has to do with the lack of a gender-neutral third-person pronoun in English, and "he/she" can sound awkward. To wit, the same goes for Spanish and French as well. So if you're talking about someone of unknown gender, you're left with the unsavory choice of the sexist "he" or an awkward "he/she" - especially awkward if you have to refer to this person many times.

I sometimes randomly say "he" and "she" in this situation.

Or "they", which personally I find just as awkward