Female Body Language Quiz

[Leslie Langford]

Here's something I found posted in the on-line forum of a women's magazine that I often participate in. Yes, they know that I am a crossdresser, and most are surprisingly O.K. with it - even to the point of being supportive:

"This is merely a silly observation, but here goes. :-)

Doesn't it seem like women usually take off a sweater or tee shirt by crossing arms in front, then we grasp the sides of the sweater and pull it up and off, over our head.

Men seem to be more likely to reach back behind their head, often with only one arm, grab the neck of the shirt and yank it up over their head.

And if this is the case, I wonder why there would be this different way of doing things . . .

Too much time on my hands, I know. "

I'll post the answers as seen through the eyes of some of the GG members of that site in due course, but first, I'd be curious to find out how some of my CD sisters here remove their sweaters, and if our "CD genes" naturally cause us to gravitate towards doing it the way most GG's seem to.

As for me, I still do it the "manly" way, but on the other hand, I am sure that I am the equal of any GG when it comes to hooking up my bras behind my back without any problems whatsoever.

[Maria in heels]

I guess that I am a girly girl, as I always take off a tshirt etc. by crossing my arms and aking it off, and not like the "manly way" that you wrote about....never ever do I "yank" over my head with one arm...

[Tamara Croft]

I'm a GG and I do take my tops off with my arms folded lol... and my SO does the hand behind neck thing and yanks it off lol...

[Angie G]

I tend to go the way of the GG with the sweter thing.:hugs:
Angie

[jillleanne]

For me it is a tad more complicated. I wear glasses so no matter what, they have to come off first. Then it depends on the neck style and size when I remove the sweater, sometimes with arms criss-crossed, sometimes I slip my arms back in towards my body inside the sweater, but rarely pull from the back, probably because I do not want to stretch the sweater.

[AriannaVillota]

I've been dressing for about a year and before I started, I always simply yanked my shirt off by the neck.

I've found that it's a lot simpler to just cross my arms and pull up. Plus it doesn't stretch out the shirt.

[PretzelGirl]

Hmmm.... For me it is always dependant on how tight the top/sweater/sweatshirt is. Tight things get the crossed arms. Looser items have me grabbing the shoulders and pulling it over.

[Persephone]

Fun question, Leslie!

I always do it the femme way and think that I always have. It actually never seemed to me to be a particularly femme way to do it since, as a general rule, women seem to make fewer cross-body movements as breasts tend to make such moves more awkward and difficult.


As for me, I still do it the "manly" way, but on the other hand, I am sure that I am the equal of any GG when it comes to hooking up my bras behind my back without any problems whatsoever.

Well there's your problem! You need to do it with the "other hand," the one you use when hooking your bra! :)

[Veronica Nowakowski]

I'm going to remember that, but I love having my arms around myself like that en femme. I have to say it's just so much softer to do it that way.

[Midnight Skye]

I remember reading about a number of these funny male vs female things. Things you would think were totally irrelevant. I also pull my shirts off from the front with my arms crossed nice and easily. I've heard this behavior might partially be caused by slight difference in arm length and angles.

I do pull hoodies off from behind... I swear they're impossible to get off if you don't!!!

[Nicole Erin]

grab my shirts front center and pull them up

[Alexei]

Neither for me.

No matter what I'm wearing, I usually pull one arm back through the sleeve(almost always left arm first), then pull the garment over my head, then remove it from my right arm.

[Rachel Morley]

I cross my arms over in front and then lift up. I've always done it like this since I was a kid. I vaguely remember my mom showing me how.

[Gina_C]

My SO made the same observation a few weeks back (she doesn't know about Gina)

My theory is that the femme way is less likely to put makeup on the garment being removed hence the different style.

Works for (both of) me

[Gillian]

I have moved in childhood from a behind the,,, grab to the cross arm off method, interesting little factoid though!

[Stitch]

I tend to get stuck in my jumpers, it's quite often that I'll need someone to help pull them off my head.

I had to think about it, but I'm sure I do the crossing arms thing. I don't put much thought into it though, and I doubt it looks graceful. :heehee:

[Elvira]

For as long as i can remember, i've always crossed my hands over my front when removing a top. Another way of telling the difference between being masculine and feminine is by the way you look at your fingernails! Do you look at them palms down"feminine" or palms up with fingers curled up"masculine"?

[SuzanneBender]

I cross and as soon as I started wearing make up I knew why. It keeps the shirt away from your makeup. Natal gals are smart. Most of the time when they do something its for a reason. Even if they do not know why.

[christine55]

and get less makeup on your tops if you crisscross your arms at the bottom and turn garment inside out as you pull it over your head.

