would consider us.....................mainstream?

[cassandra54]

i thought of this today. i think most of us on here have fairly normal lives. we have an SO, we have jobs that allow to spend money on clothes, we go out in public and in general are fairly well adjusted.what i mean is would you consider us as a group "mainstream" crossdresers? i think trying to establish somewhat of a norm, might lead to better acceptance of who we are.

this is refreshing to me in the sense to know there are a lot of us out there. it's great to share thoughts and stories and help those who are in crisis. on the other hand some guys who dress and go on adult websites, CL ads, make nasty videos of themselves, go out in public looking for trouble and usually find it and make the rest of us look bad.

so with that thought in mind, i wonder how many of us leave this website or never go on this website because everything works so well for us.

[pinto]

Referring to the title of this thread - mainstream? I'm afraid not but if this really is true it would be just wonderful. Imagine most of all men on this world would share our passion...

[Cynthia Anne]

Normal life! Well I doubt If my life is norhal! I live alone and Never visit such places that you mention! I have enough trouble just trying to survive to go out and look for trouble! BUT I'M A HAPPY GIRL! Hugs!

[cassandra54]

Normal life! Well I doubt If my life is norhal! I live alone and Never visit such places that you mention! I have enough trouble just trying to survive to go out and look for trouble! BUT I'M A HAPPY GIRL! Hugs!

i wouldn't think you would go to those places, they're pretty scary at best, i edited my post a bit, what i mean is would you consider us as a group "mainstream" crossdresers? i think trying to establish somewhat of a norm, might lead to better acceptance of who we are.

[Kaitlyn26]

Yea definitely. I'm not much for watching television, but I decided to watch it tonight. Saw 5 mentions of us. I didn't see anyone else get that. None of them were nice mentions, mind you, but at least two were not anything bad.

[kellycan27]

i wouldn't think you would go to those places, they're pretty scary at best, i edited my post a bit, what i mean is would you consider us as a group "mainstream" crossdresers? i think trying to establish somewhat of a norm, might lead to better acceptance of who we are.

I don't see enough cohesion to actually make much of a difference. I think it's more up to the individual to show people in their little slice of heaven that cross dressers are just like everyone else. Too many don't care because it's something that the do in private, others are too ashamed to make a stand, and still other have higher priorities that they worry about.. friends,family, jobs. It's a nice notion Cassandra........

[Tina B.]

Not really, there are too many of us that won't come out, and even of those that are out, most follow the old, NIMBY theory (not in my back yard). a better way to show what I mean, someone should start a thread/poll titled, how far from home do you have to go to feel save dressing up and going out, I would do it myself, but I can't figure out how to get the title down enough to make it fit.
Tina B.

[Frédérique]

…would you consider us as a group "mainstream" crossdresers? i think trying to establish somewhat of a norm, might lead to better acceptance of who we are.

I think there’s a “core” of MtF crossdressers like us, meaning ones who are somewhat comfortable with their dressing, weaving it into their more “normal” lives and writing about the consequences. It’s funny to contemplate being mainstream in this milieu, and being anything BUT mainstream out in the world! I think of myself as being extremely un-normal, yet here in this oasis of non-conformity I am very much a “run of the mill” girl…

So, those individuals who form unfair opinions of us may only see the MtF crossdressers who don’t “fit” the abovementioned category – some crossdressers wouldn’t visit this site, I’m sure, and others wouldn’t think of writing about, and thus sharing, their extraordinary adventures. I think knowledge of who WE are may be useful in the long run, but better acceptance may be hard to come by no matter how we are perceived. Some human compassion would be useful…

PS - "Who we are" is a nebulous concept at best...:straightface:

[Karren H]

All depends on who's stream your swimming up!

[LeaP]

So, those individuals who form unfair opinions of us may only see the MtF crossdressers who don’t “fit” the abovementioned category – some crossdressers wouldn’t visit this site, I’m sure, and others wouldn’t think of writing about, and thus sharing, their extraordinary adventures. I think knowledge of who WE are may be useful in the long run, but better acceptance may be hard to come by no matter how we are perceived. Some human compassion would be useful…

PS - "Who we are" is a nebulous concept at best...:straightface:

Truly. "We" tends to form around identity, not activity. There are many groups that form around activities only, but they aren't communities when only the activity is in common. Is there a basis for a community here, at least for some? Maybe. Can it rise to that level on the basis of forum communication alone? I don't know, but doubt it.

