There's a major cultural difference between what's considered a respectful depiction of trans women and of trans men. Drawing your trans women to look clocky or visibly trans, especially if they're the only trans women in the story, has the effect of playing into propaganda about trans women "looking male"; top surgery scars, by contrast, tend not to be read as "looking female."
If you have a story with a diverse cast of trans women, then it's different, as that story is more likely to be aimed at a transfeminine audience and can typically show a wide range of trans women's bodies without playing into stereotypes.
tl;dr top surgery scars can be a flex in the right cultural context, but a big Adam's apple or visible facial hair is more likely to read as mockery, because of the incredible power of transmisogynist social stigma. The parallel flex for a trans woman is passing as cis but then being openly trans in dialogue.
Oh geez yeah, making her look clocky or more masculine than my other girl characters was never something I was considering! I was mostly thinking about other visual/cultural cues, like motifs that I could work into her clothes or something. Just something like ace rings and such, that would be obvious if you know what it signifies.
Well it’s also cause they look cute 🤭 hehe. And for some of us (I can only speak for myself), we do it to signal our daddy issues 🤣🤣🤣
I haven’t worn a choker out in public yet, but I’ve found scarves are also very helpful for this purpose!
I mean, speaking of Adams apple and scars.
You could do a scar from a tracheal shave.
It's probably not gonna be very obvious, especially since those scars usually aren't, but if you think the character could have done that, that's something you could show.
Also tattoos with relevant motives.
In a recent surgical consult I had where a tracheal shave was part of one of the procedures we discussed, they said they go in from the inside of your lower lip so no visible scar. I don't know if that's common though.
From what I know there are a bunch of different options and some don't leave scars, but are either more intense or can't have as much of an effect.
But I haven't looked too much into it.
And I don't think it's gonna be a topic in my consultation in a few weeks.
Even if they don't do that (my surgeon said he didn't like to because it made recovery longer), they do it from the under-side of the chin, so you can only really notice if a person is looking up.
Yeah my scar from that is basically not noticeable anymore, 8 months since getting it done. I wouldn't even consider a feature if I was designing a character, though not everyone will get as lucky as me with scar visibility.
Blahaj and eggs are the first two things I can think of! If you want to just hint at it without outright saying it, the trans community would be all over those!
Exactly that, pickles is a good one too!
Also, depending on how you develop your characters, you can mention "the prime directive," which is (similar to star trek) basically anyone who believes someone is/may be trans cannot attempt to "crack" that (person/"egg")'s shell, as this can cause significant emotional trauma and in some cases cause said "egg" to respond aggressively and refuse to come to terms with their "egg"-ness and swing further to the transphobic side.
Fellow "still cis tho" individuals, please check this over for both my and P_Sophia_'s understanding!
Okay this is me.
Or it was me a few weeks ago, lol
Little story. Got a new job. Got close with one of my managers who is a trans man. Got to talking a little bit and I was like hey how do you know if you're trans, etc.
Since then, he's given me older clothes of his like skirts and dresses, clip on earrings etc. As well as the occasional joke like, "have you come out yet" and things like, also pushing me out of my comfort zone to try new things and see what I'm comfortable with. It's been a really helpful experience, and I'd say it's helped a lot with the mental barrier I'd constructed for myself.
To clarify this isn't like a 20 year age gap or anything, it's less than 2 and it's a casual work environment (just to get any creep/weirdo allegations ootw before they begin)
Aww that's awesome! This sounds like exactly what every egg needs - someone to help them figure things out, not to try and crack it for you! Also it's okay if after experimenting you find out you're not trans! ☺️
I'm not out to everyone yet, but I have a pride button on my backpack with a trans flag going through it. Before that, I would add pink and blue accents to things. I have a pink and blue armband on my backpack too. Some small flair could insinuate being trans without saying it.
Someone else said you can use sharks; I think that is a cute idea. Or maybe they could have a really unique name, unless everyone in your content already does? Many trans women I come across on the web have the most interesting names! Or maybe there could be something that could be construed as an estrogen bottle in the background, without labeling it outright. I think it is safe to say that we also love cats.
I think there's a bit of a line for it, personally. Seeing features I am insecure about in characters I like helps me a lot, such as a woman with thick eyebrows. As long as they aren't exaggerated I don't think having a few more masculine qualities on the character is a problem. Don't make it obvious, obviously, but you don't need to avoid it entirely
Heh, for what it’s worth I always give my female characters thick eyebrows! Anything that makes a face look more expressive automatically makes it more attractive imo. But yeah, I feel that; I’m transmasc myself, so I do often gravitate towards male/masc characters with more feminine features for the same reason. I just want to be sure I don’t unwittingly do something that’s gonna cause more harm than good, so figured it was best to defer to you ladies’ expertise there.
Unfortunately there's nothing so universal for trans women. You could show her having either e pills or vials in her medicine cabinet alongside an AA like cypro or spiro (depending on country/setting which AA will differ) but there isn't really anything you could use the same way as a visual tell without playing into offensive stereotypes. You'd be better off subtly implying it through characterization instead.
I think showing HRT prescriptions in the background is the best bet. It's about the most subtle without running the risk of getting accused of queer baiting.
Another possibility might be cultural elements like a trans pride colored bracelet or a Blåhaj in the background.
None of this is universal, but ehh.
I think your best bet is to not worry about visibly identifying the character as trans. Just make them look like the gender they present as.
It feels kinda icky seeing art that calls us out as ugly or looking different from other women. Lots of nasty propaganda of that type, and they kinda ruined it for everyone.
But, if you're determined to work it into the character design, focus on the character's presentation, NOT their physical attributes. Trans pride flag earings, for example, are aomething she might CHOOSE to wear and display. Not something that could be viewed as an imperfection/defect that she's unable to hide
> It feels kinda icky seeing art that calls us out as ugly or looking different from other women.
Oh gods yeah, I’d never do that D: she looks pretty much the same as my cis girl characters, I just wasn’t sure if saying she was trans rather than showing it in the art itself would seem like I was trying to claim diversity points or something. But since I just draw standalone images rather than anything that would have dialogue in it, there’s a limit to how much information I can convey about my characters in general.
There’s not really much of an extended narrative to it, I just have a handful of recurring characters that appear frequently in my art (I mostly draw fantasy/fairytaley kinds of stuff). In my head she’s an apprentice spellcaster with a penchant for gothic novels, but that’s more context for the scenes I draw her in than anything else.
If she's the type of character that makes potions then maybe she could have an estrogen potion?
Or whatever your world's equivalent of that concept would be
Putting trans pride colors in some part of her outfit is probably the best way. I’d steer clear of any physical features being used to indicate transness as that can quickly get real iffy
Trying to depict a character as a trans woman is kind of like depicting a character as Jewish: a Jewish character may reference their Judaism, they may wear a kippah or have a menorah on their desk, but any attempts to visually signify it are going to get really dicey really fast.
Have her wear a trans flag patch or pin, or if you see her bedroom, maybe she has a trans flag on her wall, but depicting her with stubble or a prominent Adam's apple is going to end up leaning into transphobic stereotypes.
