YES YES YES

YES YES YES

I'm a trans dude

For a lot of my childhood, I DESPISED makeup, dresses, and "girly" things. I think a big part of it was that I was a "big girl" (aka fat, but everyone seems to think that's some kind of slur against women and not just an adjective) and anytime I was outwardly feminine, the immediate reaction was to treat me like a "young lady", because everyone knows fat children are more mature! Why else would they be larger than their peers? Clearly, this physical change means they should no longer be treated as a child.

But fat rant aside;

I was constantly being told I was "becoming a woman," and I hated it. Pair that with an 8 year old's understanding of feminism (traditional femininity is only and always a tool of the patriarchy and women must be #girlbosses), and I ended up rejecting femininity completely for a solid 5 years or so

It wasn't until I started questioning my gender that I got back into makeup and "girly" clothes. I was finally doing it just for the sake of experimentation and fun, not because I had to be a woman.

Fast-forward 3 more years, and I'm an absolute effeminate fruitcake. I even do drag. Because no matter my expression, I know I'm not a woman, and I never will be.

I know SEVERAL afab nonbinary people who, as soon as they came out as nonbinary - immediately began dressing in ridiculous hyper-femme outfits they never would have worn before.  A lot of people see this and say shit like “Theyfab” or say they are only nonbinary for attention.  After all, look how femme they are.

But to me, this makes perfect sense.  When you are forced into the category of “woman” against your will, femininity is a chore.  It’s a job that you have.  As soon as you say no, I’m not a woman, suddenly femininity isn’t your job anymore.  It’s not a requirement.  It’s just a fun hobby you can get into.  Or a little treat sometimes.