Poll
Question:
If suddenly all men and women wore each other's clothes, would you still transition?
Option 1: Of course, that's not important.
Option 2: Sure I would, but I would be disappointed.
Option 3: I would reevaluate my reasons for transition.
Option 4: Most likely not, although there would be some things I would miss by not transitioning.
Option 5: Absolutely not. There's no reason to transition anymore.
Imagine suddenly overnight it was decided that everyone would be given a new wardrobe and that all men would wear clothes that females now wear and all females would wear clothes that men now wear and if you wore any other clothes, you would be chastized by society. Would you still transition?
Melissa
Of course I would transition. I am not transitioning to wear female clothing; I am transitioning because I am female; my soul and brain are female, the clothing I wear is just something to cover myself, but it doesn't make make me more or less female than what I am.
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Ummmmmmmmm sence when did the clothes matter? I mean I like Tee shirts and Jeans.... tht hasnt changed LoL My leather coat is unisexual..... Im me not what Im wearing LoL..... and who really wants to wear a bra anyways.... its anoying as all get out, specialy by the end of the day...... Let the guys have those... then I can have alittle freedom :D
If people perceived me as a man in a dress, that'd be just as bad as them seeing me as a man in any other garb. So I guess for me it's my underlying gender that matters. (Always envied how GGs can look unmistakably female in clothes that are completely unisex.) On the other hand, I would be sad if I had to give away my nice wardrobe, so it's not that clothes don't matter at all to me.
So, I'd still do it but would be disappointed.
Of course, that's not important.
Clothes aren't what make us female. besides you can still look female in guys clothes.
And I was looking forward to getting rid of that closet full of guy clothes...they look so...drab
...Laurie
I'd definitely still transition. I want my body to be correct, who cares about the clothes...
Quote from: Melissa on September 27, 2006, 06:25:35 PM
Would you still transition?
In a hearbeat!
Interesting question though... I wonder: for those whom it IS "about the clothes," I wonder what they'd prefer to wear? Would they now "crossdress" in masculine clothing, since it's now taboo and associated with females? Or would they be content and happy now that they can wear clothing that's feminine in appearance and feel (though no longer associated with females)?
Well, I guess the point of this poll was just to get people to think about their intentions and expectations.
Melissa
I would still transition but I would be disappointed. I love womens clothes...I love the colors, the fabrics the shapes and forms. I love being able to express myself through my clothes. I love being able to wear something sexy when I feel sexy and something soft and cozy when I want to be comfy.
The things that I liked about mens clothes like oversized hoodies or boxer shorts have womens versions that have better colors and fabrics anyways so no big loss.
<shudder> I could never go back to mens clothes..yuck (sorry guys, they do look good on you just not me).
While I seldom get "dolled" up I do enjoy it when the opportunity arises. I'm just as happy in a pair of sweat pants and a hoodie...I guess I'm a bit of "girly tom boy" if there is such a thing.
The thought of being complete and being forced to wear mens clothes is not appealing to me at all....I would do it if I had to be complete but I'm afraid I would put up with being chastized and still keep my pretty clothes.
Transitioning obviously isn't about the clothes but to say that the clothes play no part in being female I think is a little off base. I have never met a GG who didn't love her clothes and I may not be GG but I love clothes.
Women left to thier own devices will almost always find a way to make themselves prettier. It has been this way through history and has nothing to do identifying as female, it has to do with our inherant urge to set ourselves apart from men and even other women. I have always found it fascinating how normally in the "animal" world it is the male who has the brightest colors and adornments to attract the females but in humans it's the opposite. Researchers say that women have been wearing bright colors and using makeup to some degree through out our evolution to enhance the colors that our bodies display naturally during states of heighted arousal for the exact same reason. We tend to associate being female with genitals and disassociate it from anything else in an attempt to prove we have no ulterior reason for transitioning and I believe this is wrong. I believe it's perfectly natural to love womens clothes, not because they are labeled womens clothes but, because it is a part of us to want to be pretty.
Clothes do not make us who we are. Society decided what was male and what was female in clothing styles and that has changed many times over history.
No matter what I wear, I am still a woman.
Sarah L.
I guess I should answer my own question. Being female in both identity and as close as physically possible is the most important, but I also would be disappointed with the clothes. I do love dressing up and it is one of the parts of the female experience that I do enjoy. But, my favorite part is the social aspect that women have. I've never been able to conenct with men like I do with other women. I just have to be a woman, no matter what.