Your comment on what the public sees and how, or if, they are a representative slice of those here is perceptive. For example, it's been said that gay people who are out and are also crossdressers have an easier time coming out as crossdressers because they've already paid the price for being gay, which is even higher. Most here say they are not gay. But is that a material difference? I think not as it relates to crossdressing per se, but if it's true that many (most?) out crossedressers are gay, that probably does nothing but reinforce stereotypes about crossdressers being gay! There's nothing more puzzling to people than things that don't fit the available boxes. Really, they just can't understand.

Lea

[michelle64]

mainstream never..fringe always..personally i could care less about mainstream..the problem is those who pass (i know the word pass is always an issue) never have an issue..its those with beards, leather, crinoline and the dog collar that make the news and thats what the public sees on the tele..just my take

[sometimes_miss]

i thought of this today. i think most of us on here have fairly normal lives. we have an SO, we have jobs that allow to spend money on clothes, we go out in public and in general are fairly well adjusted.what i mean is would you consider us as a group "mainstream" crossdresers? i think trying to establish somewhat of a norm, might lead to better acceptance of who we are.
What are you smoking? I want some!

[kimdl93]

I have been watching "TrueBlood" on HBO for several years, so when I thought of mainstreaming, I kinda equated it with Vampires blending in with the mainstream. I suppose its an apt analogy, except that I really enjoy the sun!

[sterling12]

Not me! When not making smart-Aleck replies to threads, I live under The Viaduct, eat dog food and scavenge from dumpsters. And, my Life is completely ruined by relatives, the police, security at the mall, and little children, who throw rocks at me! I am The Queen of ******* Hookup Sites, often film myself doing horrible things with fire hydrants, and hope someday to kick my Meth Habit.

All in all, life is perfect!


Now, we all know this can't be true, because I wouldn't be writing here if all this stuff was actually happening.....Likely, I would be dead! I think your probably right. The Majority of us lead prosaic, hum-drum, lives. We have ONE, very small aspect of our total existence which some folks might think of as odd. If they condemn, too bad for them. We might be just the kind of person they would want to have living in their neighborhood. Most of us are middle-class tax-payers, who cut the grass, pay the bills, and mind our own business. If your kid needed to find a "safe house" to run to, I imagine we would be a first choice!

Peace and Love, Joanie

[vikki2020]

Maybe if we sit still long enough, the "mainstream" will come to us! You can see it starting, with Walgreens offering many lotions, and "body care" products in the mens' aisle, and ads for pedicures, hair removal, and spa days aimed at men. Two earrings is so very mainstream these days, lol! I say the group here is very mainstream with the same likes and dislikes, problems, and joys as any one else in the world. If anything, we are more honest about our feelings than most people. Everyone out there has something to hide--except for me and my monkey!! A wise man said that!

[docrobbysherry]

What a thot provoking thread, Cassi! In MY EXPERIENCE, many of us R MAIN STREAM! If u simply changed our "hobby" from dressing to model railroading, most vanilla folks would simply think, "Boring!" And, nothing much else!

I'm single and could visit daring, dirty, and/or X rated dress related venues if I chose to. But, I have no desire for any of that!

I agree with u, MANY of us would be considered MAIN STREAM if there wasn't such a stigma attached to what we do!

[suchacutie]

Cassandra, I think you could be on to something here in the sense that although we see at least a part of our selves as crossing the gender boundry, much of the rest of our being is probably considered rather "normal" by most people in many ways. Just looking at this forum, we are everywhere and in every walk of life. We make our presence felt everywhere from Walmart to Mac stores, from Payless to every department store in the world, from grocery stores to Starbucks! Our currency makes a statement, and as has been pointed out, that statement is noticed. I have no doubt that if I were to walk into any Mac store or Mac counter in the world and show them my foundation they wouldn't bat an eyelash about getting me a replacement, or even suggesting a slightly different tint, or adding all manner of other products!

In the end money talks, and we are being accepted simply because they want our business to start with. We all have an effect through our pocketbooks, and that makes all of us "out" in one sense or another!

Fascinating!

tina