I think I’ve had this whole transsexual thing ass backwards.
Then: I used medical strategies to manipulate my body to get into my masculinity.
Now: I used my masculinity, and the medical strategies associated with achieving the kind of masculinity I want, to get into my body. The former creates the drama of the no-penised man. The latter offers compassion and an ever-increasing push to breathe in the present moment.
Subtle, yes. But reversing the focus creates healthier bodies, I think, which, in turn, creates healthier genders. So maybe a new purpose for gender is to help us become more present to our own bodies.
How do other people use their genders to get into their bodies?