Melissa
I would definitely transition anyway.
Clothing is meaningless and there's always a way around social conventions. Before I "woke up to myself", I was trying to work out a way to dress feminine in public (I didn't know why). It occurred to me that in some past eras, men's fashions were a bit frilly or soft. I swear to god I was going to web sites that sell historical clothing (of very high quality) and checking out men's clothing from other eras.
There are a lot of men's fashions throughout American History that would give me that feminine feel. Long coats, stylish shirts, scarves (for the neck & the waist), BELL BOTTOMS (no joking), cowboy or range type items, pieces of some military uniforms, and it just goes on and on. There are lots of feminine items that are accepted as masculine in other times and people today seem to accept them.
Men's ponchos, hats, & etcetera & etcetera, my friends.
If you go European, it gets even wierder. Robin hood type articles, medievel things, renaissance items, anything French.
I don't think it works the other way, though, if a genetic female wanted to look for masculine type women's clothing amongst historical trends, they will be disappointed.
Remember, I'm trying to get around the new rules that Melissa's goverment arbitrarily imposed upon us peasants. ;)
Love and smiles,
Rebecca Fog
Quote from: Cindianna_Jones on October 18, 2006, 11:49:09 PM
Absolutely not. I love to cross dress, I really do. But I can not think of a single reason to be a guy.
Cindi
Cindi, you mean you LIKE dressing in guy's clothes? I HATE crossdressing .... but I have to do it for work.
Melissa,
You missed a logical option for a guy like me...it is called rebellion and refusal to play that game lol.
Peace
Taylor
Quote from: taylor on October 19, 2006, 11:29:49 PM
Melissa,
You missed a logical option for a guy like me...it is called rebellion and refusal to play that game lol.
Peace
Taylor
No, I forced you to make a choice. Of course nobody
has to actually answer this poll if you want to rebel. :)
Ignoring all the other factors I am dealing with, without a doubt I would transition. I've often given myself quizes to try to understand my situation. The one I've often though of is: If I had to make the choice between just changing my body but still living and being accepted as a male, or living and being accepted as a female but retaining my male body, which would I choose. I always conclude that neither gets me where I want to be. I'm a woman! I need to have a woman's body AND I want to live and be accepted as a woman.
Aren't I particular Anyway, the answers are never easy.
Steph
Another old poll for people to get stuck into, I would transition for sure, clothing is not my reason for wanting to change my body, I am a woman and want to look like how I feel.
hmm - I suspect I avoided answering this earlier and I will do the same again. It is so hard now my logic is not the best.
Alice
I wouldn't think twice about transitioning (when the time came). However, I'd be disappointed. I love women's clothes, the colors, textures, look.
I have to admit, clothing doesn't mean absolutely nothing to me: I love to look pretty, and wearing a dress always makes me feel great. But of course I would still undergo the journey of transition: just swapping clothes wouldn't change how I felt about myself.
Melissa,
If all men and women wore each others clothes would that mean we would be getting closer to being androgynes? ???
............
This survey raises another set of questions. Do you want to look pretty and can clothes help you look pretty?
In light of the above questions a more appropriate answer might be option 2 (yes but disappointed / 20%).
If several people consider the minimum criteria for transitioning to be cross dressing then I would expect a higher number of people to vote "No" / 2%.
Melissa please give your interpretation of the data.
Interesting survey.
Oh gosh Wendy, it's been a while since I made this. If I remember correctly, the purpose of the survey was more to prompt people to think about their reasons for transitioning than anything. I am happy to see the statistics that were shown since it says almost everyone is transitioning for the right reasons.
Sorry Melisssa just thorght that the newer member of this site may wish to look at some of the old threds and poles, drag it out from the wood work.
It's no problem. I was just responding to Wendy.
Hi again,
Not so confused Nigella here. I have to say the clothes mean nothing to me either. Its my body I hate, is that to strong a word? I want to be seen and look as a female, I want to be female. I am female. I do like the clothes but that's not the reason.
hugs and kisses
Nigella
Quote from: Nigella on April 23, 2007, 02:42:33 PM
I do like the clothes but that's not the reason.
Right, same here. :)
This is an issue about my body and body chemistry, not my clothing.
Though I do admit, the cloths are nice.
I hope I didn't skew your poll by voting because I am not sure I will be able to transition. I'm still weighing the personal costs. But if I could keep my same life but not wear female clothes I would certainly transition.