It took me a long time after realizing I was trans to transition, so I ended up having to get comfortable in women’s sections while still looking very obviously like a man.
Turns out, it’s the nervousness that makes people uncomfortable, because there’s a lot of less good reasons a male appearing person might be nervous in a women’s section. Once you can manage to shop with confidence, the worst anybody will assume is that you’re shopping for a gift for a girlfriend or sister or something.
i realized that a long time ago. if you’re looking like you’re supposed to be there doing stuff, no one cares.
I hope this is what people think when they see me playing Twister with myself to get a good photo of some bug I found chilling on a blade of grass
My girlfriend pretty much shoved me into the fitting rooms the first time I went to buy a skirt… I was so very nervous showing the gal on the door the one item to try on.
Fast forward a bit and I had a lovely experience at the Levi store … was looking for a new pair of jeans for a holiday. As I was looking at the various cuts I was unsure wear to pick up, as I wanted something more form fitting. My partner said that the female cut has very little crotch area though, so potentially an issue there… so was looking in the men’s section.
Assistant in the store came over and offered help. I somewhat shyly mentioned that I was looking for someone a little tighter on the skin, and mentioned “I have a masc pair already” … their eyes pretty much lit up “Well you won’t find what you want on this side of the store” and pretty much dragged me over to the women’s section, and started pulling bits off the shelf and holding them up to me.
“Well this is pretty much the equivalent of a mens 34 waist, what do you wear normally?”
“Well my femme size in my clothing is usually a 16…”
Again a slight grin… before rushing me over to the cubicles to try on the items they picked out…
A very good eye they had… picked out a pair so comfy and I felt really good in. Was also just such an affirming experience.
Those both sound like very awesome experiences!
That second one sounds simultaneously like you’d feel more at ease, but also more nervous because “😱 oh god she knows”
What an amazing story! Thanks for sharing.
I miss Brooke. 😭
It looks like she still posts! I saw recent tweets on her account, though I loathe to visit twitter
I hope this sub has a Brooke revolution, we need more Brooke here
That second panel is so uplifting! Everyone needs much more of that stuff.
honestly my dumbass gets nervous looking at the women’s section while shopping online sometimes lmao
Image transcription:
A two-panel comic by BrookeValley. In the first panel, a caption states “Me in the women’s section one year ago”, and a masc-presenting Brooke thinks “Are people looking at me? Am I making people feel uncomfortable?? [the last word is in italics]”. (In the purple background, a pink t-shirt is hung on the wall that states “Live Laugh Love”.) In the second panel, a caption states “Me in the women’s section now”, and a femme-presenting Brooke holds a purple shirt with the words “Head empty” on her hands while humming “Doo-da doo Da-doo da Doo doo doo” (In the orange brackground, a pair of jeans are hung on the wall.)
I get nervous when shopping online… Didn’t go to a store yet …
#SubtleBlueByEiffel85
