"Some of them desire to pass so thoroughly as a guy that they could have long hair or wear makeup and still be seen as a man. This is appealing not only because it broadens their range of acceptable gender expression, but also because passing as a man while enveloped in signifiers of femininity is an especially powerful validation of their manhood."
I think (auto-various things female) this is appealing because long hair and makeup are attractive. Neither one is biologically tied to women and modern AFABs often know this perfectly well and find their cultural significance to be outweighed by their sheer sexiness. Think of sex symbols like David Bowie, emo guys wearing eyeliner, long-haired Lord of the Rings types...
"Some of them desire to pass so thoroughly as a guy that they could have long hair or wear makeup and still be seen as a man. This is appealing not only because it broadens their range of acceptable gender expression, but also because passing as a man while enveloped in signifiers of femininity is an especially powerful validation of their manhood."
I think (auto-various things female) this is appealing because long hair and makeup are attractive. Neither one is biologically tied to women and modern AFABs often know this perfectly well and find their cultural significance to be outweighed by their sheer sexiness. Think of sex symbols like David Bowie, emo guys wearing eyeliner, long-haired Lord of the Rings types...