The future of CD?

[Bima]

If you would speculate freely, what does the future hold for crossdressers and/or crossdressing?

For example, will the acceptance for CDs/CDIng in the society increase or reduce?

Will the borders between how women and men dress get erased?

Will scientific progress enable m2f bodyswapping on a whim? ;-)

Feel free to speculate what the future, say in 25 years time from now or any given time horizon, may be likely to look like.

Let's have some fun! :-)

/Bima

P.S. No need to respond on the particular 3 questions above, unless you want to. They merely aim to stimulate and exemplify the discussion.

[kimdl93]

25 years from now, it will be possible to convey your consciousness, thoughts, all your memories to a vast array of quantum servers. You will live in the Internet, observe the world through interfaces as varied as refrigerators, smoke monitors and rain gauges...and while your physical body will have long since been disposed of at a rendering plant for fuel production, pet food and fertilizer, you'll be entertained by subroutines that simulate life as a physical being, gender and other attributes to be determined at random.

[Barbie Anne]

Ok I don't want to play now and I'm never watching the matrix again :)

[Marcelle]

Hi Bima,

Interesting thread . . . hmm let me put on my head scarf and gaze into my crystal ball . . . Kaza, Kaza tell me crystal ball what does the future hold? :) Okay, I'll get serious . . . Isha can get a bit silly sometimes so my wife tells me.

I believe CDing will become more mainstream and accepted. We are already seeing younger gals coming out to the world with all the confidence of "I am here accept me or don't but I am not going anywhere". In addition, from my own experience I find people don't care when they see me out. Probably has something to do with being too wrapped up in their own lives to worry about the guy in the dress. However, this will depend on the political will of the day. It is possible down the line that some global uber-dictator will control the destiny of all and CDing will be outlawed but I like to think that won't happen. :)

Will male/female dressing lines disappear. I don't think so. Blend yes but disappear no. I don't think guys will suddenly start wearing sundresses just because it is fashionable. I also believe that even if clothing went neutral (pants, tops, shoes) there would still be subtle differences between male and female neutral garb.

MtF swapping in 25 years time? I doubt the technology will be there. I am sure medical science will grow leaps and bounds when it comes to SRS and cosmetic procedures to make you look more feminine or masculine. Just like I am sure by that time you will be able to walk into a esthetician and say, remove all my body hair with the "Dude looks like a lady laser machine" (don' steal my idea as I am going to have that name trademarked . . . okay being silly again). :)

So 25 years from now . . . I like to think the future is bright for us gals . . . but then again by that time I will be hoping that they can turn back the clock on us older gals by 20 or 30 years :battingeyelashes:

Crystal ball and Isha out.

Hugs

Isha

[Tina_gm]

If we continue the path we are on, it will continue to be more accepted. I think though, that the blending of styles may wax and wane. Right now we are seeing a blending of styles, specifically the mens fashions, more colors, more choices and more androgyny. That may be a phase, and I do think there will always be a definitive difference with fashions, and I actually want there to be. Although I do also think it is ok that there is a blending of fashion as well.

[mikiSJ]

I was going to post earlier, but Kim had me looking for the commercial grade aluminum foil. Now that the windows are covered....

What will CDing look like in future? My guess is that much of the more progressive cultures will have worked out clothing options such that any CDing will be indistinguishable from other people walking down the street in urban areas. Part of CDing is being able to identify with you opposite gender, in most cases, feminine. If, in the future their is little to distinguish the masculine from the feminine then CDers will need to find other methods of gender expression.

[Rhonda Darling]

After consulting the magic orb, I've determined that there are 20 possible outcomes to the question "will Crossdressing be different in the future?" Those possibilities are . . . . . . . ready for it . . . . . . .
● It is certain
● It is decidedly so
● Without a doubt
● Yes definitely
● You may rely on it
● As I see it, yes
● Most likely
● Outlook good
● Yes
● Signs point to yes
● Reply hazy try again
● Ask again later
● Better not tell you now
● Cannot predict now
● Concentrate and ask again
● Don't count on it
● My reply is no
● My sources say no
● Outlook not so good
● Very doubtful

Take your pick.

Rhonda, always behind the 8 ball.