Hugs,
Christine

[gabimartini]

I do it by crossing my arms only when I'm dressed. Not sure where I got that from. Feminine instinct, perhaps? :)

[ソSophieフィ]

Could it also be something to do with hair? I mean, if you've got long hair going down your back, you would either pull it or completely mess it up if you pulled a sweater off from the back. Having long hair myself, this is my reason for not doing it the manly way.
But I have to say, I don't cross my arms either. Doesn't the top end up inside out after doing that? I generally pull my arms in and push the thing off me, from within.

[Phyliss]

Beyond the idea of mussing up your make up, there is also another reason.
I do the arm pull and slide the garment up over my head with both hands holding the neck opening away from my face thing.

I've been attempting to make this habitual for the past 6 or so months, sometimes I'll revert and do the one handed over the head pull only to catch myself and pay closer attention the next time.

Had my ears pierced last month and recently "forgot" how to take off my turtleneck sweater. Studs caught on the material and .... yep. :eek: a very painful reminder of how to PROPERLY remove my sweater.

[SouthernBelle.GG]

Doesn't it seem like women usually take off a sweater or tee shirt by crossing arms in front, then we grasp the sides of the sweater and pull it up and off, over our head.

GG here and I don't take off my sweaters/tshirts this way. I remove my left arm from the sleeve, then the right arm. Then, I'll open the neck up a bit wider and pull over my head - careful not to make a mess of my hair or make up.


...I am sure that I am the equal of any GG when it comes to hooking up my bras behind my back without any problems whatsoever.

Never ever have I hooked up my bra behind my back. I hook in front, then twirl it around to the back. :heehee:

[Stina84]

I never knew there were separate male and female ways of taking a sweater off. Who would have guessed? :)

But I think I'll try doing it the female way and see if it is any better.

I always put on my bra in the female way of hooking it in front - hooking it behind my back is way too difficult.

[Sarasometimes]

I do both but the arms crossed method when enfemme. I sometimes grab the bottom to turn it inside out. There are many of these so called tells.
How do you look at your fingernails? Hands out in front, palms down or by making a partial fist? I believe palms down is the GG way, correct me if i am wrong. Any others???

[Sandra]

GG here to and I cross my arms...as for bras I fasten at the back. :) As for the finger nails I sometimes look at them palm down other times partial fist.

[Bailey_in_Mansfield]

Hmmm.... For me it is always dependant on how tight the top/sweater/sweatshirt is. Tight things get the crossed arms. Looser items have me grabbing the shoulders and pulling it over.

This, exactly. For me, I sometimes find that the tighter tops are tougher to get off if I do it the "man" way because the breasts kind of hold onto the top. Doing it the fem way gets around that problem. I've gotten to where I have started taking my regular shirts off the fem way too.

[lisaB]

For me, i usually get someone else to take it off for me, but hey i am a lazy bint xx:D

[Lorileah]

has anyone noticed that male television stars and models usually cross their arms and pull up? I am not surprised after all they are kind of femme looking.

I just need to know when we are going to really quit looking for actions the define male and female.

that getting make-up on your clothes thing? I just make sure the neckline is pulled away from my face. When I cross my arms to take off a top and I have make up and a wig on, I lose the wig and the make up gets on the front of the top. But thats OK because the top is then inside out and you can't see the make up. I find it is less likely to get make up on the collar if I pull the neckline over my head first.

I noticed that GG's put their toes in shoes first. How many of you do that? Do you pull your skirt over your head down to your hips or up your hips? Bra on front ways and reach around and clip it or clip it and spin? Left leg or right leg first with pantyhose? Eye liner before or after mascara. Do you find you make funny faces when you are painting your face? Why? You don't want to look like that after you get your make up on.

The harder you try and emulate something the more obvious it becomes you aren't what you emulate. Maybe if you just relaxed, did things that were easiest and most comfortable for you then less people would notice you in a crowd...just a thought.

[Angie Sweet]

I have taken off my shirts and sweaters the femme way for as long as I can remember. I am quite sure I have never taken off a shirt the guy way. Guess that means this woman has been inside waiting to come out for longer than I thought.

[sometimes_miss]

Never ever have I hooked up my bra behind my back. I hook in front, then twirl it around to the back. :heehee:

That's the way I've seen every woman do it, at least the ones I've dated. I've never seen a woman (other than in the movies) clasp the bra with the attachment parts behind her back.

[kimdl93]

arms crossed - it seems like this is easier on the shape of the top that just pulling it up.

[2b.Lauren]

Ear piercing also moved me towards the one arm back through and then opening the neck wider in order to remove over the head. I wear a lot of hoop earrings so I am always getting them caught if I forget and pull over the head. The harder part with certain hoop earrings is the motorcycle helmet OUCH!

[Rianna Humble]

For as long as i can remember, i've always crossed my hands over my front when removing a top. Another way of telling the difference between being masculine and feminine is by the way you look at your fingernails! Do you look at them palms down"feminine" or palms up with fingers curled up"masculine"?

