Malefail

Malefail is an informal term used by some transgender men and transmasculine people to describe a moment when others perceive or 'clock' them as female even though they mean to present as male. It is the counterpart to 'femfail' used by some transgender women. The word captures the gap between how a person understands their own gender and how strangers read it. For some trans men, especially early in transition, malefailing can trigger dysphoria and distress. For others, particularly non-binary or genderfluid people, being read across the gender line may feel neutral or even welcome. The term reflects the complicated relationship many trans people have with passing and with being perceived.