Share your experience related to challenge of gender identity as a student, as an educator or as a professional

I’ve had a difficult time understanding the struggles that people face with gender identity, mostly because I have never had those struggles. I have always been comfortable identifying as a male. This is not to say I don’t empathize or ‘believe’ that gender identity issues are valid, I really do, I just have had a hard time understanding what it’s like for people struggling with it. Lately, it’s made more sense because I’ve considered my place as a male and how I do not exactly meet the gender stereotyped guidelines of masculinity. I like flowers, writing, poetry, and I don’t care for sports – these experiences have been difficult for me as I’ve grown up in a masculine culture that says these are contrary to my own gender identity. This has helped me to gain a glimpse of what people who have a more complex identity struggle have to deal with on a daily basis.