Until I read this, I wasn't even aware there was another way to take off a sweater - who would want to do it one handed anyway?

Palms down wins every time.


I noticed that GG's put their toes in shoes first. How many of you do that?

I have to confess, I never put my toes in shoes first. I just can't figure out how to get the tights on once my toes are in my shoes :tongueout so I put my toes in hose before I put them in shoes.

[MargaretJ]

Never really thought about it until now, but by crossing the arms over in front, it makes it easier to get the jumper over the breasts.

[Lorileah]

That's the way I've seen every woman do it, at least the ones I've dated. I've never seen a woman (other than in the movies) clasp the bra with the attachment parts behind her back.

Good to know we don't date the same women :) Most that I know reach behind and hook. So now the question, what is the "real" female way to do it???

[Stitch]

I replied about jumpers but not about the olde switcharoo things with bras.

I used to put them on back to front when I was little and was just starting to get used to wearing bras, but have done them up and undid them behind my back ever since.

[gigiluv]

I do it the same way southern belle does it. One sleeve then the other, then carefully not messing up make-up or hair, stretch it over my head. Hmmmm Only two posts do it that way and both of us from the south. NC for me. Interesting.

[Fab Karen]

Grab the bottom front, fold it up to the neck & hold them together to pull over head. You avoid mussing your hair this way. Never in my life have I pulled off a sweater or t-shirt one-handed.

"I noticed that GG's put their toes in shoes first. How many of you do that?"
This has to be a joke. Think about it, including male shoes. Try putting them on with your toes going in LAST.:)

Of course the point of such discussions is to be able to watch GG's, and if they do it the "wrong" way, you can point & shout,"J'accuse!":D

[Prissy Linda]

GG here and I don't take off my sweaters/tshirts this way. I remove my left arm from the sleeve, then the right arm. Then, I'll open the neck up a bit wider and pull over my head - careful not to make a mess of my hair or make up.



Never ever have I hooked up my bra behind my back. I hook in front, then twirl it around to the back. :heehee:

That's the way I do it.

[Stephenie S]

You're right, hon. You have FAR too much time on your hands.

There is no RIGHT way to do this stuff. There is no FEMININE way, no masculine way. Everyone is different. We all learn this stuff from someone, the dressing stuff usually from our mother. Trying to define your femininity by the way you take off a sweater (jumper) is one of the sillier pursuits I have run across on this forum. But hey, have at it. Whatever floats your boat.

Stephie

[Laura Evans]

When enfemme I cross my arms and pull over. I do it because it does not get hung up in my breast/bra and avoids getting make up on the clothing (well not completely) but it also avoids smearing the make up on my face.

[sherri52]

I got to be the girl. I always cross my arms and take the shirts or whatever over my head. I never thought of it as being girly, it's just the way I've always done it.

[Lynn Marie]

It never crossed my mind to cross my arms!


I really like this statement from Leslie.

"As for me, I still do it the "manly" way, but on the other hand, I am sure that I am the equal of any GG when it comes to hooking up my bras behind my back without any problems whatsoever."

I always hook and unhook behind my back. I just hate to see a woman hook in the front and then twist their bra around.

[Cassandra Lynn]

I've taken a minute to think and i take off different shirts and "tops" many ways. I'm very AR about my shirts getting turned inside out so i often start with both hands on the collar under my chin, after clearing my head, i'll grab the cuffs (longsleeve shirts) and pull them off with my arms reaching up, then pull it off the rest of the way. Summertime t-shirts are often pulled off in 1 complete move starting at the bottom without crossing arms. I have some heavy duty long underwear for hunting that the best way is too start with the cuffs and arms then pull off over my head. Of course we'll have to wait and see when my femme wardrobe starts getting larger and i wear make-up more often. :straightface: mj :straightface:

[Bailey_in_Mansfield]

Good to know we don't date the same women :) Most that I know reach behind and hook. So now the question, what is the "real" female way to do it???

With bras, there's not one. I started a thread on this question some time ago, and came to the conclusion that women are about 50/50 split on this, and each woman seems to think that her way is the way all women do it, at least my bra specialist at Victoria's Secret thinks that! LOL :)

[Leslie Langford]

...here's what the GG members of that women's magazine online forum had to say in response to the original observation on sweater removal techniques:

"Some possible reasons for this:

- men aren't so worried about pulling their clothes out of shape so they just "yank away" without concerns about what they might be doing to the necklines of their garments

- they often aren't wearing earrings so don't have to be concerned about these becoming caught on the fabric of the clothing as it passes over the head

- they often don't have to be concerned about "wrecking" their hairstyles (or smudging makeup) when they pull tops off over their heads so don't have to do this as carefully as females

- they have larger/stronger upper arm muscles so this is an easier/more natural movement for them than what it would be for us

- it's just part of the overall, more casual, open, "I'm-a-man," type of body language portrayed by the typical man."


