Behavior for the Rebirthed Woman
 
 
 
 Congratulations on your decision to live the rest of your life as a woman of Falacaerr! Are you exhilarated, confused, and maybe just a little frightened? If so then you aren't alone; many natural women and other rebirthed women before you have experienced the same anxieties. We at the Honorable Guild of Gender Correction will patiently guide and coach you through your trial year so that you can present yourself to society as a dignified, respectable woman.
 
 One of the largest mistakes made by men and women alike is the notion that femininity can somehow be bought. Nothing could be further from the truth; instead, it takes a great deal of practice and discipline, and you may be surprised to find that even natural women are often challenged to present a feminine image. Yet no one questions their gender for a moment. Femininity doesn't consist of makeup, glamorous dresses, or handheld fans; instead, much of it lies in behavior, in presentation, in relationships, in the subtle body language that can speak more loudly than a thousand words. An experienced and certified teacher from the Guild will help you to develop the behaviors and characteristics that present yourself as female instead of a man wearing a dress.
 
 Although it is impossible to condense all the subtleties and nuances of femininity into a few short and pithy paragraphs, we have tried to highlight the most important aspects. Your goal is to present yourself in a way that is submissive, sympathetic, harmless, and approachable. One of the most difficult parts for men rebirthed as women to learn is to relax their old masculine habits and acquire feminine ones, habits that are often rooted in the subconscious and manifest without your active knowledge. If you've often been confused by how men and other women can instantly tell, wonder no longer! Welcome to the wonderful world of subtle cues used by women since the dawn of time to guide their behavior ... sister.
 
MOVEMENT
 Fundamental to a woman's presentation, even a woman who is sitting down is never truly still. You may notice that some women, in spite of having the exact same movements, are still perceived differently! One woman exudes poise, grace, and charm, while the other resembles a skittish colt finding her first legs! The secret of appearing beautiful and graceful is to combine all of these movements together in fluid motions instead of passing through them one at a time. The confident, charming woman's entire body moves through many complex motions in order to crystallize one solid presentation of grace. As with much of what you will learn, no one can do this for you. You will have to spend a great deal of time practicing in front of the mirror.
 
Upper Body
 Men are socialized to hold head and shoulders linearly, while women are taught to show more animated head and shoulder movement. One of the most important rules for a woman is to look away when a man looks at you directly! Allow your eyes to meet, but only for the briefest of instances and then look down and to the side. If you are interested in him, look back within 45 seconds, which is the magical time window in which a woman conveys her interest. You will want to look downwards, because "peering through her eyelashes" is one of the most obvious signs of a woman's attraction. By tilting your head forward and looking up at him from under your eyebrows, you will signal your attraction in a subtle but effective way. Note the word "tilted"; one elementary mistake is for a woman to lean forward and allow her head or chin to lead. A woman should keep her head back and tilt to show her expression.
 
 A woman can also signal her attraction with "sticky eyes." When we are interested in something or someone, it is natural to show reluctance to take our eyes off that object, even if something else insistently demands our attention. Our head turns, but our eyes remain locked on that person for half a second to a second before they turn as well. This shows that the person has captured our attention and interest. Practice sticking your eyes to his face and they will say "Yes, you've completely captured my imagination and my attention!"
 
 Lastly, a woman shows her interest by smiling while lifting and rolling her shoulders.
 
Arms
 Men typically swing their arms from the shoulder, but a woman should swing hers from her elbow. By keeping your elbows turned inward, slightly bent, and touching your torso, you present a smaller and less threatening profile. By bending your elbows you create the illusion of shorter and more delicate arms. When articulating with your hands, which you should often do when speaking, let your wrist lead your hand as if your hand can only be repositioned by following the pivot where it attaches to your wrist. Cup your fingers as well, and never move quickly or abruptly. Palms should face upwards towards the face of the listener. A good analogy is to think of gently gliding your hands through water. All of the above motions combined exude an aura of submission and sympathy.
 
Stance
 Men tend to stand with weight evenly distributed on both feet, and they occupy more personal space. As a woman, you should close most of the spaces between your arms and your torso, and your knees and feet. This helps present a smaller profile, which is often a challenge for rebirthed women who tend to be taller than the average woman. Furthermore, a woman keeps her weight back only on one foot. On your forward foot, you should be free to pivot on your heel and even sway your knee.
 
 Weight distribution is often a clear distinction between men and women, as masculine poises tend to either leave the center of gravity low and result in a heavy stride, or to emphasize weight in arms and shoulders and thus lean forward. A properly educated noblewoman, on the other hand, will instantly tell you to keep your shoulders pulled back and chest lifted up. This helps center your weight in your waist and keeping your feet from bearing too much of it. It is no mistake that a woman's center of gravity is often an inch behind a man's; done properly, this will help you achieve that most coveted of all female movements, the effortless glide.
 
Walking
 Have you ever heard the description of a lady undulating, swaying, or sashaying through a crowd while the men's eyes were glued to her in fascination? This arises from a feminine form of movement; while men tend to stand and walk in linear fashion, as if following straight lines on the ground, a feminine woman walks in curves. Pull your weight up by lifting your torso and bust while twisting at the waist. This is especially important when wearing high heels, as it prevents weight from dropping down into your feet! Trust us, your feet will not appreciate that kind of treatment. Men also tend to take longer strides and walk more quickly than women; if you find that your girl friends are often having to struggle to keep up, put on some three inch heels, slow your pace, and take shorter steps!
 