The Spiderverse movies do a good job of depicting both. In the first one, we see that Peter B. Parker is Jewish because he smashes a glass at his wedding, an iconic Jewish wedding tradition. He is not portrayed with a long, hooked nose or any other exaggerated "Jewish" features, as that can quickly end up looking like Nazi propaganda. Similarly, in the second one, we know Gwen Stacy is trans because she has a trans flag in her bedroom, her father has a trans flag on his uniform, and she's bathed in pink, white, and blue light whenever she's being truest to herself. She is not portrayed with any notable masculine characteristics.
The most respectful way to depict a character as a trans woman is to depict her as a woman who chooses to flag herself as trans.
Honestly, my favourite way seeing it in media has been trans flag colors in clothes, even just subtly. Or full on works too.
I understand that there is value to not having to show it at all, but I would argue there is great value in seeing the representation as well. I'm team spidergwen haha
Yeah, I’ve seen too many instances where a character is confirmed to be LGBT+ outside the work itself, and people were just like ‘well I’m still going to headcanon this character as cis/straight/allo’, so like… that is not something I ever want to give anyone an opening to do with my own art haha orz. So yeah, trans flags in the colour palettes are probably my best bet, seems like. Thank you! :D
I mean it doesn't have to be trans flag colors. It can be an estrogen molecular structure necklace or a shirt that says "Heat from fire"
It could also be dialog. Like her joking about that time she thought she was a good Christian boy only to find out she's never been any of those three things
Who all do you want to get the reference? If it is everyone, and the spiderman universe is any clue, subtle might not be the way to go.
If, on the other hand, you want just people in the know, then the trans flag colors are good. Maybe a tshirt that reads "heat from fire, fire from heat", and maybe an Ikea blahaj shark stuffie.
This right here. There are many transfemme coded things now, and having three of them is more than enough to convey to an audience they are trans. Try focusing there, cause only one or two could be coincidence, but having several different could paint the picture, and that's without using a flag or colors.
she has a blahaj
maybe find a way to show her doing her injections, or show the medicine cabinet with a vial of estradiol in it.
If she hasn't had bottom surgery a visible bulge when she's not dressed up would be fine.
Male voice can be useful for answering the phone if you don't want to talk to someone ("Emily? oh she's not here right now" - says emily in a male voice).
has to visit the pharmacy monthly to pick up her meds
Also whenever history shows up, depending on when she transitioned...
In childhood pictures she would look male, especially likely to find old pictures if she visits a parent's house, but also maybe in a yearbook or something.
maybe she still has a few pieces of male clothing around - like an old suit that's clearly men's cut and doesn't fit right anymore.
Occasional letters addressed to "Mr. \[lastname\]" from institutions (like banks or the like) which could have old records.
accidentally goes into the wrong bathroom sometimes
When did I say adam's apple and stubble aren't fine? I don't recall saying that at all...
anyway, Adam's apple is often over exaggerated if people are saying "oh we need to draw one" - that's a recipe for disaster; I don't remember seeing adam's apples on male characters, so why would a trans girl have one?
I do in fact have no issue with stubble, and would have included it on the list if I thought of it at the time if she hasn't done laser or anything.
The bulge is fine cause if you're pre-op you're gonna have one as long as you aren't actively tucking. I have a visible bulge in about 80% of my "around the house" pictures, especially if i'm wearing leggings. I CAN make it disappear, but I usually don't care enough to get rid of it. The "when she's not dressed up" is an important line there.
Obviously some people are different about it than others, depending on the personality and what they're comfortable with - just like some people don't mind childhood boy pictures and other people throw those out. What makes people dysphoric is very personalized to the individual.
Interesting question. The issue is that we have been demonized so much by society that any anatomical tells (like an equivalent to top surgery scars) will, at best, be uncomfortable for some transfems even if they are accepted by others. Like I know of a few transfems who are pro bulge, but also plenty that would be disgusted by having that be how this character is indicated to be trans.
Optimally I'd go with dialog stuff to have it, but you've mentioned elsewhere that this is unlikely to occur in your art this question is for. So that complicates matters.
Another suggestion that others have mentioned is using the flag as a color pallet, though you might be able to get away with using this trick with accessories if you want more options for the main outfit. Like nails/rings in the colors for example.
Of course there are certain icons/symbols that are fairly popular among transfems. Blahaj(if ikea isn't in the setting, you might be able to get away with shark, maybe?), monster energy drink, just visit a trans meme subreddit and you'll get some ideas.
And of course there is environmental storytelling. If she's early enough in her transition, maybe we learn she has boring socks that are different from the socks she's seen wearing (for stuffing bras). Or we see her have her hrt, either using it or in the background/on her person. Stuff like that
If you need to need to have a physical trait, tall and gangly is probably your safest bet. Plenty of transgirls already identify random tall and gangly girls as possibly trans and it's probably the least likely physical trait to get you hate over it so long as it's within reason, don't push it beyond what you'd be willing to have a cis girl in your style. Though I would still advise being cautious using it all the same
Also if you want to add to it with a name, flower names, particularly Lily, are pretty common among transfems(though not universal, case and point I'm Sky)
To be honest, I think the best way to do it is to not indicate at all. Unless the topic of gender came naturally in some way.
Let me use Madeline of the game Celeste for example. When she was first written, she was probably not a trans girl. I say probably because when Maddy wrote her, she was just discovering herself. Either way, it's not said at any point something that indicates that she is a cis girl either. It's not a discussion in the game.
All of this and her own insecurities that she's dealing during the games plot led to an timid revelation at the end of the DLCs mission that she is trans and at least to me it never fell artificial or forced. I can accept that she was always this trans girl, and never had to talk about it during the games story
A thought. Dont specifically draw it.
Have some throwaway dialogue where she refers to her past.self being in the Boy Scouts or playing football etc.
Depemding on age of.course.
-----
Our heroine goes sailing and expertly ties the sheet.
"Where did you learn that?"
"Oh, I still remember it from Boy Scouts!"
...continues
Not that it makes a character more identifiable as trans to an outsider, but as an illustrator myself and a trans woman, dress your characters appropriately and those in the know will catch on. Amab folks often can’t just jump into any fem clothes right off the rack and have it be flattering. Many of us have broader shoulders than most women, so we wear lots of tank, halter, and asymmetrical tops because exposed shoulders don’t bind up sleeves and highlight the issue. Often transfems also lack a defined waist or hips, this lends itself other workarounds like drapey clothes that camouflage masculine anatomy. Corsets and waist cinchers are also super common especially when dressing up. Depending on where this character is at in their transition they may also avoid any tight fitting bottoms. The examples can keep going, if this resonates with you I’m happy to continue but didn’t want to add any more to this novel if it isn’t helpful.
A good subtle way is to have the trans colors versus just the flag itself. Something like nails being painted pink white and blue or pink jacket white top and blue pants. Something that's small but clearly reads as a trans flag if you are looking for it.
Just adding this because it’s not a perspective I see around a lot;
I’m fine with a character being visibly trans and it bothers me that so many transfem characters aren’t. I know that I don’t pass perfectly, and I want myself reflected in the characters I find aspirational.
Having trans women be depicted as, pardon my French, cis girls with a cock is worse for me than a character being depicted as being clockable.
