why do people look at crossdressing weird

[sonyinohio]

in my own response to that i would have to say they need t study the history books because in japan or china i cant remember which the men play all the roles in plays even the females second in scotland men wear kilts which if you look at them are basicly a skirt "sorry to those irish"and look at a undercover police officer on sting for hookers they used to use men to do that

[suzy]

I had a discussion about this just last night... It is just societal norms for the current time period. It has varied over the years and will continue to vary.

The main source of the problem, in my humble opinion, stems from ignorance. The more educated a person becomes the more understanding he/she becomes....but unfortunately we have a lot of stupid people surviving in the world.:D

[Marcie Sexton]

Shock factor

Just think about our reaction when we see a person missing a limb, disfigured by an injury...It because they, we are different...you know, black & white factor...

That is the one thing I have learned from all my experiences after coming to terms with my dressing, my wifes dislike, later acceptance...TOLERANCE !!! I will admit as shameful as I see it now I was one who was one of the first to poke fun at some one different...now I am one of those that is different...funny how things come home to you...Lessons of life 099...a bone head coarse in life :2c:

[Sejd]

I care less and less about my preference of dressing like a woman. I'm coming out to more and more of my friends, and no one seem to take any offence of it. At most they just tell me how comfortable I seem lately. Off course I'm not going to shoot myself in the head and be Sejd when I am working as a business person, but stil, now my hair is really long and I wear two earings. No one seems to care though, they probably just find me exentric or hippie, and that's somehow OK. for us, off course it doesn't feel weird, but for so called "normal" people, yes, I can understand they find it somewhat weird.
hugs
Sejd:tongueout

[Samantha B L]

Hi Sonya,My opinion is that people look at crossdressing weird because they assume that anybody who would go that far must have all sorts of hidden and diabolical problems.In the U.S.A. a lot of people don't like what they perceive as "queers" and "sissies".The situation may be improving slightly but you can't always reason with those people.At least crossdressers have become a visible minority in the past 15 or 20 years.I mean I first found out about the availability of all this online Transgender stuff on a cable TV network news special about 4 years ago.The news report was sympathetic and pro TG. The same news report might not have been broadcast in 1965.I think many people react with fear and anger to things that strike them as "strange". Samantha

[tommi]

:Angry3: What upsets me is women can wear mens clothes pants slacks shirts shoes
and society doesn't care,yet we can not do with out getting the evil looks
and stares. I know I can't pass but still it just doesn't seem fair that I should
have to to be able to go out to a movie, dinner , dance or just to buy groceries. In my house I do 90 % of the cooking ,all the laundry,especially
the hand wash ,and 75% of the actual vacuuming and dusting.
Yet I can't be accepted outside in a skirt or nice dress.:chained:
THanks Girls just needed to vent a little been a long week.

[JoAnnDallas]

In the 1700's and up till sometime in the 1800's men used to wear lace blouses, tights, wigs, makeup, and high heels. This was considered as standard men fashion. Then sometime in the mid 1800's this all started to change. Now if a man would to wear the same items in public, he would be ridiculed for it. It is no longer considered as standard men fashion.

[RobertaFermina]

Gosh JoAnn,

So I can tell folks I'm going through my Louis XIV period ?

:heehee: Roberta

[Casey Morgan]

The standard answer is ignorance. But I think we need to look a little closer at that. It's just one of those things you hear growing up. And since a lot of people haven't (knowingly?) met a crossdresser or really seen what crossdressing truly is, they have no reason to doubt what they've heard. After all, how many things that you "know" have you questioned? Heck, that's what makes Mythbusters so popular. We don't question what we don't know not to be so.

[Kate Simmons]

Yep, men used to wear wigs, lace and ruffles. Guess we went backward, huh?:happy:

[janedoe311]

Crossdressing movies, Some like it hot, Tootsie, Rocky horror picture show, Mrs Doubtfire, Big Mamas house, these are the icons of CDing. Know very many if any movies that take TG/TS and crossdressing seriously? Then there is the other side, Friday the 13 series, Psycho and Dr Jeckle and Sister Hide. It seems that either CDing is a laugh or done by the insane.