While they were at it, the ladies made a number of other astute observations such as:


"...plus have you ever noticed how guys often scratch their backs by rubbing against a corner????? Why on earth they don't' just put their arm behind them and scratch? They grind against the corner (of a wall) to scratch, much like a bear would rub against a tree! I noticed this, but was floored when I saw my (then) 4 year old nephew do it........... instinct??? LOL"

and:

"...another thing (or two) that people do is to put one finger on the side of their nose (when outdoors! LOL!) and blow!!! ever heard of a Kleenex? And also scratch their privates in plain view of humans when they have a need to!!"

as well as:

"...or when men take off their underwear, they let it fall to the end of one foot then kick up and catch it. My own husband does this and I laugh every time I see him do it.

I hope he doesn't think I am laughing at something else!..."


Yikes, those last items could be the basis for a whole new thread :doh::heehee: !

[NikiMichelle]

....there are "two bumps or lumps" in the front to go "up and over"????

...for some it is a bigger challenge than others????

That is my story and I'm sticking to it......

:heehee:

[Fab Karen]

While they were at it, the ladies made a number of other astute observations such as:


"...plus have you ever noticed how guys often scratch their backs by rubbing against a corner????? Why on earth they don't' just put their arm behind them and scratch? They grind against the corner (of a wall) to scratch, much like a bear would rub against a tree! I noticed this, but was floored when I saw my (then) 4 year old nephew do it........... instinct??? LOL"

and:

"...another thing ...is to put one finger on the side of their nose (when outdoors! LOL!) and blow!!! ever heard of a Kleenex?

as well as:

[I]"...or when men take off their underwear, they let it fall to the end of one foot then kick up and catch it. My own husband does this and I laugh every time I see him do it.

Never in my life have I done these things, and have never seen another male doing them.

[Bailey_in_Mansfield]

"...plus have you ever noticed how guys often scratch their backs by rubbing against a corner????? Why on earth they don't' just put their arm behind them and scratch? They grind against the corner (of a wall) to scratch, much like a bear would rub against a tree! I noticed this, but was floored when I saw my (then) 4 year old nephew do it........... instinct??? LOL"

Guilty! I've done that. For me though it's not so much a scratch as it is a backrub. <3 Can't give myself a backrub with one hand behind my back. :P


"...another thing (or two) that people do is to put one finger on the side of their nose (when outdoors! LOL!) and blow!!! ever heard of a Kleenex? And also scratch their privates in plain view of humans when they have a need to!!"

Guilty...


"...or when men take off their underwear, they let it fall to the end of one foot then kick up and catch it. My own husband does this and I laugh every time I see him do it.

Guilty... I could have sworn I've seen women do this too though. Hell, I actually thought I picked this up from women.

[Alexei]

"...plus have you ever noticed how guys often scratch their backs by rubbing against a corner????? Why on earth they don't' just put their arm behind them and scratch? They grind against the corner (of a wall) to scratch, much like a bear would rub against a tree! I noticed this, but was floored when I saw my (then) 4 year old nephew do it........... instinct??? LOL"

Only when I don't want to scratch with my hands, like if I am washing the dishes and my hands are covered in soap.

[charlytuna]

I cross my arm most of the time othe times I reach behind the neck but my wife grabs the sides and pull up,not crossing arms

[Susie Mae]

Maybe this is the difference between being trained, feminized, by a GG, and a boy experimenting by himself. I was taught to be very careful and not stretch my pretty, soft sweaters, always my favorite girlie outerwear. Sometimes I leave it pulled over my head, and lie there in the soft semi-darkness of my fantasy, working my Willie until my relief shoots into my hand and I can lick it all up.

[Cassandra Lynn]

Guilty! I've done that. For me though it's not so much a scratch as it is a backrub. <3 Can't give myself a backrub with one hand behind my back. :P



Guilty...



Guilty... I could have sworn I've seen women do this too though. Hell, I actually thought I picked this up from women.

Lorileah, Ditto...doesn't matter one little bit how we dress or undress, well said.

Me too
me too
me too
Confession is good for the soul!! :tongueout mj :tongueout

[Frédérique]

I'd be curious to find out how some of my CD sisters here remove their sweaters, and if our "CD genes" naturally cause us to gravitate towards doing it the way most GG's seem to.

I usually wear a button-front cardigan, so I simply unbutton my femme garment and slip it off of my shoulders. I never wear T-shirts. So much for that theory! I just have to be different, don’t I? :heehee:

The gender-specific body language example I know of is when you drop something in your lap. A boy puts his legs together to catch the object, while a girl pushes hers apart to do the same (this is from the era when skirts or dresses were obligatory). I told this to my older sister, who was around when girls dressed like girls, and she had never heard of it. So much for THAT theory…:doh: