What Does “Transmasc” Mean?
“Transmasc” is a shortened version of the word transmasculine and an umbrella term for someone who was assigned female at birth and whose gender identity or expression leans more masculine (or “masc”). The term is intentionally broad to include binary trans men and individuals who are nonbinary or genderqueer, or who just feel like “man” doesn’t quite capture who they are, even though masculinity does.
If you or a loved one is working through gender- or identity-related questions, you’re not alone. And connecting with LGBTQIA+-affirming mental health support can help.
Need To Know
- “Transmasc” is short for transmasculine, an umbrella term for people who were assigned female at birth and whose gender identity or expression leans masculine.
- The term includes binary trans men as well as nonbinary, genderqueer, and other people who don’t identify strictly as men.
- Being transmasc is about identity. It isn’t determined by sexual orientation, whether someone has medically transitioned, or how “masculine” someone appears.
- There’s no single path; some transmasc people pursue hormones or surgery, and many don’t.
- Affirming, knowledgeable treatment can help transmasc people feel safe seeking support [3].
Not Sure If Transmasc Fits You Yet? That’s Normal
It’s not uncommon to sit with a word like transmasc for a while before deciding if it applies to you or not. Some people try it on for a bit and later find a different word fits better. Both experiences are perfectly okay.
Research on health care experiences of transmasculine people found that participants pushed back on models that treated their gender as something to prove or justify. Instead, they framed their identity as an individualized process and referred to it as a real source of resilience. [1]
Ultimately, you don’t need a perfect story or a specific set of experiences to use language that feels true for you.
You Don’t Need Hormones or Surgery to Be Transmasc
Every transmasc person approaches medical transition differently, and some people don’t approach it at all. One individual may start testosterone, pursue chest surgery, and another person may pursue neighter. Both are okay.
Participants in the study we mentioned earlier also described being told, in different ways, that they weren’t “trans enough” to access hormones or surgery unless they matched a narrow, binary idea of what a trans person is supposed to want or look like. [1] The truth is, you get to determine what feels true for you—no one else.
Transmasc, Trans Men, and the Nonbinary Spectrum
“Trans man” is specifically meant to refer to someone whose gender identity is male. When it comes to the term “transmasc,” the definition is a bit broader. Transmasc includes trans men, but it also includes people who lean masculine without identifying as men at all.
In one clinical study of transmasculine adolescents and young adults, most participants identified as male or transgender male. A smaller group identified as nonbinary, genderqueer, or another masculine-leaning identity outside the male/female binary. [2]
People who describe themselves as transmasc include:
- Binary trans men
- Nonbinary people whose gender leans masculine
- Genderqueer or agender-masculine individuals
- People still figuring out which word fits, who aren’t ready to say “trans man” yet
There’s no wrong way to identify yourself here and language can shift as self-understanding develops.
Masculinity, Identity, and What Transmasc Isn’t
A common question people ask is whether transmasc is another word for “tomboy.” The answer? It’s not. The word “tomboy” typically refers to a girl or woman who identifies as female and has masculine interests, style, or mannerisms.
Being transmasc, on the other hand, comes down to internal gender identity, as opposed to clothing, hobbies, or presentation. A transmasc person doesn’t have to present in a stereotypically masculine way at all, and plenty of people who do dress and act traditionally masculine aren’t transmasc.
On the same note, it’s important to recognize that gender identity and gender expression are related, but they’re not the same thing. Expression encompasses what a person does on the outside, while identity is who they know themselves to be on the inside.
Sexual Orientation & Transmasc Identity
Transmasc describes a gender identity. It’s not the same thing as sexual orientation, which is who someone is attracted to.
Research on transmasculine adolescents and young adults found a wide range of sexual orientations within the transmasc population. Only 31% of binary transgender participants identified as heterosexual, compared with 93% in a national sample of the general population, and none of the nonbinary participants identified as heterosexual. [2]
This further supports that there’s no single sexual orientation that “goes with” being transmasc, and no assumption a provider, friend, or family member should make based on this word alone.
Why Affirming, Informed Care Matters
How someone is treated when they seek support, whether mental health or medical care, shapes whether they come back or seek help again in the future. In a study of transmasculine individuals’ health care encounters, participants felt safer and more able to be honest when providers used gender-neutral language and asked about pronouns. [3] Treating their identity as normal, rather than unusual, was also just as important.
Similarly, when providers seemed uninformed or asked intrusive, irrelevant questions, participants described feeling exhausted and less likely to seek support again in the future. Unfortunately, this pattern shows up often in mental health and substance use support just as much as physical health care. This is the gap our team at Element Q works to close through our PHP and IOP programs in San Diego.
If Someone You Love Tells You They’re Transmasc
If you’re a family member or friend trying to understand and support someone you care about, you’re not alone.
If this is you, it’s okay not to have all the language sorted out right away. What matters most is using the name and pronouns someone asks for, and letting them decide who they want to tell.
Questions are normal. As long as you’re asking with curiosity and respect, they’re usually welcomed. Just make sure the person you love doesn’t feel like they have to defend their identity to be supported by you.
How Element Q Can Help
Figuring out identity, community, and support can feel isolating, and that’s normal. Element Q’s LGBTQIA+ team meets people wherever they are in that process, at whatever pace feels right.
If you’re working through questions about gender, identity, or how those questions intersect with mental health, trauma, or substance use, we’re here when you’re ready.
Contact the team at Element Q at 858-422-1860 or let us verify your insurance for you, so you can understand costs before you begin treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between transmasc and trans men?
Trans men identify as men. Transmasc is a broader term that includes trans men, along with nonbinary, genderqueer, and other people whose gender leans more masculine, though they may not identify as men.
Can a transmasc person be a girl?
Not typically, but it’s not a strict rule. It depends on how someone defines their own gender. Transmasc centers on masculinity being a defining part of someone’s identity, so most people who use the term don’t also identify as a girl or woman. That being said, some genderfluid or genderqueer folx who connect with womanhood some of the time, alongside a strong masculine identity, still use transmasc for themselves.
What is the meaning of transmasc?
Transmasc is short for transmasculine, an umbrella term for people assigned female at birth whose gender identity or expression is characterized by masculinity. It includes binary trans men and nonbinary or genderqueer people alike.
Is transmasc the same as being a tomboy?
No. A tomboy is typically a term used to describe a girl or woman with masculine traits or interests. Being transmasc is about gender identity, not style, behavior, or hobbies.
Do all transmasc people take testosterone or have surgery?
No. Some individuals who identify as transmasc pursue hormones or surgery, while some pursue neither. Their transmasc identity is valid either way.
Sources
[1] Lambrou, N. H., Cochran, K. M., Everhart, S., Flatt, J. D., Zuelsdorff, M., O’Hara, J. B., Weinhardt, L., Benton, S. F., & Gleason, C. E. (2020). Learning from transmasculine experiences with health care: Tangible inlets for reducing health disparities through patient–provider relationships. Transgender Health, 5(1), 18–27.
[2] Boskey, E. R., & Ganor, O. (2022). Sexual orientation and attraction in a cohort of transmasculine adolescents and young adults. Transgender Health, 7(3), 270–275.
[3] Asklöv, K., Ekenger, R., & Berterö, C. (2021). Transmasculine persons’ experiences of encounters with health care professionals within reproductive, perinatal, and sexual health in Sweden: A qualitative interview study. Transgender Health, 6(6), 325–331.