Crossdressing movies, Look at this http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Drag-Queen-Movie-Collection/lm/2OZPJKOZ8AWPN and
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=crossdressing.htm

look at this for a history of CD in films. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dressing_in_film_and_television

This is part if not all of the reason. Men in dresses gets laughs. The three stooges, Milton Berle, (Charlie’s aunt), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Jamie Farr (MASH) just about all comics and comedic actors were in drag in movies. They all did it all for laughs, so that is all the general public sees. And none were convincing (except Tootsie), little if any make up, breast forms and no real attempt to pass.

So change the media and movies and you change the way people look at men in dresses.

In some countries it is not funny they beat and or kill crossdressers. So it is not too bad in the US for Crossdressers!

Do you know that some men (crewmen I think) got in dresses on the Titanic to get on one of the few life rafts? I do not blame them. Most people died. There has been a few movies that had men in dresses to survive and not for laughs like some like it hot. Did anyone see the Titanic movie and did it have any men in drag trying to get on a life raft? It should have been in the movie it was part of the tragedy.

[janedoe311]

In the 1700's and up till sometime in the 1800's men used to wear lace blouses, tights, wigs, makeup, and high heels. This was considered as standard men fashion. Then sometime in the mid 1800's this all started to change. Now if a man would to wear the same items in public, he would be ridiculed for it. It is no longer considered as standard men fashion.

They were not dressing up as women, a big difference.

[Dominique Melt]

Jane says: They were not dressing up as women, a big difference.

Ummmmm, yah. It is not the objects of the fetish as much as it is the the underlying pathology.


Those who understand and accept, or at least tolerate men in tights are either one of us or have less struggles and inner demons, I posit. That the larger society has issues with men as women may be an obstacle and may be unfair, let's be honest; we are behind the curve on this one. We are not mainstream in the sexual development demographic. Whether this is good or bad, right or wrong ... from a philosophical point of view, is still being hashed out, neh? I, too, would love more than anything to walk around 24/7 as Dominique, but the fact that I can do so now in more places than ever before and with many more protections and conventions IN MY FAVOR does suggest to me that things are not so bad.

Someone has a signature that reads: 'It was easier to crossdress under the Taliban' or such, and someone else on another thread made the statement that the USA was now under Taliban influence.
I just need to point out to everyone that we could not do this and be as safe in many other countries, some of them called civilized. Please bear that in mind.

[janedoe311]

Jane says: They were not dressing up as women, a big difference.

Ummmmm, yah. It is not the objects of the fetish as much as it is the the underlying pathology.


Yes, is crossdressing for some being able to wear the frilly, colorfully clothes and skirts without being "noticed"? As opposed to some of us who are not happy with our gender and self?

Because, if this society was more forgiving then men wearing colorful and frilly clothes would not be a big deal and not be crossdressing. Greek men have “skirts” and of course there are Kilts. But both are not acceptable in the US as daily wear.

So what is the problem with this society and clothes? Come on it is just clothes! Women can wear any male or female clothes, without being kicked out of restaurants or being laughed at or beat up. So why not men?

[Dominique Melt]

So what is the problem with this society and clothes? Come on it is just clothes! Women can wear any male or female clothes, without being kicked out of restaurants or being laughed at or beat up. So why not men?

Jane, Robin Williams once quipped -- and I am paraphrasing -- 'if a women wears a man's suit, they call it Armani. If a guy wears a dress, it's called "perverted."'

I scratch my head on that one, really I do. I also believe that society at large just has this block about guys going around looking like girls. Why is it acceptable and even marketable to have women wear pants shirts and neckties? Maybe they get a pass because it looks So Cute™ or seems less, I dunno, threatening? I must admit I haven't a clue. Maybe a girl in suit with tie is endearing ... until she becomes the office boss bitch. But a guy getting into something sexy or frilly, well, all bets are off because everything is upside down.
Just my :2c:

[Amanda Jane]

"So I can tell folks I'm going through my Louis XIV period"

Yes, well just don't lose your head over it.

And there is a difference beween fashion and style and crossing gender lines.

[Marla]

What we do is one of the most harmless acts that exist. No one gets hurt and it makes us happy!

[Sheila]

sorry gurls, but so many of you who do crossdress have a hard time accepting that you do it so if you find it strange, what the heck is the rest of society meant to think. Just my :2c:

Jess

[Lovely Rita]

People have been conditioned to look at it as weird. The same way they have been trained to accept woman in pants as normal, they have been trained to see men in dresses as abnormal. Conditioning.

I know this is a very simple outlook but I believe it never the less.

[Karren H]

Well if your wearing 8 inch heels then that's probably why they are looking at you wierdly!! Lol.

And who cares what people think anyway!!! If I'm read... I don't care! As long as no one is hurt!!! (I'm refering to them not me!! Hehe) Have a right to wear what I want where I want!

Love Karren

[Deidra Cowen]

weird (wîrd)
adj. weird·er, weird·est
Of a strikingly odd or unusual character; strange.

Thats us...LOL Like it or not we are way outside the norm, very rare too. So yeap we are weird according to societal norms. :tongueout

[janedoe311]

People have been conditioned to look at it as weird. The same way they have been trained to accept woman in pants as normal, they have been trained to see men in dresses as abnormal. Conditioning.

I know this is a very simple outlook but I believe it never the less.



Once a long time ago in a galaxy far away, women never wore pants, (exception was in some circles riding horses.).

So when they started wearing pants did they get the problems men get for wearing dresses? And if so how long did it take to be accepted?

I do not know if anyone does. Of course all women wear pants but not all men will wear dresses. Oh well it was a thought.

[Lanore]

I believe we've found the connection between female and male and that doesn't set right with the world. I accept who I am and if it doesn't hurt anyone, what's the big deal?

Lanore

[JulieCDorlando]

So what is the problem with this society and clothes? Come on it is just clothes! Women can wear any male or female clothes, without being kicked out of restaurants or being laughed at or beat up. So why not men?

Jane, Robin Williams once quipped -- and I am paraphrasing -- 'if a women wears a man's suit, they call it Armani. If a guy wears a dress, it's called "perverted."'

I scratch my head on that one, really I do. I also believe that society at large just has this block about guys going around looking like girls. Why is it acceptable and even marketable to have women wear pants shirts and neckties? Maybe they get a pass because it looks So Cute™ or seems less, I dunno, threatening? I must admit I haven't a clue. Maybe a girl in suit with tie is endearing ... until she becomes the office boss bitch. But a guy getting into something sexy or frilly, well, all bets are off because everything is upside down.
Just my :2c:

Hello,
To put my two cents worth in on this subject of why women can wear mens wear but men can not wear womens wear. If I may I would like to presnt my case in a two fold reason. #1 I do recall a time in my youth when girls were not allowed to wear pants while in school (public school). On cold days they can wear pants UNDER thier dresses/skirts, but once inside the school buliding they had to remove the pants.
From what I been told, women never wore any pants up until World War II for reasons being that these ladies worked in the factory jobs manufacturing tools of war, in addition to the everyday things that use to be made here in the USA. Now that the war was over there was a big stink over the issue of women still preferring to wear pants/slacks/trousers. But you know what? Those women persevered no matter what society said about them. It took a few years before society finally relented and allowed women to wear pants. Women can wear pants because they endured the snide comments and remarks that society dished out against them Can we as CD's stand up to the same persecutions, and prejudices? I some how doubt it.
Reason #2 . And even though they do have a previledge of wearing mens wear, they STILL LOOK LIKE WOMEN. Some women that wear mens wear have no desire to alter or otherwise change their gender. Where as We CD's take our enjoyment to a level no one dared ever before. CD's try to look, act, and become women for a period of time.
We are challenging the traditional standards of society. Yes some CD's feel that there is a double standard in place. But will anyone(CD,TG) take the initative to step out first and begin to change society"s outlook instead of crying out that life isnt fair? :2c:

[Melinda]

I want to throw my :2c: in and I think most of you are way off base and may not like my answer that much. I know I prefer the ignorance, social conditioning answer better but here goes. I think we bother people on 2 basic levels.

First, the instinctive, reptilian part of our brain is hard wired with certain basic responses. One of those is to respond differently to male and female members of our own species. Case in point, unless you're a dog breeder or something, you can't tell a male dog from a female without checking their parts but other dogs sure can. We can, under normal circumstances, easily differentiate male from female in our own species. When we go out in public we present a conflicted image that creates uncertainty and fear on a subconcious level in folks who aren't used to us. Fright usually leads to anger and possibly worse.

Second, we spend our childhoods trying to develop a reliable view of the world that provides a basis for our decisions and interactions for the rest of our lives. Part of that world view is the way we see gender roles. Case in point, our religous beliefs. Deeply religious people believe God exists in the same way I believe in gravity. When their belief in God is challenged it alters their view of existence. They no longer trust the world to be stable (gravity stopped working!) When we challenge accepted gender roles it creates uncertainty and and fear on a more concious level in folks who aren't used to us. Fright usually leads to anger and possibly worse.

From a lot of peoples point of view we are disturbing existence as they know it and they can't handle it. Remember what happened to others who challenged the world this way. Jesus was crucified. Darwin was vilified. Galileo, Newton, Martin Luther King and on and on...

Be careful!!!

[janedoe311]

for me they look like men that need a hair cut and have a hormone problem!
So we are just used to it is all.

Granted men that CD usually want to look like women. But how much of that is because you either look like a women or a man, to keep the comments and snickers down. Not a man in a dress. Many CD'ers would simply just like to wear a skirt on a hot day but can not. As in another thread I started about kilt day. Even wearing kilts is not accepted at least in the US. So what is that about? It is just a Kilt.

[Kristen Kelly]

sorry gurls, but so many of you who do crossdress have a hard time accepting that you do it so if you find it strange, what the heck is the rest of society meant to think. Just my :2c:
Jess


weird (wîrd)
adj. weird·er, weird·est
Of a strikingly odd or unusual character; strange.
Thats us...LOL Like it or not we are way outside the norm, very rare too. So yeap we are weird according to societal norms. :tongueout


Hello,

Even though they do have a previledge of wearing mens wear, they STILL LOOK LIKE WOMEN. Some women that wear mens wear have no desire to alter or otherwise change their gender. Where as We CD's take our enjoyment to a level no one dared ever before. CD's try to look, act, and become women for a period of time.
We are challenging the traditional standards of society. Yes some CD's feel that there is a double standard in place. But will anyone(CD,TG) take the initative to step out first and begin to change society"s outlook instead of crying out that life isnt fair? :2c:



If you do as I had done for a while and those that accept this style of life surround your world, all is fine and good. What is the ultimate thing for many of us "Passing", and what is passing, being out in public without being noticed. So by our ultimate means of becoming a "woman" we become hidden from the public, they do not see the normally adjusted girls out there just blending in society, they see the girls in the wild outfits, or fetish wear, or those that do not blend (not that any of this is wrong). The only way things will change is if people take notice that we are not threatening to them or others, and just let us exist.

[Christina Nicole]

I suppose that people have strange ideas about crossdressers. They probably think that the favorite thing for cross dressers talk about is panties. That's not true. Just ignore the thousands of posts on this board about panties. People probably think that cross dressers have weird ideas about sex like "I'm a woman when I wear women's clothes." Note A (http://crossdressers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=676898&postcount=21), B (http://crossdressers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=676959&postcount=25)
Going outside in lingerie and nothing else because it feels erotic would probably seem weird to most people.

I suppose because a few cross dressers do some weird things, and are sometimes seen by others or portrayed in the media doing strange things, people get strange ideas. Stop doing strange things and maybe...

Nevermind.

If it was just the clothes, and the appearance of a woman, maybe it wouldn't be quite so strange to people. It's often more than that. That's probably what give them funny ideas.

Warm regards,
Christina Nicole

[Penny]

Yep, men used to wear wigs, lace and ruffles. Guess we went backward, huh?:happy:
yep, we traded it all in on the automobile complete with hat and goggles.
With the breeze blowing directly upon our face, I guess to much to keep the wig waum!

:heehee:

[NatalieGirl]

One thing that we all need to bear in mind is that other people do not have to accept what we do. We cannot force them to think in a certain way.

We have a right to dress as we please and to go out in public dressed that way. We do not have the right to go onto someone's private property dressed, if they do not want us there.

Homosexuals have also struggled to gain acceptance from the general public, and we can learn from their mistakes. Many of them have been foolishly insulting their detractors, calling them "bigoted" or "homophobic". You can hear them at gay pride marches chanting slogan like "I'm here, I'm queer, Get used to it". Such approaches only add fuel to the fire.

The best thing that we can do is to set an example. I have never been insulted or harassed while dressed, but if I ever am, I plan to handle the insults with dignity. The worst thing I could do would be respond in kind.

