Hi darlene,
I think sometimes people get a bit nervous and think that they are doing something 'odd' or something taboo. There is absolutely nothing wrong in expressing yourself through clothing etc. It is no reflection upon your manliness or upon your femininity and it is not a sign post that you need or have to go further.
The spectrum of gender ID is enormous, I'm a FT woman and I have to admit that I do enjoy wearing nice clothes and looking good, as many woman do, look at the industry that supports us! Everything from nail designs to clothes to make up to just name it, and mostly stuff that guys just don't think about at all. I don't get a sexual thrill from it but I get a great deal of emotional support by presenting well, I think this is very common among woman.
For cross dressers I think and hope that there is a great deal of emotional and physical satisfaction in 'being yourself' and I personally think that is very important and needs to be accepted and understood. Too often we come across people who feel some shame, and there should not be any, it is perfectly normal and a lovely thing to do.
If you do feel the need to go further it may well be worthwhile talking to a gender therapist, they are not as scary as people think, well they shouldn't be, and of course going further is not compulsory!!!!
I was reminded of an old anti-Gay quote in Australia when homosexuality was legalised in NSW , 'this year homosexuality has been legalised, next year it will be made compulsory'.
Heee Hee
Hugs and enjoy
Cindy
