[SIZE="2"]Recently I’ve been reading Homosexuality in History by British author Colin Spencer, a book that inevitably includes a few insights into crossdressing, since the two are invariably linked (for reasons of convenience) by outsiders. I came across the following passages regarding those who rebel against society, either as a group or individually, going against the societal structures put in place and maintained by those in authority…
“Given that political structures dictate the sexual form, every new orthodoxy that is accepted acquires its heresy, each defining the nature of the other. Being a real rebel, that is striving to create a viable alternative, takes time and hard work. Being a sexual rebel, refusing to accept the sexual orthodoxy of one’s time, is one of the most powerful and significant of all rebellious acts; to opt for the pursuit of non-procreative sex is a form of blasphemy, for it strikes at the heart of society’s belief in its own immortality. A hatred of the hypocrisy and ideals of one’s age could well lead individuals to make a statement of this kind, a statement which can generate at a very young age.
Another form of political rebellion is to don the clothes of the opposite gender. Women do not now have this political weapon as they once did, for women in suits (or male clothing in general) cause no outrage but society still finds it offensive to see men in frocks. A man wearing a frock is somehow threatening and has to be dismissed with laughter or vituperation. Transvestites always talk in very personal terms about their desire; they feel somehow wrong dressed as a man, but in a frock they tell the interviewer, they feel relaxed and at home.”
OK. Do you feel like a rebel when you’re prancing around your bedroom, all dolled up, studying your reflection in the omnipresent mirror? Do you feel like you’re making some poignant expression, dismissive of all the discriminatory ills that society has dumped on you over the years? Do you feel your panties are a weapon of subversion? Personally, I’m beginning to think there’s something to it, but I didn’t really seriously consider the issue until now. I dress to feel good, in my own little world, cut off from society at large, for my own personal pleasure. But, I’m not allowed to do this OUT THERE for fear of upsetting the apple cart of family values and gender expectations. I am a rebel – I don’t subscribe to the precepts I’m supposed to follow, and I have no desire to conform, especially at this late date…:hmph:
Many of my fellow sisters (how’s that for an oxymoronic phrase?) will probably disagree, but I’m beginning to feel like I’m surrounded by rebels, all expressing his or her own quasi-rebellious proclivities, seeking out others for support. By and large, we have the ability to choose those around us, and I love my fellow rebels. Let’s dance around the maypole of gender freedom together in our finest outfits and show the unenlightened what fun they’re missing. I am a crossdresser, I am a rebel, and I am different from others. This alone is worth celebrating, wouldn’t you say? :battingeyelashes:
Maybe some individuals are uncomfortable with their desire to crossdress because they are inherently non-rebellious. I mean, if you’re otherwise “normal” (definition, please), for the sake of your family’s well-being and protection, where does the desire to crossdress fit in? Where is it leading you – away from where you’re SUPPOSED to be, supporting a pillar of society? Keep in mind I’m largely on the outside looking in, and I always have been, so I’m unencumbered by societal pressures. Do you feel like you’re locked into a cubicle of your own making, somehow expressing a desire to break free by engaging in crossdressing? The ongoing struggle to be rebellious against all you’ve been told is “correct” must be incredibly exhausting. I think the effort itself is a noble enterprise, difficult to achieve, explain, or wish away – a taste of the forbidden, perhaps, but I see it all as a beautiful foregone conclusion, or the inevitable outcome of living in a constrictive world…
Here in the 21st century it still isn’t acceptable for a man to wear a dress, so he is engaging in a form of rebelliousness (akin to anarchy) in his desire to do so. Nothing has changed. The gender indoctrination given to children, from the moment they are born, and reinforced at every turn, creates an atmosphere of repression that may lead to rebellion, open or otherwise, depending on whether or not the child accepts his or her lot in life. On and on it goes, and I must say I don’t see the climate of sympathetic understanding improving anytime soon. By nature I oppose any control over my own life, but why would I feel otherwise? Be true to yourself. By the way, if you look up the word “rebellion,” you’ll find that “contumacy” is a synonym, and a synonym for contumacy is “perverseness,” which brings us right back to where this all began, i.e. the largely conservative interpretation of human rights given by people in authority. Someone else is deciding what’s right for society as a whole, guarding “us” against any perceived threats. It’s getting worse (more divisive) all the time, creating no forward progress, so rebellion is inevitable…
Since I do not wish to tread on other’s invisible human rights (especially in regards to personal expression), and my little rebellion is not as “open” as those of my more activist friends, I’m not as rebellious as I could be. But, I insist my crossdressing is in complete defiance of any efforts of control put in place by those in positions of power. It’s a conscious decision AGAINST the norm. Therefore, I am a valid rebel. Long live aversion! :)
How about it – are you a rebel?[/SIZE]
