# Recommendations for trying out living as a woman? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061 "2004-11-10T19:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/1 "2004-11-10T19:05:15Z")
While rereading some old threads on the subject, I ran across the [GOGIATI and Moir-Jessel tests.](http://www.transsexual.org/TEST0.html) My results were: COGIATI level 4 (probable “late onset” TS); Moir-Jessel 60 (outside the range for a “normal” male). I know there is some disagreement about whether the COGIATI should be trusted but both tests pretty much told me what I had already suspected for a while now. The site recommended seeking counselling (can’t afford that by a long shot) and trying out living as a woman which I’d like to do but is next to impossible in this rather conservative RV park. My apologies if this has already been discussed, but I didn’t have time to do an exhaustive search. I did find [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=178446) though, which raises another concern since I definitely prefer women. Suggestions, anyone? _reaches with trembling hands for the Submit button_ ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/2 "2004-11-10T20:53:25Z")
Unfortunately, I can’t offer you much advice, just a little moral support. If you think that you wouldn’t be safe, then maybe you need to consider moving ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/3 "2004-11-10T20:55:36Z")
Forgive me for prying, but I am unfamiliar with the tests you took. Apparently, you feel that you are or may be transsexual, but are more attracted to women than to men? Could you “just” be a transvestite? ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/4 "2004-11-10T21:00:08Z")
Disclaimer: I really know nothing about all of this. But if the problem is the RV park in which you live, maybe you could try it out for a night or two OUT? Any urban areas around you where you could blend in? ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/5 "2004-11-10T21:13:43Z")
Thank you, **Gravity**. 🙂 > [@EJsGirl](#): > > I am unfamiliar with the tests you took. Apparently, you feel that you are or may be transsexual, but are more attracted to women than to men? Yes, I have heard that it is quite common to be attracted to women. And no, I don’t consider that prying. > [@](#): > > Could you “just” be a transvestite? Well, if I understand the meaning of the term (and I probably don’t) then no, because for me it isn’t about women’s clothing. I prefer androgynous clothes (jeans/T-shirts/sweats), but with the expression of the person underneath I sometimes have difficulty acting masculine. In reference to the RV park, I hadn’t considered the safety angle :smack: but the managers and the other tenants would want to know who this “other” person is and if they found out, I might be forced to leave. (It’s mostly old folks and there’s not much privacy.) I’ve only been in Las Vegas for a couple weeks and don’t really know my way around yet, but will have to look into your suggestion, **LaurAnge**. Maybe the LV strip would be a good place, if it is safe enough. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/6 "2004-11-10T21:41:29Z")
First of all, don’t take the COGIATI seriously. It’s not a validated test and is strongly weighted toward a conclusion of transsexuality. It’s mainly a test of gender stereotyping. I’m not familiar with Moir-Jessel. Las Vegas has a large transgender population and finding a support group should not be hard. If you want, email or IM me (see my profile) and I’ll get you in touch with some trans friends of mine who do an annual pilgrimage to LV; I’m sure they know someone there. If you want to spend some time out without your neighbors finding out, consider going to a trusted friend’s house to change first, or renting a hotel room for the same purpose, preferably in a different part of town or another town. Find a support group that makes outings and take advantage of that. Don’t be concerned about being more attracted to women than to men; this does not mean that you are or are not transsexual. A lot of transsexuals (me included) eventually discover that they’re lesbians. Others who originally thought they were lesbians discovered an attraction for men as they transition. Which way you’ll go is hard to predict, and it’s best to have an open mind on this issue. Counselling isn’t always as expensive as you might otherwise think; there are quite a few people who do GID counselling who work on a sliding scale. And support groups are often free. ---
**Author:** ![pencilpusher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@pencilpusher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pencilpusher)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/7 "2004-11-10T21:48:43Z")
I have a friend that is male and a cross dresser. He comes to my house clear across town to learn to walk in heels, put on make up and dress as a woman. I go out frequently with him dressed as a woman and he feels more comfortable doing it here because noone knows him. Anonymity is VERY important to him because of his job. I suggest you find a support group and find like minded people to help you. Make sure you don’t rush into anything that may be dangerous and ALWAYS have a way out of any situation. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/8 "2004-11-10T22:26:07Z")
You could start by changing your user name to citygirl916… ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/9 "2004-11-10T22:36:23Z")
Thank you everyone for your sympathetic replies, especially **KellyM**. > [@Otto](#): > > You could start by changing your user name to citygirl916… Except there’s already a **Citygirl852** so that could be confusing. 😃 When I picked my username, I thought that a “boy” was anybody born with male parts. Now that I know otherwise, I’ve been trying to think of a good username that isn’t too similar to somebody else’s. But, since it has already been changed once, I might have to join the misleading username club along with **EddyTeddyFreddy** and **Ilsa\_Lund**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/10 "2004-11-11T03:16:07Z")