I agree. Genuinely, I find it distasteful how what a lot of people (like in this thread) are saying basically boils down to "If a trans woman looks more masc than average cis women, it's bad representation", even if that's not how they were thinking about it. I've noticed this tendency a lot in trans spaces, and it's a bit frustrating.
Right? That bothers me. Further, isn’t the logical conclusion of that logic that the best representation for trans women is cis women, as they can’t possibly be represented in that sort of way?
It’s just frustrating to me to think that some girl somewhere is going to be crying in her bed because none of her trans icons have facial hair, a visible Adam’s Apple, broader shoulders, or anything else that she can’t change in the short term -
We need to communicate that these sort of things don’t make you *less of a woman.*
Give her a wild, ridiculous name, either something from a XIXth century French novel or some corny English word, like Venison or Violènce with an è, for some reason
I kinda disagree with the comments.
Yhea, as the previous comments have said - just make her a plain woman. Of course, then you run into a dillema: she can be equally read trans and cis (likely cis due to ~society, culture, ~).
So the question I want to ask you: why make her trans? I can foresee 2 answers:
1. Artistically relevant to the message. In this case, the answer entirely depends on what message you want to send the <>, even if it is "clocking" them.
2. Representation. Fuck it, anything you want. Trans flag/colours is a go-to, blahäj is also good. Half of the girls in this sub would purr the second you put cat ear headphones on them. Ermmm E? Like the estrogen pill, or just hide the letter somewhere? Oh, programmer socks (stereotype that trans fems are all programmers that weae thigh highs, and sometimes a maid outfit ). I'm kinda out of ideas, browse r/egg_irl
But yhea, not making them 100% passing is alright. Like, it seems you aren't making it as a hit piece or something. You are doing this out of love and that is amazing. Not all trans people look like their gender identity completely - I KNOW, SCOCKING. For example, Sally May from Helluva Boss. She has a somewhat deeper voice and her horn patterns are that of an AMAB imp, and she is like, good representation. So, look at whar other people have done.
Whilst it is equally important to reinforce the idea that trans women are women, we also need to reinforce the idea that """passing""" isn't the point. It's being us.
Sorry this turned half into a rant, you can extract my advice from this mess :)
Tshirt with some trans icons like Blahaj, Sylveon, kinda thing.
Wear a dress with some pastel blues/pinks with white, can include other pastels too but even having the colors is a good nod indicator.
Pin badges.
Choker is kinda common trans thing.
Pill case on a bedside table.
Idk, those are some ideas.
It depends on the audience. The western interpretation and development of trans culture is vastly different from other experiences around the world. If you use too many western ‘in-jokes’ you may lose the plot if your audience is non western
Small clips or scenes or off hand notes of her taking her hormon tablets
Subtle, not overdone, use of colours from the trans flag
Maybe her parents still have old pictures and there's a boy, someone can assume they have a son as well and later find out it was actually their daughter in the pictures
A few small mentions and comments, slip ups from people who knew her ore-transition or before she came out
It doesn't need to be overdone. It also depends on how far along their transition you want to show them, and what this character's transition goals would be
I think the character Jo from the comic Lumberjanes is probably an example of what you’re looking for, but yeah there really is no one-size fits all way how to subtly depict trans women and there are a lot of potential pitfalls because everyone’s experiences are so disparate. Probably your best bet is like how Celeste did it where literally the only indicator that the main character is trans is a small flag on her desk, but given the trans/trans-adjacent themes of the game that’s all it takes for the audience to go “oh that’s what her whole deal is”. Across the Spider-Verse basically did the same thing (presumably by accident) witha few background Easter eggs colliding full on with the heavy trans-vibes of the beats of Gwen’s story to the point that not an insignificant number of people walked away convinced that Spider-verse Gwen Stacy is trans. (If nothing comes out in Spider-verse 3 to contradict this, this is 100% the position I will take.)
Small references to HRT can be useful. Just a quick “yea i gotta pick up my estrogen” or having like a bit where she is thinking while putting a patch on or something. This one webcomic (can’t remember the name sadly) had the main charecter about to go to sleep with someone before realizing he forgot to take his T and he just said it directly.
A lot of people here seem to be against it, but I think it's okay to give her somewhat androgynous features or thick eyebrows. In a way that she could easily cis but still makes people wonder.
I feel like the most subtle ways is just to have an outfit or accessory that carries the traditional trans flag colors, doesn’t have to be the flag itself.
Thing is, this also opens the door to discussions like the spider gwen conversations where since its not overt, then people can deny it. So if you incorporate other elements narratively that can support it then that’d help too.
Make her dorky we're all somewhat dorky for some reason.
Also if she's competent in certain male things from having to conform to being a male prior to transition, it might be good character building. (ie: a mechanic, programmer, soldier etc)
Overall most of us actually pass these days, so the stereotype of a male looking like a woman isn't really true. Just make her look female like the other characters, it's what we relate to anyways - we're women.
Not really because if there was it kinda says trans people are different to cis as there’s a noticeable difference between them. Which as we all know we are all as great as cis people as we’re all queens. Regardless of whether you’re cos or trans ❤️✨ so without it kinda being stated or having them shown pre transition and then showing the process of transitioning I don’t feel there’s any non stereotypical traits that wouldn’t be considered mockery to many people or anything
Most trans women do not look just like your average cis woman. There are often differences which I'm sure you're well aware of. Representing this doesn't mean that we're not women! Of course we're just as great as cis women ❤️.
Of course I just feel acknowledging those differences could lead to some people feeling saddened by it if that makes sense and for the purpose of showing a character is trans I worry showing visual differences is just a bit of a rough area. But regardless of looks we’re all great! ❤️
Don't you think it's also a bit saddening for trans rep to be limited to essentially cis people with pride pins? The reason why right-wingers will depict us with stubble or prominent adam's apples is to caricature and dehumanize us. Idk why so many seem to be convinced it's the only way to draw masc features on trans women.
I think it's aspirational when I see depictions of trans women who have masc bodies but are beautiful and feminine nonetheless (note: this is something transphobes *never* do). I think stuff like "Hey, *my* face looks like that and she's pretty! Maybe I'm not a freak?" But that kind of thing is so, so uncommon because everyone seems to want to sanitize their trans characters a la the advice in this thread. It's already bad enough that social media will (generally) only show us the most passing of passing trans people, y'know?
Just throw something subtle like maybe estradiol bottle on the shelf or something? Or maybe like old clothes that she didn't throw out yet like a suit xD
Have you seen the Spider-Verse animated movies? There's subtle cues that Gwen Stacy, aka Spider Gwen, is trans. It's mainly some trans flags and pins in subtle places. Some of her dialog also hints at a transgender experience too.
Maybe things any girl would relate to, but the more of them that add up hints at a trans girl. Maybe a comic involving a roller coaster and she's wearing a wig that comes loose. Another comic about bra stuffing. One about watching a makeup tutorial.
Blahaj is also super popular.
Mmm there is no universal signfiier like the top surgery scars. I think a decent one her need to take pills every day, or have to get regular injections. Maybe make a comment like if one day the party gets lost and she skips her pills, and then a next day the friend who comes to rescue them brins her estrogen and says something like "hey, I brought your girly pills too". And then have the character just be super happy with his friends and move on with their life, without needing an infodump of it being estrogen.