[marie354]

Then there was this guy that picked up this hot chick in the bar... Took her home... Found the wrong buldge!
I'm afraid that a lot of it has to do with fear. Guys are very afraid of picking up a guy in a dress. Most of them fear that most of all about dating. That makes them angery and sometimes violent.
Unfortunately there a few out there that will mislead someone else and leave a black mark on the rest of us that wouldn't even think of doing such a thing.
So, yes... People need to be educated as to just what and who we are, and we're just not like that. Most of us have a good relationship with our SO to begin with and wouldn't be trying to pick up someone of the same sex.
OK Sandy... Stop ratteling.
:hugs:

[bgirl]

I was afraid of crossdressers myself. I was trying to bury my own feelings and crossdressers made me uncomfortable. Now as it turns out...............
You girls are my lifeline!

[sonyinohio]

i am sorry i guess i hit one heck of hot topic hope i did not cause any hard feelings

[Tasha Meredith]

Homosexuals have also struggled to gain acceptance from the general public, and we can learn from their mistakes. Many of them have been foolishly insulting their detractors, calling them "bigoted" or "homophobic". You can hear them at gay pride marches chanting slogan like "I'm here, I'm queer, Get used to it". Such approaches only add fuel to the fire.

I totally agree with you. In think the GLBT communities would be better off trying educate rather than antagonize and look down on the people who don't yet accept us. That approach is rather childish and only highlights our differences, not the similarities. :2c:

[Satrana]

Once a long time ago in a galaxy far away, women never wore pants, (exception was in some circles riding horses.).

So when they started wearing pants did they get the problems men get for wearing dresses? And if so how long did it take to be accepted?


Not that long to become accepted although it was mostly upper class women who could get away with wearing pants. It was considered fashionably chic. The thing is when women started this, the gender roles were far more strictly defined than they are now, so these women should have been stoned to death for wearing pants but they were not.

I believe this is because women wearing pants is not seen as threatening to society while men in skirts is. This is due to several reasons - homophobic fear among men, the sexualization of female clothes, and the fact that previously women had little social power and thus what they wore was not deemed important, it was just considered part of women's dynamic fashion styles.

All the power and responsibility of society rested on the shoulders of men and thus all men had to act like men. Women's second class status meant their crossdressing was considered frivolous in the same way children are allowed to bend society's rules.

Presently men's gender role is still centered around power, status, earning potential etc so society still frowns upon men who don't live up to a man's inferred responsibilities. Men's gender role is still narrowly defined unlike womens' which is far looser and increasingly is encroaching upon men's role.

[Angie G]

Be cause most just don't understand why we do it :hugs:
Angie

[Joy Carter]

I believe we've found the connection between female and male and that doesn't set right with the world. I accept who I am and if it doesn't hurt anyone, what's the big deal?

Lanore

But how long did it take any of us to accept our selves ? We are putting our selves in an alleged lower social class. We are posing as the weaker of the sex's, giving up the power and position of a man. Not to mention the sex role women play. An ex friend always said of CDing (he didn't know about me). "Guys dress as women just get into some other guys pants" I changed it because he was more graphic. Think about it ? How would anyone relate to someone posing out of their gender ? You might get some comments about your outfit. But just what else can anyone say or do when you are CD-ing ? Now those who are just plain hostile are just being jerks. And are trying to embarrass you or worse. I just don't see it changing in my life time. I think the younger generation might be more tolerant because of all the PC-ness they are exposed to now days.

[Vicky_Scot]

I think and this is IMO that men who do not dress find us a threat and show aggression towards us because of one thing.

Because we who dress are questioning the perception of what is masculinity.

FACT: For the first 6-8 weeks in the womb we are all female.

[tvbeckytv]

Homosexuals have also struggled to gain acceptance from the general public, and we can learn from their mistakes. Many of them have been foolishly insulting their detractors, calling them "bigoted" or "homophobic". You can hear them at gay pride marches chanting slogan like "I'm here, I'm queer, Get used to it". Such approaches only add fuel to the fire.



this is a curious logic. when mainstream society comes anywhere near the levels of acceptance of TGs as it has to homosexuality, then perhaps i could understand your view better.
we are not new kids on the block, we have been around just as long as homosexuals. like it or not, for homophobics to be labeled bigots by mainstream society is entirely down to political activists, and the willingness for them to be seen for what they are. really, it all started with stonewall, and what they have achieved in such a short time i think is astonishing.
by the way, imo...calling a bigot a bigot, or someone anti gay homophobic, is not being insulting

