On the level?

[ophelia]

Society is growing up. In my last outing (way back in the fall) in Montreal I was treated on the level by many women, sales people, stylists and such. I got compliments, and got called "girl", "dear" and "sister"....I dress infrequently so this is always kinda new.
This never happened even ten years ago.
Can you girls relate to this?

[Jaylyn]

In general societies will change. Some changes are for the good of all people and sometimes change can be bad. Change is hard for some folks to embrace and some changes will be embraced by all. I watch the History Channel (lol) and enjoy looking at all the great nations we have ever had in the world. Some of them changed so much that they became extinct. My understanding it is in some societies today. I pray our nations will change so that all will be able to come together in one great society that is accepting of every one. Now the history lesson. That has never and will most likely will never happen in our world today. I mean look at today's standards in the U.S. and even in Canada where all men and women are created equally. How can we explain that when there are so many haters of racial, religions, and even just a group of guys that just want to dress feminine? I believe that some areas are more accepting than others. Maybe you are in one of those places. If a cd in Texas wants acceptance then they need to be in a large city where they just kind of blend in with a group they are accepted in. In the rural areas it is still very hard for the LGBT and cd to be accepted. Even in our small town I live close to, we have a GG that is becoming a man. She/he has fought a hard uphill battle to be who she/he wants to be. She/he now has a girlfriend and that has raised quite the stir amongst the town. I sit quietly and watch knowing my dressing would also cause a stir the same way if I dressed and went out publicly. Society in this town has changed because the church this couple used to attend when they both were GG split over the very topic. Ophelia societies seem to dictate what will be the norm and anything different is wrong to them. I hope that all will be more forgiving, loving and kinder to a person that's just a little different than what their society norms are. Didn't mean to go on such a long rant.... Sorry

[Adriana Moretti]

one of the many benifits of living in the information age....living in an urban area also opens up that door more too

[Chari]

In todays society, most people are aware of CD's, TG's, etc., and depending how you are presenting yourself, will use the "proper noun". Enjoy.

[CynthiaD]

Yeah. I live in the heart of red-neck land, and no one seems to give me a second glance. Thirty or forty years ago, it would have been very different.

[ClaireCole]

Only being 18, I don't know what ten years ago looked like, but I can talk for people my age. Nobody cares at all how you dress, and they know what to call you 95% of the time, the same with being gay or whatever. Obviously there can be exceptions, but generally its just older people that might get upset or make sure they call you Sir.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Ophelia, It sounds like your dance card was punched.

[Beverley Sims]

That sort of thing happened to me when I was twenty, about thirty I grew rough at the edges and it didn't happen quite so much.

Maybe my dance card got un punched.

[Marcelle]

Hi Ophelia,

I agree that society is growing up to a degree but like humans, growth and maturity don't always go hand in hand. Montreal tends to be a bit more cosmopolitan than other Canadian cities but for the most part, I find cities reasonable for accepting/tolerating what we do. I frequent Ottawa "en femme" and get a few guffaws, odd stares, nudges and a few rude comments but for the most part, people don't seem to care and if they do, they have the good graces to keep their comments, laughs or whatever until I pass. I find most store SAs are polite but that is their job and if they want to keep it, they best be polite. I am not saying the ones you encountered are not legitimate but we have to be careful not to ascribe tolerance to acceptance.

Hugs

Isha

[Kate Simmons]

Certainly if those professional folks have any good business sense, they will compliment their customers so they keep coming back. :battingeyelashes::)

[ophelia]

True Kate, But as I mentioned, ten years ago even in Ottawa, the capital of a progressive country, crossdressing was greeted with giggles, pointing, odd comments and threats...and crossdressing was dangerous business. I was asked to leave womens' wear stores several times, not because of management policy, but because of "comfort" for regular female customers.
That said, back then part of the thrill of crossdressing was that dangerous aspect of it. Now that's slowly being superceeded by acceptance, and compliments. Ophelia still doesn't go out in Ottawa, but that is not because of fear, it's because I work with children and I want to stay employed. With the speed of social media these days even a tiny spore of intolerance can grow into a giant stinkweed in mere hours. So Ophelia visits Montreal, Kingston and maybe this summer Toronto and she has a blast.

[Millie.Graham]

From my experience living in a large city people seem for the most part indifferent to my wearing pantyhose publicly for the last 16 years or so. My friends give a good ribbing every once in a while.

Having gone shopping en homme for a skirt, top, flats, bra, and panties for the first time. I found that the SAs ranged from indifferent to mildly curious, but always friendly and professional, if it came up in conversation I told them I was buying for me.

Finally I have listen quietly to several conversations over the years and in my circles )which I consider very conservative) people's attitudes towards people with gender identity issues is usually pretty much one of "whatever floats your boat". They just get upset when a minority group become militant and in your face and demands acceptance rather than tolerance.

All in all I think society has grown a little.

-Millie

[Wildaboutheels]

I have not seen any difference in 14 years. But I am "lucky" enough to live in Florida. I "dress" how I want and treat people right and it has worked flawlessly. I think in the case of businesses such as you describe, competition either across the street or online just a few mouse clicks away is fierce so most businesses with any sense will "train" their employees to treat customers right and not risk scaring them off.