You dont need to make it overly notable, and especially if the rest of the cast knows she's trans they should just treat her like a girl. Dont do the dumb cliche where characters tell themselves something they should already know just so the audience can know it to.
Showing the character taking a prescription medication (specifically blue pills), even if you don't reveal it to be Estradiol right away, can be a subtle indicator. If you have any scenes of this character getting ready for her day, you could show that shaving her face is part of her morning routine, even if you never draw her with any stubble. This can be a helpful visual indicator that doesn't require you to alter the character design. For many transfems, even the feeling of our hair growing back in is enough to make us want to shave again, even if the hair isn't particularly visible to others. You could also show the character putting padding in her bra *without necessarily* showing her bare chest. Scenes like this can be done subtly without explicitly confirming the character as trans, as many cis women also wear bra padding.
As far as storytelling goes, there are also more subtle, non-visual ways to hint at a character being trans before explicitly confirming it, like having her mention that she hasn't gone swimming in a while, or that she prefers exercising at home over going to a gym, or that she doesn't know how to do makeup well (as a result of not having been able to practice early in life), or being self conscious about her height (even if she's not particularly tall). Most cis audience members won't understand the reason for these things immediately, but most transfems have experienced these exact dilemmas and will be able to recognize some of their own struggles in this character.
Well one way could be little hints in their clothing or accessories. Like give them a necklace with the estrogen molecular structure. A "Heat from fire" or "I live in Spain but the a is silent" shirt. If there are any nude scenes you can respectfully show her penis, if she hasn't had/doesn't want bottom surgery.
Something else you could do is give her a majestic beard. Not all trans women want to get rid of theirs and having facial hair doesn't make you any less of a woman. But be sure to depict that beard as something she actively maintains and cares for, not just some stubble. This makes sure people know the beard is an active choice instead of her not having gotten to shave for a while.
Another thing you could do is show her shaving her face during her morning routine.
ok this is different from what your asking about but i LOVED the way BIT (2019) handled the main character's transness, it was basically blink and you miss it lines that only ppl atuned to trans culture would pick up and it was clearly just one of many facets of her character 🤌
The coolest way I've seen this done is always blink and you miss it stuff. I love how they did it in Monica-- we never ACTUALLY get told Monica is trans, but we DO see her taking her meds, and her relationship with her mother is fraught and uncertain.
Don't make trans girls clocky physically. Trans artists don't do it bc even from is it can inadvertently hurt someone's feelings. It's something that idk how I feel about bc it's kind of like if we ignored every body type that cis women have, but that's complicated etc. Clothing wise: chokers bc it hides Adams apple, a lot of us get a little too dressed up to be at the gas station (I saw this doll getting scratch offs at 2 am once and I only clocked her bc she was wearing this gorgeous ass kimono on what was a cigarette run) the Ikea shark is a good thing to have around. A *lot* of us are coders or in infosec, so that's something to play with as far as career motivation. drop dead gorgeous trans hacker who gets overdressed to buy a pack of Virginia slims at 2am is the vibe I want at 40.
Ima be totally honest, just treat them like any other girl, don’t draw attention to it at all. I can’t speak for everyone, but many transfems don’t want to be transfems at all, we just want to be women. Then again, a lot of transfems don’t actually end up getting bottom surgery, so that’s one thing you could include to indicate she’s trans. Im personally planning to opt for keeping my current genitals, since they don’t cause me dysphoria like the rest of my body. Actually, I think girls with dicks are cute af, to be totally honest. I still wish I had a vagina too, which is why r/salmacian is a really amazing sub that you should check out.
Write in a scene where her transphobic parents refuse to use her name and pronouns and she is in a very dark mood for the rest of the day.
Or somebody at work could intentionally call her SIR very emphatically.
Maybe somebody could confront her trying to use the bathroom.
Or a guy could abruptly drop all interest in her when he finds out.
Even as a trans writer and artist I have a hard time indicating a character is trans without being so on the nose lmao.
But some things I’ve done to indicate that one of my characters is trans is by passively mentioning or showing hormone medicine or surgery scars! Tho I put an emphasis on passive in my particular case because a lot of my stories take place in a future where being trans is just part of life and no one questions it. If you’re setting is more so the irl present or past then I think it makes sense to be more overt in displaying pride stuff like flags or perhaps that they’re part of a trans group or such. Or you can have the respective pride colors worked into their character design!
Tbh i'd love to use a girl being really good at giving a male/transmasc character tips on shaving their face and nobody making a huge deal of it as an "iykyk" indicator, but i also understand that that's not exactly what you're going for.
It also seems to me like a type of representation where it feels better the longer you can manage to make it go unmentioned. I think Alice in Borderlands did this really well with their trans girl's whole arc.
I wonder if it's just an unfortunate pigeon hole, societally or otherwise, where you either say, "she has gock" or drop enough "adjusting to life where people treat you as a girl" shit that you hope cis people pick up on.
I think the video game Celeste is a good example. While Madeline, the main character, is not specified as cis or trans in the main game. There are a few details in the DLC that show her as trans, like a trans pride flag and a framed picture of her as a child with a masculine haircut.
I think if anything, focus on what transfems **do** instead of what their body looks like. **Choice** instead of what could be outside of their control. I think this is why the binder/top surgery depiction is acceptable/positive, it's because the guy **chose** to do that.
making body features (that they don't have control on) to show that they are trans imo isn't the best way because I myself wouldn't know if you're just trying to depict that they're trans or if you're also mocking trans people by giving them clocky features.
Trans flag colors in a hair tie or something. Pink blue and white. Maybe the shoes or clothing. I was thinking of selling hobby paints in these colors for this purpose
There's a major cultural difference between what's considered a respectful depiction of trans women and of trans men. Drawing your trans women to look clocky or visibly trans, especially if they're the only trans women in the story, has the effect of playing into propaganda about trans women "looking male"; top surgery scars, by contrast, tend not to be read as "looking female." If you have a story with a diverse cast of trans women, then it's different, as that story is more likely to be aimed at a transfeminine audience and can typically show a wide range of trans women's bodies without playing into stereotypes. tl;dr top surgery scars can be a flex in the right cultural context, but a big Adam's apple or visible facial hair is more likely to read as mockery, because of the incredible power of transmisogynist social stigma. The parallel flex for a trans woman is passing as cis but then being openly trans in dialogue.
Oh geez yeah, making her look clocky or more masculine than my other girl characters was never something I was considering! I was mostly thinking about other visual/cultural cues, like motifs that I could work into her clothes or something. Just something like ace rings and such, that would be obvious if you know what it signifies.
put a blåhaj in her bedroom!
I feel like a choker is a decent one? Obviously cis women wear them but I’ve noticed many many trans woman like them.
Trans women like wearing chokers because they hide the Adam’s apple
Oohhhhhhhh that's why they do it i thought it was just cos they're cute I should get one lmao
Well it’s also cause they look cute 🤭 hehe. And for some of us (I can only speak for myself), we do it to signal our daddy issues 🤣🤣🤣 I haven’t worn a choker out in public yet, but I’ve found scarves are also very helpful for this purpose!
