FtoM is short for Female to Male.  Many women throughout 
history have chosen to adopt male clothing and names for a 
variety of different reasons. Some simply adopted the 
clothing of men, but were known women (Walker, Bonheur,
etc.). Some lived as men for a short time (Snell, Phranc,), 
others actually lived a substantial part of their lives as men 
(Erauso, Hall, Tipton, etc.). Often their gender was only discovered after their death. Some modern day FtoM's chose the 
term transgendered (Feinberg). Some have even paid for their freedom and 
individuality with their lives (Bodfish, Brandon Teena and others).  

   Why did women chose to dress as or live as men?  
The individuals on this page chose a male persona for many 
different reasons.  Some women wished to enjoy broader freedoms 
then was allow for women of their time, become a soldier, to 
fight in the War, to follow a loved one into combat, to check up 
on a spouse.   Some simply did not want to marry (see "Saints" 
section). Some found the female mode of dress uncomfortable. Dr. 
Mary Walker, who was instrumental in changing the laws and 
customs so that women could wear pants.  She felt that the 
clothing women were made to wear was unhealthy and restrictive.
Some women who posed as men did so to live openly with women 
partners and escape ridicule or punishment which was often severe
(committment to a mental institution, inprisonment, even death)

   Many who adopted the male persona accomplished things that 
would have not been possible had they been "women".  Dr. James 
Barry was allowed to go to medical school, perform surgery, and 
be Attorney General.  Pranc was a band leader.  Billy Tipton and 
his all male band toured together and made a name for themselves 
in the music world.  Hall was a prominent New York Politician for 
30 years in the late 1800's.  None of this would have been 
possible for them at that time in history had they not lived 
under the guise of being men.