[susananklet]

As time passes mankind seems more accepting of differences. :2c:

I remember her in New Orleans when we had "open shoe laws" which made it illegal to wear clothes of the opposite sex. Remember Vice Squads. They stopped that goofiness years ago, but the Vice Squad still chases the morals thing........ :o Susan

[sonyinohio]

one other thing is in some places and in different times skirts kilts and other "female attire"is not looked at as being strange on a male also back in garden of eden both male and female wore fig leafs right b4 getting thrown out

[Amanda Jane]

in fact they were happy to be naked before eating of the tree of good and evil - it was only after that that they covered up.

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

king james version

[sonyinohio]

i was not going to go that indepth lol but your right

[noname]

Not that long to become accepted although it was mostly upper class women who could get away with wearing pants. It was considered fashionably chic. The thing is when women started this, the gender roles were far more strictly defined than they are now, so these women should have been stoned to death for wearing pants but they were not.

I believe this is because women wearing pants is not seen as threatening to society while men in skirts is. This is due to several reasons - homophobic fear among men, the sexualization of female clothes, and the fact that previously women had little social power and thus what they wore was not deemed important, it was just considered part of women's dynamic fashion styles.

All the power and responsibility of society rested on the shoulders of men and thus all men had to act like men. Women's second class status meant their crossdressing was considered frivolous in the same way children are allowed to bend society's rules.

Presently men's gender role is still centered around power, status, earning potential etc so society still frowns upon men who don't live up to a man's inferred responsibilities. Men's gender role is still narrowly defined unlike womens' which is far looser and increasingly is encroaching upon men's role.

Great post again Satrara

[Jere Oneil]

Yes, is crossdressing for some being able to wear the frilly, colorfully clothes and skirts without being "noticed"? As opposed to some of us who are not happy with our gender and self?

Because, if this society was more forgiving then men wearing colorful and frilly clothes would not be a big deal and not be crossdressing. Greek men have “skirts” and of course there are Kilts. But both are not acceptable in the US as daily wear.

So what is the problem with this society and clothes? Come on it is just clothes! Women can wear any male or female clothes, without being kicked out of restaurants or being laughed at or beat up. So why not men?

I disagree about the kilts not being accepted. I only wear skirts or dresses around my home, but with kilts, it is entirely different. While I don't wear them out in public every day, I do wear them on many occasions. I've worn a kilt to restaurants, out shopping, and to my bank with no negative comments, so far at least. You are hearing more and more about kilted men at weddings and such also. My most interesting experience, kilted, was at a grocery store in a rural area. I was on the way home from a Celtic festival, and was wearing a tartan kilt with a sweater, boots and kilt socks and flashes. People looked as I went by, but no one said anything. Then, as I was standing in the aisle near the canned vegetables, I heard someone say, "excuse me". I turned to see a large African-American gentleman standing there. I thought, "oh no, here it comes, a skirt comment or maybe more". But he just said, "Would you mind moving your cart, please". I moved it and he said, "thank you", then he said, the kilt looks good". I said thank you and we went our separate ways. So, in my area, at least, kilts are becoming acceptable as daily wear. I've also, found that women seem to love seeing a man in a kilt. I've gotten more compliments from women, from teens to near my age, than I ever did in my entire life, before I started wearing kilts. Of course, they don't know that I might be wearing panties and, or, a lacy slip under my kilt. I have been asked, but my usual comeback, of, "would you consider it appropiate for me to ask what you are wearing under your dress or skirt usually silences them.

[Vicky_Scot]

Kilt v's Skirt

Only one winner there and that's the skirt.

Even in Bonnie Scotland the wearing of a Kilt is really restricted to Weddings, Rugby/ Football Internationals, Burns Night celebrations.

It is very rare to see a man wearing a Kilt as everyday attire. But what I have found as well is if you are abroad and have a Kilt on you seem to be very popular and accepted as long as you are Scottish of course. People will ask "Your Scottish?" or "You are from Scotland?"

I always wonder what they would think if you said no. :heehee:

Oh and I do not wear woman's clothes, I wear my clothes as they belong to me.

[Lindsay]

Even in Bonnie Scotland the wearing of a Kilt is really restricted to Weddings, Rugby/ Football Internationals, Burns Night celebrations.

I think your experience is very different to mine. I've been out and about loads of times in a kilt - not full highland dress, just kilt, timberlands and a t-shirt and nobody's batted an eyelid in a negative way (bar the odd ned girls shouting "show's yer arse"). Plenty of positive attention, though.

[Lindsay]

If it was just the clothes, and the appearance of a woman, maybe it wouldn't be quite so strange to people. It's often more than that. That's probably what give them funny ideas.

*round of applause*

[Bluebird GG]

we leave in a stereotypical planet as it has been since the dawn of time, but i dont see what people have a cow about a guy in a dress theirs not a damn thing wrong with it, so what if a guy wants to wear a dress people dont have to look and accept what the other person wants to do if they luv cding is their own business not anyones elses, i thought this wuz a free world, so then people get with it then!:rant:

[Tammietoo]

Be cause most just don't understand why we do it :hugs:
Angie

People fear what they don't understand. Rational of not, its true. The fact of the matter is that no matter how natural or normal it is to us, to most of the world it is not "normal" behavior, and they just don't know how to take it. Instead of being open minded and tolerant, its easier for most people to fall back on their up-bringing, regional and societal sterotypes to deal with people and issues they don't immediately comprehend. Its harder for people to change and grow verses stay within their own comfort zone and fear, hate, mock, tease or worse be violent to us. Generally the only time that crossdressing is "comfortable" to the general public is when it is made comical in the media.

As far as it not being "fair" because women can crossdress without the problems that m-t-f do--its true, its not fair. But as many have pointed out, most of the girls wearing pants and other male clothing are not trying to look like a man and, for the most part we are--and therein lies one of the crutial differences. A Scotsman wearing a kilt is not trying to look like a woman and his kilt comes with hundreds of years of tradition, so in my mind that comparison doesn't really fit well into this conversation. The sad fact there are still racist people out there, and wondering why some people can't accept a man in a dress, when some still can't accept a person of a different race, puts this in a little perspective for me.

[janedoe311]

http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/index.php/a?cat=9
a kilt registery http://www.realmenwearkilts.net/registry5.html
Kilts making a come back?
http://www.galainvitations.com/weddingblog/?m=200506


http://www.kiltmen.com/wives.htm
Talks about getting wives used to it. They still look like skirts to most people. I am sure my wife would not have a problem with me wearing one at home or on hot days but I am sure she would not want to be seen with me in the mall with me wearing a kilt. It would attract too much attention.

[Satrana]

Janedoe

I would not want to wear one on a hot day as kilts are made of wool and are thick and heavy. Hot days need loose, lightweight, cotton skirts, definitely not a kilt.:eek:

[Lisa Golightly]

To the stock 'I think what you do is weird' statement I give my stock 'I think you are terribly dull' statement.

[Amanda Jane]

As Dr. Hunter S. Thompson used to say "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

[Jere Oneil]

While wearing kilts is not really crossdressing, even though they area kind of skirt, they are a man's garment, they are a start to men being able to wear skirts in public. Yes, they are not common everyday wear, even in Scotland, but that is changing slowly. You won't see many, but you will, on rare occasions see a kilted ,man, even around my home area. And, more and more, they are becoming modern kilts like Utilikilts, Freedom kilts, or Amerikilts. From what I've read, seeing modern kilts in Seattle happens on a regular basis, but then, that is where Utilikilts is located. There are regular "kilt nights in many of the larger areas, of the country (this includes Canada also),where a group of guys get together and go to a pub or bar to have a few pints. Janedoe, your wife would probably not like you wearing a kilt in public because of all the attention it gets from women.

[janedoe311]

Satrana
A utility kilt is not pleated and looks like short pants from the side.
Utility kilt is a "new" invention, for casual wear. I am sure a Scott would not be seen in one!
http://www.utilikilts.com/store/custom_product.php?products_id=19



Janedoe, your wife would probably not like you wearing a kilt in public because of all the attention it gets from women. Is that good attention or negative attention?

Either way my wife would not like it we are shy and do not want attention.

[Jere Oneil]

Satrana
A utility kilt is not pleated and looks like short pants from the side.
Utility kilt is a "new" invention, for casual wear. I am sure a Scott would not be seen in one!
http://www.utilikilts.com/store/custom_product.php?products_id=19


Is that good attention or negative attention?