Speech
 Yes, the men will interrupt you, and they will do it all the time, constantly. Bear it with good grace; do not raise your voice in an attempt to drown him out, but keep your eyes fixed on his and your hands still. Remember, you want to present yourself as submissive. When it's your turn to talk, pause for half a second or a second before beginning.
 
 You should also learn how the social norms of men's speech and women's speech differ in your area. For example, in the Royalist lands, it is expected of both men and women to engage in small talk, idle conversation, and only slowly unfold the purpose of a conversation. In the Nationalist lands, the opposite is true; it is expected for a woman to be direct and not to hide her purpose behind a veil of dissemblance. In general, however, women will use more descriptions and particulars than men as well as stronger expressions. Men see purple, women see mauve. A man thinks your shoes are nice, a woman delights over their infinite adorability. A man will tell you directly what he thinks, a woman will drop the clues and expect you to intuit her meaning.
 
 
ETIQUETTE
 Manners and presentation are an important part of being a lady. Unfortunately, too many rebirthed women who have spent countless time grooming their appearance immediately revert back to their masculine-conditioned manners when confronted by an unfamiliar situation. Here, we will cover most of the important occasions that you might face in your new capacity as a woman of Falacaerr. A specialized etiquette instructor, like the extremely correct grandmother who always knew which fork to use, can be a lifesaver.
 
Lian and Mareten
 Society tends to be much more accepting of Mareten women touching, caressing, and handling Lian than of men. When holding a Lian, keep your hand relaxed and cupped; a Lian will instantly know if your hand stiffens. Remember to offer your hand to a Lian by setting it down gently and limply next to him or her; never pick up the Lian, except when danger threatens. A woman is allowed to cover a Lian with her hands, which is not permitted of men. Also, give Lian men a chance to take off their shoes before stepping into your palm, a courtesy gesture which is expected of Lian towards a Mareten lady. Never place a Lian in your handbag or purse, a gesture which is considered extremely rude and discourteous at best, criminal at worst.
 
 For Lian women, you are not required to remove your shoes before stepping into a Maretan's hand, although you may wish to do so before stepping into a woman's hand if you would have difficulty standing up in them. With a Maretan man, it is always improper for a Lian woman to remove her shoes. Although society is more forgiving of a Lian woman looking up, it is still considered an offense to peer up a Maretan woman's skirts. If you are being carried somewhere, kneel down properly in the center of the Maretan's hand with your legs tucked beneath your waist. Don't forget to smile and thank the Maretan!
 
Table Manners
 Remove your coat when entering and carry your coat and handbag to the table. The coat should be spread open and laid across the chair with the collar placed over the back of the chair. Your handbag should be placed by your foot. You may wait for a man to pull the chair out for you, but the first thing you should do when seated is place the napkin in your lap. Your hands should be visible on the table at all times. Pace yourself carefully; a woman never leans forward to eat. Pat your mouth with the napkin instead of wiping and use a straw for a beverage. Do not reapply makeup at the table; if you must, politely excuse yourself to the lady's gallery. Your fan should remain in your handbag until the after-dinner conversation.
 
 During the meal itself, prefer food that is easy to cut into bite-size pieces. Try not to order more than you can graciously handle - remember, the only way to compliment a chef is to eat everything that you order! Dip your spoon away when drinking soup. Meat and bread should be cut or broken into small pieces and eaten one at a time. If you must leave the table, your napkin should be placed in the seat of your chair. Unless specific rules apply, water is placed at your upper left, utensils at your right hand, and they range in order from left to right as follows: salad fork, soup spoon, entree fork, dessert spoon, and dessert fork.
 
 Understand the rules of paying for a meal. During courtship, the partner who asked for the meal should pay for it. Never rely entirely on a man to pay for your dinner! If he offers, it is polite to refuse three times before acquiescing. You may find yourself discovering what natural women have known for ages - that men are fascinating, gallant, exotic, beautiful creatures!
 
Conversation
 Women are animated talkers and listeners. As with men, it is improper for one woman to monopolize a conversation. A woman should also not use firm declaratives; instead, emphasize punctuating your ideas and thoughts with phrases that leave room for doubt and sympathy, such as "I think," "I believe," or "Maybe." Remember, you want to appear yielding and graceful, and firm declaratives such as "always" or "certainly" detract from that. And by being agreeable, pleasant, and receptive of the ideas of others, you should find that you gain their good-will, which is much more useful than winning a dispute!
 
 A handheld folding fan is an essential accessory for any well-bred woman in society. The fan displays your mood as well as subtle conversational cues, and this part of women's conversation is often a frightening new ground for men! Although these general guidelines will not substitute for the detailed instruction of a knowledgeable coach in women's deportment, you should keep them in mind: an opened fan can be used to hide your lips and present a shy demeanor and is most often used to express interest, while a closed fan signals distance and polite disinterest. The fan is always held in the right hand, never in the left, and a lady always holds her fan by the base.
 
 
 
 Being a graceful, feminine lady consists of a great deal of effort and hard work - and yes, learning from your mistakes. Sometimes you will be frustrated, and you are not alone in that regard. Rebirthed women have always faced challenges adjusting to their new societal role; while society is much more openly accepting of this deed nowadays, more than a third of rebirthed women do not complete their one-year trial and are restored to manhood. Womanhood is not for everyone. But if you are willing to invest the time and the effort, then you can be certain of a warm welcome and acceptance into the beautiful society of women. Welcome to the great sisterhood!