Far out! I’ve never seen these tests before! > [@](#): > > Your COGIATI result value is: 200 Which means that you fall within the following category: > COGIATI classification FOUR, PROBABLE TRANSSEXUAL > > What this means is that the Combined Gender Identity And Transsexuality Inventory has classified your internal gender identity to be essentially feminine, but with some masculine or androgynous traits. It is very possible that you are a candidate for a diagnosis of transsexualism. You show a strong degree of gender dysphoria. At the very least, further investigation should be undertaken. Your COGIATI score places you among the majority of those diagnosed as transsexuals, the ‘late onset’ tanssexual. > [@](#): > > If you are Male… > Your score is 65 > > Feminine Male > You score significantly more feminine than the average male. Male scores above 60 may show a brain sex bias to the female Interesting. I don’t specifically identify as transsexual but I’ve known for more than half a lifetime that I’m sort of a variation on that. I don’t really crave to be biologically female (although it would be fun to try it for 3-5 years) but if there were a world where the sex roles and gendered assumptions and so forth were exactly mirror-image, and I could get a ticket, it would be a one-way and I’d sell everything I own to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/11 "2004-11-11T04:29:43Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Your COGIATI result value is: 200 Mine was 245. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/12 "2004-11-11T05:13:15Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever taken the COGIATI. I looked at it this evening and realized about halfway down that it’s inappropriate for anyone post-transition. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/13 "2004-11-11T11:45:18Z")
Leave the toilet seat down? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/14 "2004-11-11T12:49:14Z")
Whatever else you do, do not try to trim your eyebrows with an unshielded electric razor. You could end up with the middle part of your eyebrow bare, the horizontal middle third, completely bare. Imagine racing stripes in your eyebrows! :eek: Sally Hansen Wax can be used to shape the eyebrow can be helpful should you feel the need. It is a bit like packing tape and does a good job. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/15 "2004-11-11T13:00:02Z")
Your linky-link wasn’t working when I tried to take the COGIATI test, but I did take the SAGE, which is apparently a COGIATI deriviative. I definitely see what Kelly was talking about with the gender stereotyping. My results: Your Raw Score is: 395, which indicates that overall you are Androgynous Your appearance is Feminine Your brain processes are mostly that of a Androgynous person. You appear to socialize in a androgynous manner. You believe you have mild conflicts about your gender identity. You indicated your were born Female. ANALYSIS: Female to Male Crossdresser NOTES: Your Answers indicate your psychological state has likely prevailed since you were quite young. You are in a statistical minority as a anallophilic crossdresser. Most crossdressers are heterosexual. Your motivation for crossdressing may be driven by the undirected nature of your sexuality, as a way to more fully explore the Male gender role. There are only three accurate bits in all of this: my appearance is feminine, I was born female, and I’ve been this way since childhood. The rest of it’s crap. I’m just a boobilicious natal woman who likes circular saws as well as she likes sewing circles, who isn’t aroused by breastfeeding articles, tampon commercials, or power tools. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/16 "2004-11-11T13:50:05Z")
I wanted to take the test, but for some reason, the Web site isn’t working. Anyone know if there’s somewhere else online I can take it? ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/17 "2004-11-11T14:55:31Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > There are only three accurate bits in all of this: my appearance is feminine, I was born female, and I’ve been this way since childhood. The rest of it’s crap. I’m just a boobilicious natal woman who likes circular saws as well as she likes sewing circles, who isn’t aroused by breastfeeding articles, tampon commercials, or power tools. That’s the sort of thing I was referring to. I “lose” a lot of points on those sorts of tests because I can do car maintenance, like to use power tools, and am totally uninterested in tampon commercials. None of these things is an indicator of innate feminity; rather, they’re an indicator of how much the subject craves to be or appear feminine. ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/18 "2004-11-11T15:05:58Z")
**cityboy916** , if you determine that you are transgendered, then by all means, you should pursue whatever makes you feel “right” in your own skin. We all should have that and I wish you the best. However, it has always seemed to me that the most interesting and attractive people I have met are that way because they are comfortable with their masculine and feminine sides, which we all have. Have you considered that maybe you are just a good catch? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/19 "2004-11-11T15:31:06Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > There are only three accurate bits in all of this: my appearance is feminine, I was born female, and I’ve been this way since childhood. The rest of it’s crap. I’m just a boobilicious natal woman who likes circular saws as well as she likes sewing circles, who isn’t aroused by breastfeeding articles, tampon commercials, or power tools. Totally agree. I took the test (female and not unhappy about it) and got “male” results. I don’t think being uncomfortable when people cry and not liking hugs from complete strangers are exclusively masculine traits… ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061/20 "2004-11-11T16:23:46Z")
S.A.G.E. Test Results Your Raw Score is: 570, which indicates that overall you are Feminine Your appearance is Feminine Your brain processes are mostly that of a Female person. You appear to socialize in a feminine manner. You believe you have normal doubts about your gender identity. You indicated your were born Female. ANALYSIS: No conflicts, you appear to fully accept your physical sex and gender identity. NOTES: Your Answers indicate your psychological state has likely prevailed since you were quite young. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-trying-out-living-as-a-woman/274061.md?page=2)