[MeDeanna]

I love this question because I do think the path of evolution is bringing us as a civilization closer to accepting the fact that male/female traits exist in every individual. I believe the LGBT community is evidence that like anything living in this world, nature does not have hard-and-fast rules for homo sapiens.

But, there are days when being yourself is an uphill battle.

[daarleane]

If I were to speculate freely about the future. I see a fundamental change in society.As women become more independent financially primarily due to education, the whole of society will change. Already I see men in TV commercials doing "women's work" and raising the children because the woman is the "breadwinner". Do I see men's fashion changing? Probably, but very slowly because it means redefining "masculinity" and "femininity" and marriage. Darn, my crystal ball broke again, next time I won't buy one on clearance but it was so cheap and cute and it matched my decor.

[mykell]

i believe it has already evolved, the younger clubbing sect was never seen and most likely never be accepted in my youth.

i hope that the borders remain, i think that is why i have fun with it. but thoughts of "ruby" "Buzzzzzzt" in "the fifth element" come to mind.
hope in the future we will all receive the rock star treatment of a reality show judge that can wear women's clothes next to one of the more beautiful women of this time (i have some of her clothing line) and not even here a weird comment about it.
then later see that person in full femme.

i remember a movie where they invented a machine that could record your thoughts and feelings, then someone else could play it back and and have those sensations, always wanted it to be true, and one day feel what it really does feel to be a women, not just pretend.
so maybe something like that in the future since your talking 25 years, but i wont be around to see it....

[Sheren Kelly]

My expectation is over the coming years we will continue to make advances due to those brave souls who are willing to live openly and true to themselves, while there will be setbacks as some marginal people will try to excuse their failings as gender related (for every 2 steps forward, 1 step back). But eventually there will be an acceptance of diversity in gender and other aspects of life. Individual TG people will become a part of everyday life and find themselves being judged/objectified for their appearance much like GGs are today.

[Helen Grandeis]

Many companies now have firm policies that their employees must be able to recite requiring equal treatment of CD customers.

[Ineke Vashon]

Twenty five years from now I will be a centenarian, sitting in my rocking chair going: "Harrumpph. Why, in my day......" :devil:

However, to use just one example of rapid change, recall the sudden long hairstyles on men after the Beatles had been in the US. Can happen in small ways or big ways.

Ineke

[Tina B.]

Played this game back in the 50's, I'm still waiting for my flying car, I' think I'll pass on this one, I don't want to depress anyone.

[sometimes_miss]

If you would speculate freely, what does the future hold for crossdressers and/or crossdressing? For example, will the acceptance for CDs/CDIng in the society increase or reduce?
We will become more accepted, just like homosexuality and minorities have, to the point where we won't be noticed much.

Will the borders between how women and men dress get erased?
Probably not so much; men will dress in ways that we think will get women to notice us, and women will do the reverse. Appearance is the primary thing that we notice about another, way before we know anything else about someone we're attracted to.

Will scientific progress enable m2f bodyswapping on a whim? ;-)
Not likely in the even near future. That will stay in science fiction.

While gender bending in general will increase in visibility, I don't think there will be any great change in what women find attractive and/or a sexual turn on in their men, nor will there be much of a change in what turns them off (feminine behavior/appearance which could make our masculinity suspect). So much of attraction is based on subconscious thoughts and beliefs, what people like to refer to as chemistry (although psychologists have figured it all out, most don't want to believe that, preferring to believe in magical thinking, fate, a higher power directing their lives, etc.).

[Melissa in SE Tn]

I see a very bright future ahead for our lifestyle. There is no question that the pendulum of cd stigma is swinging from contempt to ambivalence; not yet full acceptance but ranging with ambivalence. That range has come because of the army of cders that venture out into public + the volumes of men who are closeted cders + the greater demonization of our culture + the legal / societal advances of the LGBT movement. What I have randomnly observed is that there are many more men , then statistically estimated, that enjoy wearing some form of female clothing / undergarments . It is no secret that wearing female undergarments is sexual, peaceful & wonderful. What man can honestly deny those factors?
It has been well spoken by my forum colleagues that the younger generation of cders will face a totally different cd environment when they reach middle age. That generation is so fortunate. Again, the only constant in life is change... & the cd evolution of acceptance ( even if passive ) cannot be stopped because our numbers grow exponentially . Peace to all, Melissa

