I'm not sure how people see me either. I can only guess based on how they do or don't look (stare) at me. I think I've mentioned recently that it seems men don't even notice me for the most part. I dunno if it's because in passing they just see (or think me to be) another guy, or if they see me as a female that's "not much to look at." Women, on the other hand, do notice me. There is an age group that has no problem in just straight up staring at me in a disapproving manner - the look on their faces bordering on disgust. But every once in a while, there will be a woman cut me a glance that clearly indicates she likes what she sees. Most often though, that happens when I am in a vehicle... I did try to be like women. Make-up, jewelry, curls and smells. Until I just couldn't do it anymore. I was always nervous. And of course being nervous made me sweat more than I already did. After I started wearing men's clothes from shoes to shirts and everything in between outerwear to underwear, I realized that the female trappings are what caused me to always feel nervous - I was uncomfortable, self-conscious, unsure of myself, never felt like I measured up. I always felt like people could see my vulnerability. I'm sure that added to making me nervous. I hated going to salons, and so I too often cut my own hair. In salons, I felt naked. I felt like the women around me were able to visually completely strip me of the facade I presented, and then glare at me because they knew I wasn't supposed to be there, and I was invading one of their sacred places of womanhood. As for the binder and STP... I have to agree that those two items might cater to the psychological. I only know that I feel better in a binder and packing. When not packing, my jeans don't feel like they fit right. And then of course, that feeling of something missing is distressing. That feeling is reminiscent of when I tried to dress and act like women do, and because of that, I rarely go out without it even though I'm the only one knows that it's there. -Michael