QUESTION

[Dianne]

Clothes and makeup, doesn't make one a woman. It's what's inside that counts, and how you are socially. How do the other women in your city dress ? Surely they all don't wear dresses.

[Jenna Marie]

I have to say, I think it's a little unfair to say that if a trans woman behaves the way many cis women do - as has been mentioned on this thread, there are tons of cis girls and women who don't wear dresses or makeup very often - it's "masculine." There's a huge gray area between hyper-feminine and masculine, after all.

(I'm actually pretty femme, just not in a way that involves a lot of dresses. I'm way more femme than my wife, that's for sure!)

[Joanna Dark]

I have to say, I think it's a little unfair to say that if a trans woman behaves the way many cis women do - as has been mentioned on this thread, there are tons of cis girls and women who don't wear dresses or makeup very often - it's "masculine." There's a huge gray area between hyper-feminine and masculine, after all.

(I'm actually pretty femme, just not in a way that involves a lot of dresses. I'm way more femme than my wife, that's for sure!)

Well why is it bad that there are boundaries that define masculine and feminine. I had putting things into boxes, but some times you have a lot of crap and you need a "box." It shouldn't be considered an insult as some seem to take it. It is what it is and doesn't make one more or less trans. It juts makes them them. I don't wear dresses but most of my other clothing is prolly even more femme than a dress cause they show of my body in a way, say a maxi dress, won't.

I think a lot of MTFs are masculine for whatever reason and it has nothing to do with dress or makeup and everything to do with the way breasts are objectified and women for that matter and how there is this sense of competition and one upmanship that exists between many on this site, and a kind of aggressiveness that is lacking in most cis women. Mainly its all the arguments and the way they proceed sometimes on this site that just says to me "man." I don't know why. It makes me fel really bad and guilty and icky and just ugh.

I am not even saying you so PLEASE don't take it that way and I apologize for using your post as kind of a sounding board for my thoughts on gender and masc and femme and all that stuff and what makes who what and what who and whatever. I'm sorry if my stream of consciousness is hard to read.

I mean what's wrong with being a masculine women? I happen to love them.

[Jenna Marie]

I didn't say it was bad... I just think the boundaries are drawn differently than you see them, I guess. As I said, I see a bigger gray area than you do, and I think a lot of women (cis and trans) would be startled to hear that wearing women's pants instead of dresses and no makeup = masculine. I don't want to argue about it.

[Joanna Dark]

I didn't say it was bad... I just think the boundaries are drawn differently than you see them, I guess. As I said, I see a bigger gray area than you do, and I think a lot of women (cis and trans) would be startled to hear that wearing women's pants instead of dresses and no makeup = masculine. I don't want to argue about it.

I was speaking more of, uh, personality than fashion choices. But, I agree on the not arguing point. Hate it. I wear women's jeans the majority of the time and have rarely worn a dress, except for a normcore grey cotton romper with red tights, and also wear little makeup except for foundation and mascara. Mainly, I use nude makeup. I also have a short pixie and 90 percent of the peeps here prolly have longer hair than me.  I think one could wear makeup and be very girly fashion wise and still be masculine. I guess it depends on what one calls masculine. But I guess that begs the question what is masculine? I can't define it but I know when I see it.

[noleen111]

One thing about reading this site... you will quickly realize we are all different... just like genetic woman.. some wear dresses and love looking girly.. others prefer the no makeup and jeans look.. nothing wrong with either one.


for me.. I am a girly girl.. love wearing skirts/dresses, makeup, nail polish and high heels. I shop with the best of them.. I spend a lot of time grooming myself and making myself looking pretty. Wearing a silky nightgown is heaven, but this is how i am.. for me, this makes me feel feminine. I also have a feminine design tattooed on my lower back to show express my feminine side..   want a few more small tattoos.

In the summer months I wear a dress or skirt almost every day..

[luna nyan]

Make up is a fascinating thing for me.  I love how it can be used to fool the eye, but then again, faces are an area of fascination for me.

You dress a certain way because you like how you look and feel.  Most certainly there is the need to dress appropriately for your age and area if you want to blend in and pass more easily.  Then again, you may choose not to do so and make a statement.