[Jacqueline Winona]

I don't see much fundamental change. Some places will be more open and accepting, but the workplace isn't going to change all that much and most women aren't going to like CD with their significant others more in the future than they do now. I can see more people working from home where htey will have more opportunities to dress. And the body changing thing is unlikely IMO. :)

[Leslie Langford]

25 years from now, it will be possible to convey your consciousness, thoughts, all your memories to a vast array of quantum servers. You will live in the Internet, observe the world through interfaces as varied as refrigerators, smoke monitors and rain gauges...and while your physical body will have long since been disposed of at a rendering plant for fuel production, pet food and fertilizer, you'll be entertained by subroutines that simulate life as a physical being, gender and other attributes to be determined at random.

You mean we're all going to end up as holograms "living" in a "Soylent Green" version of the physical world??? Yikes!

[Chari]

A lot of "food for thought" from previous posts! In fashion and makeup, we are already at another level than even one generation ago. There has been feminine "boyfriend" attire, and men's clothing has blossomed out with bold bright colors, softer materials, and more trim fitted fashions. Even some shoe styles, both gals and guys, look alike, as do sweaters. jackets. and some jeans. The makeup scene is growing & will continue to get huge as more guys are "taking care of their body" including facial and body surgery, as women have done for years. Some future changes will be created by fashion, while others may be influenced by health and government safety issues. and may cause a "blending" of genders. Most of us are not privileged to "see" what is now happening behind the scenes with secret testing, and will have to wait for those new moments of discovery.

[kimdl93]

You mean we're all going to end up as holograms "living" in a "Soylent Green" version of the physical world??? Yikes!

Yes, it is inevitable. Resistance is futile.

Well, actually not everyone will be able to afford digitizations. I'm afraid pet food is the only other option.

[Beverley Sims]

Bima,
In my humble opinion.........
Acceptance in cross-dressing will gain momentum.
Borders may get blurred between how men and women dress, but don't hold your breath.
Individual choice reigns supreme here.
The opposites will still want to attract and will wear clothing appropriate to the moment.
Scientific progress will enable body swapping.
You will just have to watch Deep space Nine to keep up to date on that. :)

It is quite likely I will still be around in twenty five years but the acceptance of cross-dressing may not have fully evolved by then.

Taxes will still be in vogue and the picture of the reigning president of the moment will still feature on the three dollar bill.
That is the only forecast I am prepared to make. :)

See what I have to say on this subject in the forum twenty five years from now........
I might have a new avatar by then.

[Lynn Marie]

I don't see much change at all. The laws may change and workplace rules may change, but I just don't see any universal acceptance of guys in dresses! We'll always be pervs. The best I hope for is just being ignored, and that's pretty much what I see right now.

[Adriana Moretti]

as cliche as it sounds... on a to know your future is to know your past kinda thing...how far has it come really in the past 30, 40, years?? It been very small babysteps if it made any progress at all...but the biggest advancement has to be the internet and its wealth of knowledge, which has been a great help to everyone socially and educationally ...maybe this is the tool to use to make it more acceptable to people as well..Maybe future generations will be more accepting...that type of acceptance to alternative lifestyles has been steadily increasing already. Now if we could just get those closet queens to stop posting dirty pictures on facebook...we might improve our image.

[lesli]

last year one of the designers made a line of unisex clothing, dresses for guys, that didn't seem to make it out this year--too bad. all of the lines in our society are blurring there is not reason to believe that CD-ing will not reap the benefits.
hugs,
lesli

[grace7777]

CDing is a lot more accepted now than it was 25 or 50 years ago, and I think its acceptance will continue to grow over the next 25 years.

As far as predicting the next 25 years, all I can say is the world will be a lot different than it is now.

[Alice Torn]

Lynn Marie, I tend to agree with you on this one. I know it seems pessimistic. There will be more acceptance among a minority, i think, but the vast majority will still not accept men dressed as women. I see issues that will dwarf this, such as food and water shortages, war, and mere survival, of life on earth.