Either way my wife would not like it we are shy and do not want attention.


Believe me, most of it is good attention. How else would you explain a nice looking young woman striking up a conversation with a bald headed slightly overweight old fart like myself. Just to keep this in a CD frame. I wear kilts for many reasons, not the least of which is to be able to wear any kind of skirt in public and not be ridiculed. And, despite what some kilt fanatics say, a kilt, by the standard definition of a skirt, is a skirt.

[MelissaAndProudOfIt]

Well lol, personally i think everyone crossdresses nowadays, so what does it matter what one wears, women do it, they like to call it trend, fashion, though technically whatever way you look at it it's still crossdresing, not that I personally care if women wear male style attire, I won't lose any sleep over it. If a man puts a skirt or dress on, then my god it's oh my charley lol.. Whose the hipocrite lol... Though society still in it's ignorence has many small minds, it's nice to think that many are actually coming round to realising that it's nothing to worry about in our world, when more serious issues like crime and terrorism are more serious issues take precident (hope i spelt that right lol) well It's a small issue as usual being blown out of proportion i think.. in our 21st century world it should be a case of live and let live, crossdressers, transvestites are hardly a serious threat to society or come to that world peace, so what the heck does it matter... we are harmless, society ought to realise this and be more concerned about more serious issues.. I rest my case!

[kaitlin]

I had a discussion about this just last night... It is just societal norms for the current time period. It has varied over the years and will continue to vary.

The main source of the problem, in my humble opinion, stems from ignorance. The more educated a person becomes the more understanding he/she becomes....but unfortunately we have a lot of stupid people surviving in the world.:D

AMEN !!! Kaitlin

[Sweet Jane]

why do people view crossdressing as wierd...probably because it is a little wierd. I look at my avatar...now for a man, I got to say it's a little strange to look like that...what I can't understand is why some people so vehemently hate crossdressers..now thats wierd

[janedoe311]

why do people view crossdressing as wierd...probably because it is a little wierd. I look at my avatar...now for a man, I got to say it's a little strange to look like that...what I can't understand is why some people so vehemently hate crossdressers..now thats wierd


And 90% of the population do not understand Gender confusion in any form. They are becoming more "understanding" of TG over CD thought but it is not saying much.

So it is a matter of educating the general public on the various forms of gender confusion, to get rid of the hate and fear, (and I am sure the hate of cd's is just as much fear).

[janec]

People have been conditioned to look at it as weird. The same way they have been trained to accept woman in pants as normal, they have been trained to see men in dresses as abnormal. Conditioning.

I know this is a very simple outlook but I believe it never the less.

thats pretty much what i think to we are all conditioned at an early age as to what is normal lol :2c:

[Dee Model]

we leave in a stereotypical planet as it has been since the dawn of time, but i dont see what people have a cow about a guy in a dress theirs not a damn thing wrong with it, so what if a guy wants to wear a dress people dont have to look and accept what the other person wants to do if they luv cding is their own business not anyones elses, i thought this wuz a free world, so then people get with it then!:rant:



"This world will never be free until the last politician has been strangled with the guts of the last priest."

-Voltaire.

I reckon guys that don't crossdress are a bit weird! It's a natural thing for us...as it's been said varoiusly, we are programmed to believe things that are not true. Conditioned like Pavlov's dogs. People that don't realise that they are slaves to defective programming have no measure of their own minds.

The notion of being 'free' in ones mind is, sadly, in our world, as rare as we crossdressers appear to be. Extremely.:2c:

[Rachel Signy]

Attitudes change.
I once was at a Science Fiction convention where a couple entered the costume contest dressed as a Venetian couple from the late 1700s - crossdressed. He wore a hoop skirt, she a tricornered hat, short jacket, and knee breeches. What I think is important here is that she wore her costume the entire weekend while he only wore his dress for the contest - and wore a veil. Her outfit was closer to today's women's fashions, anyway.
Women in the early 1900s fought to wear man-tailored clothing. Crossdressing for women wasn't always acceptable. Joan of Arc's preference for men's clothes (which, by the way, showed off her legs - women's wear in her days was very modest) was a big part of the excuse the court that condemned her used to burn her at the stake.