JamieG
09-02-2012, 09:51 AM
I have always thought of myself as someone who believes that what's on the inside of a person is more important than what's on the outside. I was a scrawny boy who turned into a scrawny man; not the sort of person that most women would look twice at. However, I was okay with myself because I thought I was reasonably smart and a good friend, with an okay, if somewhat twisted, since of humor. I would shake my head at people who spent hours every day in the gym or who felt they needed nose jobs or breast implants or whatever.
That said, I'm a bit surprised by the changes in my body image since I've started crossdressing more seriously. At first, I felt that being skinny was finally an asset. A negative en homme is viewed as a plus en femme. But I couldn't be happy. I've started to really be bothered by my nose (not that I plan to change it), I've become concerned as my weight has inched up. A few weeks ago I did a photoshoot in a bikini, and was especially anxious about a little roll of fat that has taken hold around my belly. Most people who have seen the photos say I look fine, but I keep finding flaws. The strange thing is, no one has told me "You look fat," so where is this coming from? Am I falling for the media's vision of what a woman is supposed to look like? The impossibly thin Barbie doll?
So this is where the feminism part comes in. I like to think of myself as a feminist. Obviously, born male, I can never truly understand what it is like to be a woman. However, I believe in equal pay and opportunities for women, I believe that young girls should be encouraged to be scientists, CEOs, athletes, etc. I am pro-choice. And yet, I STILL find myself falling into this body image trap. If the media forces are so insidious, how do young women avoid it? Don't get me wrong, it would be hypocritical of me to condemn dressing up and looking your best, but what bothers me is an obsession with what is "wrong" with you, as opposed to being happy and confident with who you are.
I welcome responses from everyone, but am especially interested in hearing from the GGs. What are your feelings on our culture's view of the ideal woman, the pressure put on women to achieve that ideal, and how do we combat it? I am especially concerned for my two little girls. How do I protect them?
That said, I'm a bit surprised by the changes in my body image since I've started crossdressing more seriously. At first, I felt that being skinny was finally an asset. A negative en homme is viewed as a plus en femme. But I couldn't be happy. I've started to really be bothered by my nose (not that I plan to change it), I've become concerned as my weight has inched up. A few weeks ago I did a photoshoot in a bikini, and was especially anxious about a little roll of fat that has taken hold around my belly. Most people who have seen the photos say I look fine, but I keep finding flaws. The strange thing is, no one has told me "You look fat," so where is this coming from? Am I falling for the media's vision of what a woman is supposed to look like? The impossibly thin Barbie doll?
So this is where the feminism part comes in. I like to think of myself as a feminist. Obviously, born male, I can never truly understand what it is like to be a woman. However, I believe in equal pay and opportunities for women, I believe that young girls should be encouraged to be scientists, CEOs, athletes, etc. I am pro-choice. And yet, I STILL find myself falling into this body image trap. If the media forces are so insidious, how do young women avoid it? Don't get me wrong, it would be hypocritical of me to condemn dressing up and looking your best, but what bothers me is an obsession with what is "wrong" with you, as opposed to being happy and confident with who you are.
I welcome responses from everyone, but am especially interested in hearing from the GGs. What are your feelings on our culture's view of the ideal woman, the pressure put on women to achieve that ideal, and how do we combat it? I am especially concerned for my two little girls. How do I protect them?