[busker]

Hi Bima,
I believe CDing will become more mainstream and accepted.

Isha needs to read the NYTIMES more often even though she lives in another country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/us/religious-right-in-arizona-cheers-bill-allowing-businesses-to-refuse-to-serve-gays.html?hp

As the US gets to be MORE conservative, it will not likely happen. Sorry, but I think that there is simply too much pink fog rolling in . If one can dress and get out in one's community without getting beat up, be thankful, enjoy, and hope your little part of the world becomes more liberal. Generally, it "ain't " going to happen. After 7 decades on the pale blue dot, I've seen liberal California turn into something else that is not really a fun place to be--yeah, maybe S.F. or parts of L.A. but the rest of the state is getting to be like the South 50 years ago. Like 12-step programs, knowing what you can or cannot change is a great part of survival.

[Susan L]

Well no one can know the future but I pray to God that we see more acceptance for CD's across the board. I do believe that science will make M2F extremely easy in the future, I just wish I was there. I would like to think that in 25 years we have matured enough to let people dress as they feel is right for them, not what other people feel is right for them.
Here's an interesting fact that does relate to crossdressing and the acceptance or non-acceptance by the public. My mother told me that when she was a teenager, girls started to wear pants! OMG. Her grandmother had fits, tried to get her mother to not allow that type of behavior, imagine, girls wearing articles of clothes that only men are allowed to wear. Her grandmother even went so far as to predict that if they continued to wear pants they would all turn out bad! Wow, sound family?

[Lorileah]

I have watched a lot of future science fiction movies and one of two things will happen. Men will dress like they do now and women will dress in teeny tiny dresses and heels even when fighting the evil Zorks. Or everyone will wear coveralls that look like everyone else.

[Leslie Langford]

Yes, busker - pretty sad to see what's happening in Arizona these days. Vladimir Putin and his ilk would feel right at home there with their homophobic politics.

But in the name of avoiding any possible hypocrisy here, one can only hope that this proposed legislation legitimizing the denial of the rights of others on the basis of individual religious views will also include a provision for legalizing polygamous marriages of the type favored by the Mormons. After all, what could be more Biblical than that? The Old Testament is full of instances of polygamy, including keeping concubines to provide offspring to family patriarchs whose wives proved to be "barren".

Of course, maybe the real reason for this "barrenness" was that these "macho" men's sperm counts were just too low, but we'll never know...

[Marcelle]

Isha needs to read the NYTIMES more often even though she lives in another country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/us/religious-right-in-arizona-cheers-bill-allowing-businesses-to-refuse-to-serve-gays.html?hp

Well thank you kindly for the "reality check". Sorry don't read the NYTimes as it has too much of a conservative agenda for this Liberal Canadian gal. If you note by my comment I said "I believe it is getting more mainstream". I am not naïve enough to believe there are still challenges. But I stand corrected . . . duly noted from my little corner of Narnia.

Hugs

Isha

[rah]

Here's a question of my own if u crossdress in public won't people think u a trans? & if so what exactly is cding is it meant to be done secretly?

[Shy_Confusion]

I'm going to have to disagree with a few of you gals.
In 25 years I believe people will be a lot more accepting. In 25 years most of the old school of conservatism will either have passed on or will be too old to wield any power. The younger generation of conservatives are a lot more apathetic towards the LGBT lifestyle. I've always had a diverse group of friends from the super liberal to the super conservative. As the years have passed there's been a fundamental shift in attitude in my right wing friends from "Hate those people!" to "I don't really care what they do as long as they stay away from me!" on to "Hey! Have you met my gay/lesbian friend(s)." The older crowd hasn't budged much at all.

