One was a stripper in a female-impersonator club. Now is a stripper in third rate burlesque type club. Gets plenty men but of a relatively low economic and social class. Claimed to be somewhat frustrated by her lack of opportunity for advancement and intends to go to school and learn to become an actress.

One previously had a small business and spent time away from work in cross-dressing, which was a thrilling and enjoyable hobby. Now, since conversion, she still operates the business (as his sister) and spare time is spent in church activities in association with other spinsters and widows. Too tall and not too attractive and somewhat on the mascu- line side; therefore, male associations are only acquaintances. She is constantly wishing something would happen to add some excitement to a lonely life.

As is very clear, most of the above are not particularly happy with their new lives. In the case of the cocktail waitress it wasn't actually a new life and, on further thought, I doubt that she even really belongs in this group. This leaves just the three Bar-Girls who seemed excited and happy but purely for the adventures that each day brought, and young enough not to care about the future. Many claimed that if they had known before what they know now, they would not have converted. Some felt they should have accumulated more money before proceeding and learned a new skill to enable them to earn an adequate living as a woman. Some are unhappy with their protruding larynxes, a few with their silicone breasts, which are giving them problems, some who have to return for subsequent operations, some for the formation of a new vagina with a new lining and others for scar tissue removal and still others for various other surgical corrections. There are almost none who get away with only the one surgical encounter, therefore the cost is usually well beyond that which was originally planned on. In addition, there are a few with hair problems, others with voice difficulties and a few who complain they just can't seem to get accepted as well as women as they did as men.

One thing is obvious! Unless you have a great deal of extroversion, conversion is a dangerous game to play. Weigh carefully what you have, against what you may have or not have.

The conclusion I reached was:

IF You are under 30 and are pretty enough that people look twice (when dressed as a man) to make sure; you qualify, IF:

77