Transmasculine, or transmasc, is an umbrella term for individuals whose gender is partially or fully masculine, and does not correspond with their birth sex/AGAB, or otherwise conform to conventional notions of sex and gender. This includes trans men, whose gender is masculine in some way. Some transmasc individuals may be athenomasc.
Transmasculine individuals can also identify as other, non-masculine genders as well. For example, an androgyne individual may identify as transmasculine, though typically, one's masculine identities are more significant than one's non-masculine identities, or one wants to emphasize their masculine identity. Transmasculine individuals are sometimes called FtM or F2M (female to male); however, this isn't always accurate as not all transmasculine individuals are binary trans men, nor are all transmasc individuals are AFAB.
Transmasculine individuals are typically AFAB, though they may also possibly be AXAB, AIAB or UAB. An AMAB individual may also identify as Transmasculine if their assigned gender or sex is not the same as their gender identity. A simple example of this is an AMAB who identifies as a demiboy. However a AMAB transmasculine individual may also identify as intramasculine and/or admasculine as ones gender modality.
Transmasculine is sometimes used, not as a gender identity, but as a way to describe anyone who is assigned female at birth and undergoes masculinization, either through surgery, hormone replacement therapy, or other methods. Under this definition women who take testosterone to attempt to appear more masculine would be considered transmasculine.
The feminine equivalent to transmasculine is transfeminine. The neutral equivalent is transneutral. The androgynous equivalent is transandrogynous. The xenine equivalent is transxenine. The aporine equivalent is transaporine. The outherine equivalent is transoutherine.
Some examples of genders that transmasculine individuals may identify as include:
- Binary transgender men
- Non-binary men
- Genderfluid individuals who identify as masculine more often than other genders.
- Any other non-binary individual who is masculine-aligned, man-aligned, or leans towards masculinity.
Many transmasculine individuals will try to present in a traditionally masculine way. This can include having short hair and wearing traditionally masculine clothes. Some will wear packers to give the feeling and appearance of having a penis. Many will wear binders to make their chest flat, however binding can potentially be dangerous and can lead to deformation of the rib cage, especially if done incorrectly or for long periods of time.
Medical transition typically involves taking testosterone injections or testosterone gel. Surgical elements can include a mastectomy to remove breasts (known as top surgery), and metoidioplasty and/or phalloplasty to create a penis (known as bottom surgery). It is also not uncommon for transmasculine individuals to have a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), or both.
A transmasculine individual may do all, some, or none of these things. Some may not feel a need to transition, and some may be unable to transition due to medical reasons.
The most common transmasculine flag was created by an unknown individual on or before July 4, 2015. The flag has no confirmed meaning, but uses the same shades of pink and blue on the transgender flag.
An alternate flag was created by an unknown reddit user on December 28, 2019.
An alternate flag was created by Tumblr user queerautism on July 18, 2020. The flag uses a sun to represent masculinity, warmth, hope, and life.
An alternate flag including red stripes was created by an unknown individual sometime before April 21, 2021.
An alternate flag with orange and yellow stripes was created by Tumblr user nirvana-valentine at an unknown time. The flag's colors are based off of the idea that men and masculinity are connected to the sun, and women and femininity are connected to the moon.
An alternate flag was created by Tumblr user lavendroused on April 27, 2020. Dark magenta represents solidarity and shared community with transfems and all trans individuals. Pink represents gender non-conforming femininity and reclamation. Orange represents masculinity and empowerment. White represents wholeness, self-love, self-acceptance, having inherent worth, and sacredness/transness. Green represents non-binary transmascs and expansiveness. Turquoise represents intersex transmascs, transmascs who were AMAB, transmasc lesbians, transmasc system members, multigender transmascs, transmascs who hold complex and contradictory identities, as well as the community's complexity, diversity, and authenticity. Blue represents trans men and healing. Lavender represents queerness and solidarity with all marginalized individuals. The rose represents centering transmascs of color. And the lion represents strength, visibility, and deserving better, while also referring to the existence of transmasc lions.
An alternate transmasculine flag, unknown creator.
An alternate transmasculine flag, by unknown reddit user.
Queerautism's alternate transmasculine flag.
Alternate transmasc flag by The ever so sparkly Julian!.
An alternate flag by an unknown creator.
Transmasc flag by lavendroused (with symbol).
Transmasc flag by lavendroused (without symbol).
A trans man flag from an unknown creator.
Non-binding Transmasc Flag by dj_m0th
Alternative transmasculine flag by nirvana-valentine