As for that whole super-duper sex change machine? I believe it will be $19.95 plus $3.95 S&H on a late night infomercial. ;)

[busker]

if u crossdress in public won't people think u a trans?
That is an interesting point to make, and perhaps in the eye of the beholder, you may be in more danger that "just" being a cd. I was going to make a separate thread but here is another question to add to yours? For guys with gynecomastia, it would seem logical to wear a bra (if we hadn't fethishized it to death) as a support garment, but doing so in public could put the wearer in harm's way for being seen as a TS, who for many people are neither fish nor fowl. Talk about homophobia. at last reckoning on the gynecomastia web site about 14 thousand + men have had double mastectomies, all in the name of society. So, if guys with a true medical problem can't do what they should be able to do, can one really envision cd's casually strolling about amid a society that forces people to undergo a surgery that is both expensive and dangerous? And, to top it off, it may NOT do the trick. nature can be obstinate sometimes, and re-grow what we cut off (some exceptions to that ).
In the USA, about 50% of the people alive are over 50, and it seems to hold through history, that as people age, they get more conservative about many things. I am pretty liberal but I have noticed it even in my own thinking and I'm reasonably well educated, and should be able to see issues better, but..... Younger people are more liberal generally, but soon many will have jobs (don't ask when) and families and their concerns will switch to ensure that they survive in a largely hostile world. It is still survival of the fittest in many senses, so conservatism will engage when necessary. I hate to seem like a party pooper but one must be realistic. I try to do my thing without "accidentally" getting run down crossing the street in my own neighborhood.

Isha, didn't mean to tramp on you with a jackboot, but the reality is that politicians here represent a certain, and large segment of the population to whom we are anathema. (that's a pretty strong word, but I think it is what it called for).

[kimdl93]

..

Of course, maybe the real reason for this "barrenness" was that these "macho" men's sperm counts were just too low, but we'll never know...

It seems like years ago when I read about how PCBs were reducing male sperm counts, how estrogens levels in male Florida panthers were higher than female panthers and male alligator penises were 25% smaller. The article suggested that Congress might be concerned because objectively they were half the men they thought they were. My brother countered that Congress would be happy that they were half the pricks they thought they were!

[Eryn]

Things have changed greatly and will continue to change.

I worked in aerospace 35 years ago and if one of my colleagues would have come out as gay his security clearance would have been revoked and he would have been fired. Being TG was so far beyond the pale that it wasn't even considered in discussions but there is no doubt that it would have resulted in similar treatment.

I currently have a friend who is TS and works in a similar job to the one I had. Her employer (a major player in the industry) is paying for her surgery.

That's how far we have come. While we may not have the JoeBubbaBobs in the deep south accepting us, we are becoming very mainstream in most of the country.

I was out last night with four CD friends and our spouses at a live performance. With four CDers, Persephone's Law just about guarantees that we will be made. Still, everything was fine with the other patrons and one of the GGs even complimented me on my dress and asked where I bought it. After the show, the producer came out to meet us and told us how glad she was that we were there.

I will disagree with Busker about older people becoming more conservative. While they may do so in some ways, their broad range of experiences often make them more tolerant of others. The people we should be concerned about are the young and middle-age redneck types who often act before engaging their brains. Those are the ones that commit violence against TG people.

[kimdl93]

Actually, I agree with Eryn that things are better and based on my life experience will continue to improve for CDrs and transgendered people.

[Allisa]

I think when the ones who altered our DNA to make us evolve into homo sapiens return all questions will be answered, and we will be considered the elite. Oh wait crossdressing right?I think styles may change but not mind sets. The old boys with the money rule the world and I see no change in sight, sorry. The cup is half empty on this one. Well anyway...


Bye-Bye Lisa

[Marcelle]

Things have changed greatly and will continue to change.

While we may not have the JoeBubbaBobs in the deep south accepting us, we are becoming very mainstream in most of the country.

LOL Eryn . . . JoeBubbaBobs . . . haven't heard that one before . . . love it, made me laugh.

Within the Canadian military up until the 80s being TG was sure way to discharge. Now being TG is supported by policy and SRS is covered. So I still think that while there is and always will be that part of society which believes we are weird, sick and perverted I don't believe they speak for the majority.

Hugs

Isha

[Milou]

More accepted, but never fully accepted. Maybe to some degree, but it will take at least 20 years.

The border will be smaller, but never erased. It's happening in Asia, but the border is still there.

Scientific progress may enable things like virtual reality for gaming purposes. Anything can happen, maybe they'll find something to erase our crossdressing urges.

[Michelle789]

Will scientific progress enable m2f bodyswapping on a whim? ;-)

Not likely in the even near future. That will stay in science fiction.


