Boston University gender study--my offering
This is my first post, but I thought sharing some information I just provided a research PhD might be worthwhile. Here it is:
"The TSA account we discussed can be found at http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-informat...nder-travelers. I think it is very informative and supportive. I have also recently been on line with folks who have regularly traveled dressed and had both fun and no hassles.
Here are two insights that I totally would have brought up in our hour hour long phone interview if I had thought about it at the time:
1) There is a humorous quip that says women have a daily need to speak 60,000 words while men top out at 20,000 with the result that men get frustrated or annoyed when they get home to too much conversation and tend to tune it out. Another stereo type is that women openly carry and share their feelings much more than men do. As a guy, I find those trends to be quite accurate, but a strange thing happens to TG's who dress. Feelings, mutual support and friendships and totally being in the moment tend to take center stage with one another while business, competition, sports, politics, cars, blue humor and jokes are all decidedly curtailed. As for the word volume and expressions of enthusiasm, they also rise quite a bit to at least 30,000 words/day when dressed.
2) When a TG does not get out for a long time (whatever that means to the individual), there is often an overwhelming feeling of relief and pleasure when they finally get to fully express their feminine side and better still if done in public. It is a breath of fresh air and we breath it in deeply. (This of course is most pleasant for those who have accepted themselves and are not riddled with shame, fear and guiilt.) To translate that idea into "girl talk", it might be a little like you going for far too long without washing your hair and then finally getting a luxurious shampoo.
My fiancee asks an interesting question: are you enjoying the vacation from your male roles and responsibilities or are you "going there" totally for the pleasure of expressing your feminine side? I don't have an answer for that, but I think the question is worth noting and investigating. I suspect it is a combination of the two. A follow up question might be as to how a guy can live his life as a guy but incorporate his access to feelings and sharings more readily without having to keep both personalities at such a distance from one another."
I look forward to getting to know more of you. I thank Leann for introducing me to your site. It will take me awhile to get up to speed on your rules and regs, but everything I have seen has been very interesting and promising. Good luck to us all!! Debbie
