Transgenderism is a condition whose main motive is to acquaint the minds gender, with the body's sex. Transgenderism manifests differently for everyone, but for the most part, it manifests earlier on in life(childhood).

This is a complicated question to answer, simply because I have felt conflicted by my sex ever since I was very young. The majority of people who ask me this question, quite commonly I might add, are atleast in their 20's, or late teens, and this is where I find it difficult to approach.

As I would expect, most, if not the larger majority of trans women will identify with me, when I say, that I knew when I was very young. But there is also a percentage of people who have lived in suppressive environments, and that being honest about these things might have cost them dearly in terms of rejection, abuse, and other negative responses families might have to transgendered children.

There is also the factor of self-suppression. Especially when social, and family pressures are evident. SO my best advice would be:

1. Do some soul searching.. Rediscover the in's, and out's of your early childhood, and try to recognize if you are suffering "Suppressed Transgenderism".
Transgenderism(MTF) in children manifests commonly as..

• Effeminacy
• A conviction with femininity
• A discomfort with masculinity
• A discomfort, or self-consciousness of the bodily features
• Identifying more easily with cisgendered girls
• A dislike of male-orientated titles(boy, fella, young man)
• A want to express femininity in appearance, and mannerism
• A want to experience femininity socially
• The want, to be identified with female pronouns
• A discomfort with the given names

2. Ask yourself... "Is this a sexually motivated impulse?"
If you answer yes to the above question, then this is not transgenderism. There are fetishes, and also conditions that describe sexual motivation towards "feeling like the other sex", and being "aroused" by aspects of femininity... But this is in no way, the same as transgenderism.
Gender identity develops before we even consider sexuality, and what "sexuality" means to us separately. So if being feminine turns you on, or floats your boat, then you are unlikely to be transgendered.
The condition associated with transvestic festishism is known as Autogynephilia

Hope this helps, Much Love, Lea