Nothing is science fiction. Anything that seems like science fiction to us today is science reality tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that in 1914 if you told someone that you could use a device in the palm of your hand to talk to someone half way across the world, or to gain information about any subject under the sun, they would've called science fiction on you. Yet, today the internet and smart phones are reality.

Now there may be political agendas or ethical issues with body swapping, and it may take a long time to get to perfecting it, but I would never rule out any such possibility. Yeah, it probably won't happen in our lifetimes, but the future generations may see it. Maybe such a technology is 1000 years away.


As the US gets to be MORE conservative, it will not likely happen. Sorry, but I think that there is simply too much pink fog rolling in . If one can dress and get out in one's community without getting beat up, be thankful, enjoy, and hope your little part of the world becomes more liberal. Generally, it "ain't " going to happen. After 7 decades on the pale blue dot, I've seen liberal California turn into something else that is not really a fun place to be--yeah, maybe S.F. or parts of L.A. but the rest of the state is getting to be like the South 50 years ago. Like 12-step programs, knowing what you can or cannot change is a great part of survival.

"parts of L.A" - so are you implying that if parts of L.A. are accepting that other parts of L.A. are like the deep south was 50 years ago? Please tell me which parts, so I can avoid them.

If California is turning into the deep south the way it was 50 years ago, then will the deep south revert back to the way it was in 1814?

I can see some parts of the US getting more conservative. But I think in large cities, it's getting more progressive and more accepting of CDing and TSes. Also, the big cities are most likely where you will go to for high paying jobs, and as the future progresses more of the younger generation is moving into big cities and out of the rural and suburban areas.

I also think that money drives everything. A lot of what is accepted and not accepted will depend on how much money is involved. A lot of what does occur in technological development will depend on how much money it makes.


I can see more people working from home where htey will have more opportunities to dress.

Working from home, that's a major if. I think more jobs will eventually allow flexibility in hours, and working part of the job from home and part of it from the office. Our survival instincts may prevent us from working from home completely. Hint: if a big disaster occurs and pushes us back 5000 years in technology, no one is working from home. It's our survival instincts keep us in the office, as well as some old generation people who run businesses that are stuck in old ways of doing things.


I will disagree with Busker about older people becoming more conservative. While they may do so in some ways, their broad range of experiences often make them more tolerant of others. The people we should be concerned about are the young and middle-age redneck types who often act before engaging their brains. Those are the ones that commit violence against TG people.

Yes the younger rednecks have more testosterone and are more driven towards acts of violence than some old redneck. The old redneck may still reject their transgender child, but unlikely to commit murder. It is the older generation that is driving most of the anti-gay, anti-trans, legislation in this country. In 20 years they'll all be dead so there will be few people to push such legislation. Most of the younger generation wants to see progress for gays and transgender people.


most women aren't going to like CD with their significant others more in the future than they do now.

That's because most women want a man 100% of the time. The women who will accept their CDing husbands (or TS ones too) are generally tomboys or more masculine women. Some masculine women may want a CD so they can swap roles sometimes.

[devida]

I love this topic. I expect that within 25 years gender will become more a matter of fashion than identity with cosmetic surgery and perhaps genetic manipulation being relatively trivial. One of the driving forces of the economy over the last 50 years has been the creation of ever smaller niches in consumer patterns, avidly sought by producers. Selling to the transgender community is the new bright and shiny object in advertisers eyes which is why we are seeing so much more transgender news and, by the way, why Facebook has just allowed 52 types of gender identification in fb profiles. High fashion which is the forerunner to mainstream acceptance is already quite androgynous. This will only become more evident over the years. The pattern of social justice and social acceptance tends to follow the law which is certainly in the Western World becoming more and more conscious of the importance of human rights issues, including discrimination against transgender folk. This doesn't, of course, mean that gender variance will be universally accepted. There are plenty of men who dislike women working and how long have women been doing that? The answer is in large numbers since WWII, but despite that a sizable minority of American men would rather their wives stay at home. Needless to say this number includes a majority who simply cannot afford that. So I expect within 25 years pretty much full acceptance that gender roles are very varied but a continuation of seething resentment against this by a minority. Of course this all assumes that catastrophic climate change does not occur within this time period. If it does I would expect something quite different, including a probable reversion to hyper conservative gender trends among the victims of it not to mention a rise in religiosity with an associated repression of progressive goals and a reduction in societal acceptance of diversity.

