jenni_xx
09-15-2010, 07:38 AM
Hi everyone.
I'm not exactly sure where my confidence has come from, but I'm getting more and more confident in regards to expressing my true self while out in public. Although I only go out fully dressed to bars/nightclubs that cater for the transgendered community, when it comes to going out in the daytime, shopping, walking, the usual, I am now combining drab with feminine clothes/accessories. I pretty much wear heels and wedges all the time now, and I'm actually really surprised by just how much people don't notice, or just don't actually care. My feet are now used to walking long distances in heels, which obviously is a huge bonus, and I just love the clicking sound they make on the ground. I also wear feminine trousers and tops with my breastforms, although admittedly, these are usually covered up by my jacket. Accessories include rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings (luckily I have both my ears pierced).
My confidence also extends to trying on things in store while shopping. Because it's clear that I am a man, I do use the male changing rooms when the store caters for both men and women, but have been able to use the female changing rooms in women's only shops, but only when it's quiet. The staff I've come across have all, without exception, been really encouraging and very helpful. This also extends to trying on shoes in the shop. Giving me advice and telling me what actually looks good, what works with what outfit, and what doesn't. One shoe shop - the sales assistant even ordered me a pair of heels in a bigger size when the pair in the shop were just a little too tight - she realised just how much I loved them, and did comment on how good I looked in them. I know first and foremost it's a sale to them, but I genuinely feel as though they are being non-judgemental and accepting, which obviously is something that is very important for us all.
I also get my nails done professionally at a nail salon where I'm now a regular, and they treat me just like they would any other customer. When other girls are in the salon getting their nails done at the same time, their reaction extends from not even batting an eyelid, to a smile, to (the most extreme) them having a little giggle towards me. But never once have I experienced anything that even remotely resulted in me feeling uncomfortable.
Like I said at the top of my post, I'm not exactly sure where my confidence has come from, but I do have to admit that the more I go out partly dressed (I call them my signifiers - nails, shoes, accessories, etc), and the more I barely get a reaction, or even when I do get the occassional double-take (but nothing bad happens), this is only resulting in my confidence levels growing more. I think the underlying point to my post therefore, other than telling you all how confident I'm becoming on a personal level (and how happy that's making me feel), is that in my experience up to date people do seem to be more tolerant (for want of a better word), and even gradually coming to be acceptive towards a transgendered individual.
I'm not exactly sure where my confidence has come from, but I'm getting more and more confident in regards to expressing my true self while out in public. Although I only go out fully dressed to bars/nightclubs that cater for the transgendered community, when it comes to going out in the daytime, shopping, walking, the usual, I am now combining drab with feminine clothes/accessories. I pretty much wear heels and wedges all the time now, and I'm actually really surprised by just how much people don't notice, or just don't actually care. My feet are now used to walking long distances in heels, which obviously is a huge bonus, and I just love the clicking sound they make on the ground. I also wear feminine trousers and tops with my breastforms, although admittedly, these are usually covered up by my jacket. Accessories include rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings (luckily I have both my ears pierced).
My confidence also extends to trying on things in store while shopping. Because it's clear that I am a man, I do use the male changing rooms when the store caters for both men and women, but have been able to use the female changing rooms in women's only shops, but only when it's quiet. The staff I've come across have all, without exception, been really encouraging and very helpful. This also extends to trying on shoes in the shop. Giving me advice and telling me what actually looks good, what works with what outfit, and what doesn't. One shoe shop - the sales assistant even ordered me a pair of heels in a bigger size when the pair in the shop were just a little too tight - she realised just how much I loved them, and did comment on how good I looked in them. I know first and foremost it's a sale to them, but I genuinely feel as though they are being non-judgemental and accepting, which obviously is something that is very important for us all.
I also get my nails done professionally at a nail salon where I'm now a regular, and they treat me just like they would any other customer. When other girls are in the salon getting their nails done at the same time, their reaction extends from not even batting an eyelid, to a smile, to (the most extreme) them having a little giggle towards me. But never once have I experienced anything that even remotely resulted in me feeling uncomfortable.
Like I said at the top of my post, I'm not exactly sure where my confidence has come from, but I do have to admit that the more I go out partly dressed (I call them my signifiers - nails, shoes, accessories, etc), and the more I barely get a reaction, or even when I do get the occassional double-take (but nothing bad happens), this is only resulting in my confidence levels growing more. I think the underlying point to my post therefore, other than telling you all how confident I'm becoming on a personal level (and how happy that's making me feel), is that in my experience up to date people do seem to be more tolerant (for want of a better word), and even gradually coming to be acceptive towards a transgendered individual.