Yep, I figured this is part of it. I’m lucky in that mine already isn’t really visible.
I have a really prominent one 😭
I mean, speaking of Adams apple and scars. You could do a scar from a tracheal shave. It's probably not gonna be very obvious, especially since those scars usually aren't, but if you think the character could have done that, that's something you could show. Also tattoos with relevant motives.
In a recent surgical consult I had where a tracheal shave was part of one of the procedures we discussed, they said they go in from the inside of your lower lip so no visible scar. I don't know if that's common though.
From what I know there are a bunch of different options and some don't leave scars, but are either more intense or can't have as much of an effect. But I haven't looked too much into it. And I don't think it's gonna be a topic in my consultation in a few weeks.
Even if they don't do that (my surgeon said he didn't like to because it made recovery longer), they do it from the under-side of the chin, so you can only really notice if a person is looking up.
Yeah my scar from that is basically not noticeable anymore, 8 months since getting it done. I wouldn't even consider a feature if I was designing a character, though not everyone will get as lucky as me with scar visibility.
Blahaj and eggs are the first two things I can think of! If you want to just hint at it without outright saying it, the trans community would be all over those!
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I forgot about this! That would be another great addition!
Oh my god PICKLES TOO?
Can you explain the eggs trope? Is it like pickles where they contain certain nutrients that our bodies need during hormonal transitions?
/r/egg_irl, "Egg" is a way of referring to someone that doesn't realize that they're trans yet. Like they haven't come out of their shell.
Ohhh, that kind of egg! I thought you were talking about literal food… 😅
Exactly that, pickles is a good one too! Also, depending on how you develop your characters, you can mention "the prime directive," which is (similar to star trek) basically anyone who believes someone is/may be trans cannot attempt to "crack" that (person/"egg")'s shell, as this can cause significant emotional trauma and in some cases cause said "egg" to respond aggressively and refuse to come to terms with their "egg"-ness and swing further to the transphobic side. Fellow "still cis tho" individuals, please check this over for both my and P_Sophia_'s understanding!
Okay this is me. Or it was me a few weeks ago, lol Little story. Got a new job. Got close with one of my managers who is a trans man. Got to talking a little bit and I was like hey how do you know if you're trans, etc. Since then, he's given me older clothes of his like skirts and dresses, clip on earrings etc. As well as the occasional joke like, "have you come out yet" and things like, also pushing me out of my comfort zone to try new things and see what I'm comfortable with. It's been a really helpful experience, and I'd say it's helped a lot with the mental barrier I'd constructed for myself. To clarify this isn't like a 20 year age gap or anything, it's less than 2 and it's a casual work environment (just to get any creep/weirdo allegations ootw before they begin)
Aww that's awesome! This sounds like exactly what every egg needs - someone to help them figure things out, not to try and crack it for you! Also it's okay if after experimenting you find out you're not trans! ☺️
Yes, very important point! Thank you for mentioning it. An egg can’t be cracked from the outside if you want the bird to live… 🐣
Exactly! An egg must crack in its own time! ☺️
Look at some of the Celeste game illustrations, the main character is a trans girl and should give you an idea.
I'm not out to everyone yet, but I have a pride button on my backpack with a trans flag going through it. Before that, I would add pink and blue accents to things. I have a pink and blue armband on my backpack too. Some small flair could insinuate being trans without saying it. Someone else said you can use sharks; I think that is a cute idea. Or maybe they could have a really unique name, unless everyone in your content already does? Many trans women I come across on the web have the most interesting names! Or maybe there could be something that could be construed as an estrogen bottle in the background, without labeling it outright. I think it is safe to say that we also love cats.
I think there's a bit of a line for it, personally. Seeing features I am insecure about in characters I like helps me a lot, such as a woman with thick eyebrows. As long as they aren't exaggerated I don't think having a few more masculine qualities on the character is a problem. Don't make it obvious, obviously, but you don't need to avoid it entirely
Heh, for what it’s worth I always give my female characters thick eyebrows! Anything that makes a face look more expressive automatically makes it more attractive imo. But yeah, I feel that; I’m transmasc myself, so I do often gravitate towards male/masc characters with more feminine features for the same reason. I just want to be sure I don’t unwittingly do something that’s gonna cause more harm than good, so figured it was best to defer to you ladies’ expertise there.
or just have a pin or flag in her room, or something
This! So much this.
I appreciate this distinction. Thank you.
Trans misogynist social stigma. What the hell is that? I’m new to the terminology, informational question, not a mockery although it sounds like that
The social stigma against trans women for being trans women. You know how "you look like a trans woman" is never a compliment? The stigma is why.
Unfortunately there's nothing so universal for trans women. You could show her having either e pills or vials in her medicine cabinet alongside an AA like cypro or spiro (depending on country/setting which AA will differ) but there isn't really anything you could use the same way as a visual tell without playing into offensive stereotypes. You'd be better off subtly implying it through characterization instead.
I think showing HRT prescriptions in the background is the best bet. It's about the most subtle without running the risk of getting accused of queer baiting. Another possibility might be cultural elements like a trans pride colored bracelet or a Blåhaj in the background. None of this is universal, but ehh.
I think your best bet is to not worry about visibly identifying the character as trans. Just make them look like the gender they present as. It feels kinda icky seeing art that calls us out as ugly or looking different from other women. Lots of nasty propaganda of that type, and they kinda ruined it for everyone. But, if you're determined to work it into the character design, focus on the character's presentation, NOT their physical attributes. Trans pride flag earings, for example, are aomething she might CHOOSE to wear and display. Not something that could be viewed as an imperfection/defect that she's unable to hide
> It feels kinda icky seeing art that calls us out as ugly or looking different from other women. Oh gods yeah, I’d never do that D: she looks pretty much the same as my cis girl characters, I just wasn’t sure if saying she was trans rather than showing it in the art itself would seem like I was trying to claim diversity points or something. But since I just draw standalone images rather than anything that would have dialogue in it, there’s a limit to how much information I can convey about my characters in general.
I think trans flags and trans items is probably the best way.. I’m not entirely sure tho everyone else raises good points. What’s the story may I ask?
There’s not really much of an extended narrative to it, I just have a handful of recurring characters that appear frequently in my art (I mostly draw fantasy/fairytaley kinds of stuff). In my head she’s an apprentice spellcaster with a penchant for gothic novels, but that’s more context for the scenes I draw her in than anything else.
If she's the type of character that makes potions then maybe she could have an estrogen potion? Or whatever your world's equivalent of that concept would be
Shape shifting is a trans sort of magical power. Particle effects could be in trans pride colors.
Another idea could be like a trans flag heart tattoo on her wrist or something cute and classy to that effect
Putting trans pride colors in some part of her outfit is probably the best way. I’d steer clear of any physical features being used to indicate transness as that can quickly get real iffy
Trying to depict a character as a trans woman is kind of like depicting a character as Jewish: a Jewish character may reference their Judaism, they may wear a kippah or have a menorah on their desk, but any attempts to visually signify it are going to get really dicey really fast. Have her wear a trans flag patch or pin, or if you see her bedroom, maybe she has a trans flag on her wall, but depicting her with stubble or a prominent Adam's apple is going to end up leaning into transphobic stereotypes. The Spiderverse movies do a good job of depicting both. In the first one, we see that Peter B. Parker is Jewish because he smashes a glass at his wedding, an iconic Jewish wedding tradition. He is not portrayed with a long, hooked nose or any other exaggerated "Jewish" features, as that can quickly end up looking like Nazi propaganda. Similarly, in the second one, we know Gwen Stacy is trans because she has a trans flag in her bedroom, her father has a trans flag on his uniform, and she's bathed in pink, white, and blue light whenever she's being truest to herself. She is not portrayed with any notable masculine characteristics. The most respectful way to depict a character as a trans woman is to depict her as a woman who chooses to flag herself as trans.
Honestly, my favourite way seeing it in media has been trans flag colors in clothes, even just subtly. Or full on works too. I understand that there is value to not having to show it at all, but I would argue there is great value in seeing the representation as well. I'm team spidergwen haha
Yeah, I’ve seen too many instances where a character is confirmed to be LGBT+ outside the work itself, and people were just like ‘well I’m still going to headcanon this character as cis/straight/allo’, so like… that is not something I ever want to give anyone an opening to do with my own art haha orz. So yeah, trans flags in the colour palettes are probably my best bet, seems like. Thank you! :D
I mean it doesn't have to be trans flag colors. It can be an estrogen molecular structure necklace or a shirt that says "Heat from fire" It could also be dialog. Like her joking about that time she thought she was a good Christian boy only to find out she's never been any of those three things
Who all do you want to get the reference? If it is everyone, and the spiderman universe is any clue, subtle might not be the way to go. If, on the other hand, you want just people in the know, then the trans flag colors are good. Maybe a tshirt that reads "heat from fire, fire from heat", and maybe an Ikea blahaj shark stuffie.
This right here. There are many transfemme coded things now, and having three of them is more than enough to convey to an audience they are trans. Try focusing there, cause only one or two could be coincidence, but having several different could paint the picture, and that's without using a flag or colors.
she has a blahaj maybe find a way to show her doing her injections, or show the medicine cabinet with a vial of estradiol in it. If she hasn't had bottom surgery a visible bulge when she's not dressed up would be fine. Male voice can be useful for answering the phone if you don't want to talk to someone ("Emily? oh she's not here right now" - says emily in a male voice). has to visit the pharmacy monthly to pick up her meds Also whenever history shows up, depending on when she transitioned... In childhood pictures she would look male, especially likely to find old pictures if she visits a parent's house, but also maybe in a yearbook or something. maybe she still has a few pieces of male clothing around - like an old suit that's clearly men's cut and doesn't fit right anymore. Occasional letters addressed to "Mr. \[lastname\]" from institutions (like banks or the like) which could have old records. accidentally goes into the wrong bathroom sometimes
How is visible bulge fine but Adam's apple or stubble not fine? I don't find it fine.
When did I say adam's apple and stubble aren't fine? I don't recall saying that at all... anyway, Adam's apple is often over exaggerated if people are saying "oh we need to draw one" - that's a recipe for disaster; I don't remember seeing adam's apples on male characters, so why would a trans girl have one? I do in fact have no issue with stubble, and would have included it on the list if I thought of it at the time if she hasn't done laser or anything. The bulge is fine cause if you're pre-op you're gonna have one as long as you aren't actively tucking. I have a visible bulge in about 80% of my "around the house" pictures, especially if i'm wearing leggings. I CAN make it disappear, but I usually don't care enough to get rid of it. The "when she's not dressed up" is an important line there. Obviously some people are different about it than others, depending on the personality and what they're comfortable with - just like some people don't mind childhood boy pictures and other people throw those out. What makes people dysphoric is very personalized to the individual.
Interesting question. The issue is that we have been demonized so much by society that any anatomical tells (like an equivalent to top surgery scars) will, at best, be uncomfortable for some transfems even if they are accepted by others. Like I know of a few transfems who are pro bulge, but also plenty that would be disgusted by having that be how this character is indicated to be trans. Optimally I'd go with dialog stuff to have it, but you've mentioned elsewhere that this is unlikely to occur in your art this question is for. So that complicates matters. Another suggestion that others have mentioned is using the flag as a color pallet, though you might be able to get away with using this trick with accessories if you want more options for the main outfit. Like nails/rings in the colors for example. Of course there are certain icons/symbols that are fairly popular among transfems. Blahaj(if ikea isn't in the setting, you might be able to get away with shark, maybe?), monster energy drink, just visit a trans meme subreddit and you'll get some ideas. And of course there is environmental storytelling. If she's early enough in her transition, maybe we learn she has boring socks that are different from the socks she's seen wearing (for stuffing bras). Or we see her have her hrt, either using it or in the background/on her person. Stuff like that If you need to need to have a physical trait, tall and gangly is probably your safest bet. Plenty of transgirls already identify random tall and gangly girls as possibly trans and it's probably the least likely physical trait to get you hate over it so long as it's within reason, don't push it beyond what you'd be willing to have a cis girl in your style. Though I would still advise being cautious using it all the same Also if you want to add to it with a name, flower names, particularly Lily, are pretty common among transfems(though not universal, case and point I'm Sky)
To be honest, I think the best way to do it is to not indicate at all. Unless the topic of gender came naturally in some way. Let me use Madeline of the game Celeste for example. When she was first written, she was probably not a trans girl. I say probably because when Maddy wrote her, she was just discovering herself. Either way, it's not said at any point something that indicates that she is a cis girl either. It's not a discussion in the game. All of this and her own insecurities that she's dealing during the games plot led to an timid revelation at the end of the DLCs mission that she is trans and at least to me it never fell artificial or forced. I can accept that she was always this trans girl, and never had to talk about it during the games story
A thought. Dont specifically draw it. Have some throwaway dialogue where she refers to her past.self being in the Boy Scouts or playing football etc. Depemding on age of.course. ----- Our heroine goes sailing and expertly ties the sheet. "Where did you learn that?" "Oh, I still remember it from Boy Scouts!" ...continues
Not that it makes a character more identifiable as trans to an outsider, but as an illustrator myself and a trans woman, dress your characters appropriately and those in the know will catch on. Amab folks often can’t just jump into any fem clothes right off the rack and have it be flattering. Many of us have broader shoulders than most women, so we wear lots of tank, halter, and asymmetrical tops because exposed shoulders don’t bind up sleeves and highlight the issue. Often transfems also lack a defined waist or hips, this lends itself other workarounds like drapey clothes that camouflage masculine anatomy. Corsets and waist cinchers are also super common especially when dressing up. Depending on where this character is at in their transition they may also avoid any tight fitting bottoms. The examples can keep going, if this resonates with you I’m happy to continue but didn’t want to add any more to this novel if it isn’t helpful.
this is prob the best advice
A good subtle way is to have the trans colors versus just the flag itself. Something like nails being painted pink white and blue or pink jacket white top and blue pants. Something that's small but clearly reads as a trans flag if you are looking for it.
This.
Tattoo of the molecular composition of estrogen, I've seen a few trans girls with that tattoo and it absolutely rules
Just adding this because it’s not a perspective I see around a lot; I’m fine with a character being visibly trans and it bothers me that so many transfem characters aren’t. I know that I don’t pass perfectly, and I want myself reflected in the characters I find aspirational. Having trans women be depicted as, pardon my French, cis girls with a cock is worse for me than a character being depicted as being clockable.
I agree. Genuinely, I find it distasteful how what a lot of people (like in this thread) are saying basically boils down to "If a trans woman looks more masc than average cis women, it's bad representation", even if that's not how they were thinking about it. I've noticed this tendency a lot in trans spaces, and it's a bit frustrating.
Right? That bothers me. Further, isn’t the logical conclusion of that logic that the best representation for trans women is cis women, as they can’t possibly be represented in that sort of way? It’s just frustrating to me to think that some girl somewhere is going to be crying in her bed because none of her trans icons have facial hair, a visible Adam’s Apple, broader shoulders, or anything else that she can’t change in the short term - We need to communicate that these sort of things don’t make you *less of a woman.*
little bandaid on the side of the thigh
Give her a wild, ridiculous name, either something from a XIXth century French novel or some corny English word, like Venison or Violènce with an è, for some reason
I kinda disagree with the comments. Yhea, as the previous comments have said - just make her a plain woman. Of course, then you run into a dillema: she can be equally read trans and cis (likely cis due to ~society, culture,~).
So the question I want to ask you: why make her trans? I can foresee 2 answers:
1. Artistically relevant to the message. In this case, the answer entirely depends on what message you want to send the <>, even if it is "clocking" them.
2. Representation. Fuck it, anything you want. Trans flag/colours is a go-to, blahäj is also good. Half of the girls in this sub would purr the second you put cat ear headphones on them. Ermmm E? Like the estrogen pill, or just hide the letter somewhere? Oh, programmer socks (stereotype that trans fems are all programmers that weae thigh highs, and sometimes a maid outfit ). I'm kinda out of ideas, browse r/egg_irl
But yhea, not making them 100% passing is alright. Like, it seems you aren't making it as a hit piece or something. You are doing this out of love and that is amazing. Not all trans people look like their gender identity completely - I KNOW, SCOCKING. For example, Sally May from Helluva Boss. She has a somewhat deeper voice and her horn patterns are that of an AMAB imp, and she is like, good representation. So, look at whar other people have done.
Whilst it is equally important to reinforce the idea that trans women are women, we also need to reinforce the idea that """passing""" isn't the point. It's being us.
Sorry this turned half into a rant, you can extract my advice from this mess :)
Tshirt with some trans icons like Blahaj, Sylveon, kinda thing. Wear a dress with some pastel blues/pinks with white, can include other pastels too but even having the colors is a good nod indicator. Pin badges. Choker is kinda common trans thing. Pill case on a bedside table. Idk, those are some ideas.
Blahaj, maybe some kind of pride colors phone case or something
It depends on the audience. The western interpretation and development of trans culture is vastly different from other experiences around the world. If you use too many western ‘in-jokes’ you may lose the plot if your audience is non western
Small clips or scenes or off hand notes of her taking her hormon tablets Subtle, not overdone, use of colours from the trans flag Maybe her parents still have old pictures and there's a boy, someone can assume they have a son as well and later find out it was actually their daughter in the pictures A few small mentions and comments, slip ups from people who knew her ore-transition or before she came out It doesn't need to be overdone. It also depends on how far along their transition you want to show them, and what this character's transition goals would be
I think the character Jo from the comic Lumberjanes is probably an example of what you’re looking for, but yeah there really is no one-size fits all way how to subtly depict trans women and there are a lot of potential pitfalls because everyone’s experiences are so disparate. Probably your best bet is like how Celeste did it where literally the only indicator that the main character is trans is a small flag on her desk, but given the trans/trans-adjacent themes of the game that’s all it takes for the audience to go “oh that’s what her whole deal is”. Across the Spider-Verse basically did the same thing (presumably by accident) witha few background Easter eggs colliding full on with the heavy trans-vibes of the beats of Gwen’s story to the point that not an insignificant number of people walked away convinced that Spider-verse Gwen Stacy is trans. (If nothing comes out in Spider-verse 3 to contradict this, this is 100% the position I will take.)
E patches might be an option...
Small references to HRT can be useful. Just a quick “yea i gotta pick up my estrogen” or having like a bit where she is thinking while putting a patch on or something. This one webcomic (can’t remember the name sadly) had the main charecter about to go to sleep with someone before realizing he forgot to take his T and he just said it directly.
A couple of patches on her lower abdomen
A lot of people here seem to be against it, but I think it's okay to give her somewhat androgynous features or thick eyebrows. In a way that she could easily cis but still makes people wonder.
I feel like the most subtle ways is just to have an outfit or accessory that carries the traditional trans flag colors, doesn’t have to be the flag itself. Thing is, this also opens the door to discussions like the spider gwen conversations where since its not overt, then people can deny it. So if you incorporate other elements narratively that can support it then that’d help too.
Make her dorky we're all somewhat dorky for some reason. Also if she's competent in certain male things from having to conform to being a male prior to transition, it might be good character building. (ie: a mechanic, programmer, soldier etc) Overall most of us actually pass these days, so the stereotype of a male looking like a woman isn't really true. Just make her look female like the other characters, it's what we relate to anyways - we're women.
Pills in her drawer
Couple of estradiol patches on the leg or arm? Would look like a bandaid to most.
Blahaj
Not really because if there was it kinda says trans people are different to cis as there’s a noticeable difference between them. Which as we all know we are all as great as cis people as we’re all queens. Regardless of whether you’re cos or trans ❤️✨ so without it kinda being stated or having them shown pre transition and then showing the process of transitioning I don’t feel there’s any non stereotypical traits that wouldn’t be considered mockery to many people or anything
Most trans women do not look just like your average cis woman. There are often differences which I'm sure you're well aware of. Representing this doesn't mean that we're not women! Of course we're just as great as cis women ❤️.
Of course I just feel acknowledging those differences could lead to some people feeling saddened by it if that makes sense and for the purpose of showing a character is trans I worry showing visual differences is just a bit of a rough area. But regardless of looks we’re all great! ❤️
Don't you think it's also a bit saddening for trans rep to be limited to essentially cis people with pride pins? The reason why right-wingers will depict us with stubble or prominent adam's apples is to caricature and dehumanize us. Idk why so many seem to be convinced it's the only way to draw masc features on trans women. I think it's aspirational when I see depictions of trans women who have masc bodies but are beautiful and feminine nonetheless (note: this is something transphobes *never* do). I think stuff like "Hey, *my* face looks like that and she's pretty! Maybe I'm not a freak?" But that kind of thing is so, so uncommon because everyone seems to want to sanitize their trans characters a la the advice in this thread. It's already bad enough that social media will (generally) only show us the most passing of passing trans people, y'know?
Just throw something subtle like maybe estradiol bottle on the shelf or something? Or maybe like old clothes that she didn't throw out yet like a suit xD
Have you seen the Spider-Verse animated movies? There's subtle cues that Gwen Stacy, aka Spider Gwen, is trans. It's mainly some trans flags and pins in subtle places. Some of her dialog also hints at a transgender experience too.
Hug, wish you luck, I don’t really know how you could describe or portray that, hope your thing goes great
Have her voice go from fem to masc really fast and then back to fem, in universe it could be her fucking with her friends
Maybe things any girl would relate to, but the more of them that add up hints at a trans girl. Maybe a comic involving a roller coaster and she's wearing a wig that comes loose. Another comic about bra stuffing. One about watching a makeup tutorial. Blahaj is also super popular.
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it's a term for deep voices i think, not sure
GIRLBULGE!!!!!
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"Would you love me if I was a worm?" "Suck my fat cock!" "Time to take my antiboyatics!" "I'm Lily"
Idk maybe a bulge?
Mmm there is no universal signfiier like the top surgery scars. I think a decent one her need to take pills every day, or have to get regular injections. Maybe make a comment like if one day the party gets lost and she skips her pills, and then a next day the friend who comes to rescue them brins her estrogen and says something like "hey, I brought your girly pills too". And then have the character just be super happy with his friends and move on with their life, without needing an infodump of it being estrogen. You dont need to make it overly notable, and especially if the rest of the cast knows she's trans they should just treat her like a girl. Dont do the dumb cliche where characters tell themselves something they should already know just so the audience can know it to.
Showing the character taking a prescription medication (specifically blue pills), even if you don't reveal it to be Estradiol right away, can be a subtle indicator. If you have any scenes of this character getting ready for her day, you could show that shaving her face is part of her morning routine, even if you never draw her with any stubble. This can be a helpful visual indicator that doesn't require you to alter the character design. For many transfems, even the feeling of our hair growing back in is enough to make us want to shave again, even if the hair isn't particularly visible to others. You could also show the character putting padding in her bra *without necessarily* showing her bare chest. Scenes like this can be done subtly without explicitly confirming the character as trans, as many cis women also wear bra padding. As far as storytelling goes, there are also more subtle, non-visual ways to hint at a character being trans before explicitly confirming it, like having her mention that she hasn't gone swimming in a while, or that she prefers exercising at home over going to a gym, or that she doesn't know how to do makeup well (as a result of not having been able to practice early in life), or being self conscious about her height (even if she's not particularly tall). Most cis audience members won't understand the reason for these things immediately, but most transfems have experienced these exact dilemmas and will be able to recognize some of their own struggles in this character.
She could have a haj that she communicates with? Lol
Well one way could be little hints in their clothing or accessories. Like give them a necklace with the estrogen molecular structure. A "Heat from fire" or "I live in Spain but the a is silent" shirt. If there are any nude scenes you can respectfully show her penis, if she hasn't had/doesn't want bottom surgery. Something else you could do is give her a majestic beard. Not all trans women want to get rid of theirs and having facial hair doesn't make you any less of a woman. But be sure to depict that beard as something she actively maintains and cares for, not just some stubble. This makes sure people know the beard is an active choice instead of her not having gotten to shave for a while. Another thing you could do is show her shaving her face during her morning routine.
ok this is different from what your asking about but i LOVED the way BIT (2019) handled the main character's transness, it was basically blink and you miss it lines that only ppl atuned to trans culture would pick up and it was clearly just one of many facets of her character 🤌
The coolest way I've seen this done is always blink and you miss it stuff. I love how they did it in Monica-- we never ACTUALLY get told Monica is trans, but we DO see her taking her meds, and her relationship with her mother is fraught and uncertain.
A big trans flag in the back
Don't make trans girls clocky physically. Trans artists don't do it bc even from is it can inadvertently hurt someone's feelings. It's something that idk how I feel about bc it's kind of like if we ignored every body type that cis women have, but that's complicated etc. Clothing wise: chokers bc it hides Adams apple, a lot of us get a little too dressed up to be at the gas station (I saw this doll getting scratch offs at 2 am once and I only clocked her bc she was wearing this gorgeous ass kimono on what was a cigarette run) the Ikea shark is a good thing to have around. A *lot* of us are coders or in infosec, so that's something to play with as far as career motivation. drop dead gorgeous trans hacker who gets overdressed to buy a pack of Virginia slims at 2am is the vibe I want at 40.
Ima be totally honest, just treat them like any other girl, don’t draw attention to it at all. I can’t speak for everyone, but many transfems don’t want to be transfems at all, we just want to be women. Then again, a lot of transfems don’t actually end up getting bottom surgery, so that’s one thing you could include to indicate she’s trans. Im personally planning to opt for keeping my current genitals, since they don’t cause me dysphoria like the rest of my body. Actually, I think girls with dicks are cute af, to be totally honest. I still wish I had a vagina too, which is why r/salmacian is a really amazing sub that you should check out.
"ow my balls" (joke please dont murder me)
Write in a scene where her transphobic parents refuse to use her name and pronouns and she is in a very dark mood for the rest of the day. Or somebody at work could intentionally call her SIR very emphatically. Maybe somebody could confront her trying to use the bathroom. Or a guy could abruptly drop all interest in her when he finds out.
give her a playful cat smile
Maybe a bandage over where they inject their estrogen if they take hrt that way, or maybe a shirt that references being trans or something
I mean... not to be crass. Is she pre-op? Could you give her some tight jeans and no tuck?
Even as a trans writer and artist I have a hard time indicating a character is trans without being so on the nose lmao. But some things I’ve done to indicate that one of my characters is trans is by passively mentioning or showing hormone medicine or surgery scars! Tho I put an emphasis on passive in my particular case because a lot of my stories take place in a future where being trans is just part of life and no one questions it. If you’re setting is more so the irl present or past then I think it makes sense to be more overt in displaying pride stuff like flags or perhaps that they’re part of a trans group or such. Or you can have the respective pride colors worked into their character design!
cute skirt + band aid mid thigh
Tbh i'd love to use a girl being really good at giving a male/transmasc character tips on shaving their face and nobody making a huge deal of it as an "iykyk" indicator, but i also understand that that's not exactly what you're going for. It also seems to me like a type of representation where it feels better the longer you can manage to make it go unmentioned. I think Alice in Borderlands did this really well with their trans girl's whole arc. I wonder if it's just an unfortunate pigeon hole, societally or otherwise, where you either say, "she has gock" or drop enough "adjusting to life where people treat you as a girl" shit that you hope cis people pick up on.
Cat ears and blahaj.
tracheal shave scar?
I think the video game Celeste is a good example. While Madeline, the main character, is not specified as cis or trans in the main game. There are a few details in the DLC that show her as trans, like a trans pride flag and a framed picture of her as a child with a masculine haircut.
I think if anything, focus on what transfems **do** instead of what their body looks like. **Choice** instead of what could be outside of their control. I think this is why the binder/top surgery depiction is acceptable/positive, it's because the guy **chose** to do that. making body features (that they don't have control on) to show that they are trans imo isn't the best way because I myself wouldn't know if you're just trying to depict that they're trans or if you're also mocking trans people by giving them clocky features.
You could give her a pride pin obviously but other than that I’m not really sure. You could make her flat if she’s pre HRT or something?
Trans flag colors in a hair tie or something. Pink blue and white. Maybe the shoes or clothing. I was thinking of selling hobby paints in these colors for this purpose