[Jessica EnFemme]

I think for any "25 years from now" guess, you have to look back at how much changed from 25 years ago to now. How much has really changed? Computers are faster I guess, displays are much higher resolution... but really, how different is it from 1989?

What has changed a lot is maybe not acceptance, but at least more tolerance of gays (considering they can now marry, which was completely out of the question 25 years ago). Hopefully the "T" part of LGBT will continue to progress as much as LGB has.

[devida]

Busker asks: if u crossdress in public won't people think u a trans?

My understanding is that transgender is the umbrella term which includes m2f cross dressers, f2m cross dressers, and all the flavors of gender variety that aren't cisgender male or cisgender female. I have no interest in either transitioning to female biologically or even passing as a woman but I certainly wear women's clothes and am proud to think of myself as trans and quite happy to be seen that way. Cross dressing is an presentation of gender variance. Whether you pass as your gender of choice or not is not quite the same thing as identifying as a gender other than your assigned gender at birth. That gender does not have to be either male or female. It can be both, either, neither, or change depending only on how you feel. It also does not matter if you cross dress only by yourself or for the whole world to see. You do what you do because that is who you are. The only rule is to be true to yourself and that is an exploration not a goal.

[FemPossible]

Who knows? Lots of different things were thought to be impossible until society shifted in favor of them. Maybe crossdressing needs more awareness. Today all people really know about are drag queens and transsexuals. Mention crossdressing and they'll just figure it's a word associated with one of the forementioned.

[julia marie]

Putting on my future goggles:
One thing definitely happens, and that is that people who are comfortable in clothing that once was associated with one gender will wear those clothes and a growing number of people will accept (or at least not care about) the difference. Prediction: Guys who where skirts will catch a second look only if they have nice legs/nice skirt or if the viewer is stuck in the 1950s. Consider how far we have progressed in the past 10 years with gay marriage and things like gay portrayals on TV and in movies. i know, we aren't in nirvana yet, but look at the progress.
Second prediction: Someone who wins $400 million in the lottery (I didn't this week), will fund research into what I'll call "memory sharing". It's not about cross dressing but about the ability to see the world through someone else's mind. Suppose you could save the memories (at least minutes worth) of another gender or someone like a star athlete or dancer or rock star. I think I would pay those millions to catch 10 minutes of how a woman views/feels. Suppose you could implant a memory chip into a woman for a day and save her memory of what her day/night felt like -- mentally and physically -- and make those memories availble for download. Or, capture the memories of the two Superbowl quarterbacks for later download?
Imagine the perspectives this would give us all. So, no body swapping but greater acceptance but maybe some memory swapping.

[lingerieLiz]

If earth is still here, we all will be living in our bug out shelters defending our ever lower levels of food supplies. So you need to buy all the pretty fem stuff you can now because the hordes will have ransacked all the stores. Just joking, but there are a lot of people who spend a lot of money being prepared for it.

I do think that we will see more acceptance of gender differences. Having been a CD for over 50 years, when I started if you were caught out of your home you would be arrested. I didn't know it until several years after I was going out and about. Fifty years ago most people had no idea that people did such things. Twenty five years ago it was more known. Today most people know.

[Kate Simmons]

Realistically, this question is kind of moot for myself. In 25 years I will be 91. If, indeed, I am still here at all. That being the case it matters little to myself, so I will enjoy now.:)

[noeleena]

Hi,

And poor old worm will still be there with not a word to say, and the Eagle will look down and wonder they the mad lot down there still dont get it , just use the fig leaf worked before so it'll work again, two for the men and 4 for the women, spos they'll say do we have to hold them on ...... yet again...... oh no,

...noeleena...

[Jordan]

What I hope is lust like everyone else that society one day will accept us for who we are

[Katey888]

OK - I'm the eternal optimist with this one... :cheer:

Yes - things will get better for us, CD/TG folk - there will be some decent academic research into gender variance and we will benefit from it...

No - the fashion divide won't get erased - but I think it will blur a lot more than today (Good old Becks and his sarong will make a comeback...:D)

No - I don't think 'body-swapping' will happen in the next 25 years - or relatively easy SRS for that matter... but 75-100 - yes.. It'll be like a McD's drive-in...
"What'll it be today sir...?"
"Oh, lissom, leggy brunette please..."
****ZAP****!!!
"Thanks for shopping at TransGender World miss - have a nice day!"

And I think Kate has it right again - enjoy it now - remember:

The past is dead - the present stinks - and even the future isn't what it used to be... :thinking:

Katey x

[Kate Simmons]

Pretty much Katey. As Marty McFly found out, we have to go back to the future to find the past or whatever! :battingeyelashes::)

[Bima]

Hi all,

Many many thanks for sharing your visions of the CD-future. I enjoyed immensely reading them all, learned a lot, and gained new insights. There is plenty of food for thoughts in all the inputs, that’s for sure, and I think they are better suited standing on their own rather than being summed up here.

In any case, what I really liked was the span of ideas, ranging from the likely, serious, and realistic side, to the imaginative, playful and speculative extreme. If we cover all, we can never be wrong :-)

Also, I noted that the forecasts are quite optimistic in general, which is positive. I think one thing that was not discussed in any depth was the outlook for CDs in other parts of the world (I assume that we mainly represent US, and western countries here, which imply a certain perspective). I’m not convinced that the progress and the way ahead for CDs is that smooth in all other countries, especially whenever fanatics get into power. Also, I think the field of technology has a lot to offer for the total CD experience :-)

I hope this can be a living thread with more exciting inputs to come. I surely enjoyed reading every comment from everyone, and looking forward for more.

Thanks again,
/Bima

[Jeninus]

All other things being equal, it is likely that with greater acceptance of gay marriage, CDers will also find greater acceptance - in general. In the particular, not so much as we will still need to come out to family, friends and our employers and coworkers, where acceptance, being personal, is far more problematic. There will also always be aggressive males who will prey on CDers whom they perceive as weak and a disgrace to the male side - not to mention snot-nosed 12-year old girls and their shrill - "eeeh, isn't that a man in a dress?" questions.

On the macro social scale, the same side of the political spectrum that seeks the votes of the LBGT community (and their political contributions) is also easing the way for an ever-increasing influx of adherents of the "religion of peace" (for their votes) that holds it's OK to stone rape victims to death and mutilate the genitals of young girls. If that crowd gets to set laws and social norms in the future (looking 50 - 75 years ahead), we'll be deep in the closet again. That's for CDing. On a slightly brighter note, it should be remembered that Iran has a religiously approved and relatively liberal policy on SRS, so it may become a choice of cutting off your CDing, or cutting off your "thing."

[Wildaboutheels]

I don't think there is any doubt about it.

At all.

Most "reasonable" people DO NOT currently care. [strangers] Anyone who goes out already is aware of this. And they will care even less so in the future. Both men and women. Women will "need" men even less than today because of many factors. Which means fewer men will have Relationships with women as women will get/are getting ever pickier. Anyone who has spent any time at all on a Dating site most likely has witnessed it. More men will "turn to" CDing for companionship and like most here they won't be wearing granny dresses and flats.

I also predict that more stores will carry heels in larger sizes. MUCH larger. I have already seen this in my own area. It used to be that only 2 of the 8 Payless stores within 20 minutes of me carried much in the way of 12s or 13s. Now the one just a few home runs away from me is starting to stock them. Have not been to any of the other stores in a couple of years so I can't speak about them.

[Janine cd]

Acceptance will come in time, but I fear not in my lifetime.

[Ms. Alexis]

Like many I think that issues of gender will become less and less of an issue and it will be more commonplace to see people of all gender combinations out in the open. Prejudice is Prejudice, and in most modern societies we see the world around us go down the pecking order in terms of equality and freedom... Sufferage, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation.. and someday it will get down to all of those diverse in gender. Of course it's a slow process and all overlap. Hell the first real push was for Women's rights and women still aren't treated equally even though they are 50% of the population! So Yes.. Changes are coming, but ever so Slowly. The Scary part is that in countries like Russia and all of these predominantly Muslim countries things are heading the other direction... Very Scary.