Going past, "Feeling like a woman."

"Feeling like a woman", how?:straightface:
I've been trying to understand this for AGES!:sad:

Pretty? (Skip that one. It mite be from just looking in the mirror.:daydreaming:)
Sexy?
Embarrassed?
Shy?
Submissive?
When you do the dishes?
When u pass while out in public? (I GET that one!):battingeyelashes:
When you're with a man?
Etc., etc.

How do any/all of those "woman" feelings u have compare to how u feel doing the same things as a "man"?

There's no WRONG way to answer this as long as you're specific to my question.:)

What you're really doing is feeling like what your definition of a woman would feel like in a certain situation.

I have no idea what it feels like to be a woman. But I know what it feels like to be a man presenting as a woman.

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Originally Posted by docrobbysherry

How do any/all of those "woman" feelings u have compare to how u feel doing the same things as a "man"?

There's no WRONG way to answer this as long as you're specific to my question.:)

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It's a good point really. And even if we *could* feel like a woman, which woman? They're all different, you know!
You've got me thinking now!

I guess it just helps me get more comfortable with and into a more feminine role. Which I like! But you make a damn good point!

Hmmm, being a gender fluid male I'll just say...what makes me feel like a woman...


Pretty? Ya, maybe a little bit 😊
Sexy? He'll ya!
Embarrassed? Nope!
Shy? Nope!
Submissive? LOL, not me, even en femme!
When you do the dishes? Like, put them in the dishwasher?? Nope!
When u pass while out in public? Sure!
When you're with a man? Not really my cup o' tea so to speak but I can totally get it!

Your OP really quantified it pretty well Sherry, just and a line 'I feel it in my freaking bones' and you'll nail it 😉

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Originally Posted by Jenniferathome

I have no idea what it feels like to be a woman. But I know what it feels like to be a man presenting as a woman.

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Exactly, Jenn! And, why I posted the question. I've had plenty of experience with presenting as a man in a dress.

And, other than LOOKING like a woman in my mirror, I always feel like ME no matter how I'm dressed or what I'm doing. I wondered if those that say they feel female can explain in what way they feel different from when they're feeling male? Which I can't say I've even been consious of either.:eek:

I'm sure many here feel like Robin. But, Robin's answer defies comprehension for those that haven't experience that. I was hoping to hear from some folks that haven't felt like females their entire lives. :straightface:

Docrobbysherry noted, "And, other than LOOKING like a woman in my mirror, I always feel like ME no matter how I'm dressed or what I'm doing"
Jenniferathome stated, "I have no idea what it feels like to be a woman. But I know what it feels like to be a man presenting as a woman."

I have come to the point where I really cannot relate ast all to the idea of "feeling like a women" or "exprssing a female side."
When en femme I am more relaxed and at ease so I may be more polite and act more pleasantly because of that. I still very much remain the man I am, however. I cannot recall any reallt feminine feeligs when I'm en femme.

I see what you are doing here Sherry.

I don't "feel like a women" or "feel like a man." I feel like ME, which happens to be a feminine soul in a male body. In other words, my personality is more on the female side of the gender spectrum, so my dressing is just an outward expression of myself. Does this make any sense?

Doc, I *have* the answer! (for me)

If I act out my feminine side ala male mode, I feel like a "sissy boy", If I am dressed and have my hair done. legs (well actually body) shaved and my nails painted, it feels to me like it's okay to be feminine. Which is a blessing for me :-)

I don't know what it feels like to be a woman or a man really. I only know what it feels like to be myself, pretty good. :):battingeyelashes:

Hmmm. I know I'm a woman (despite appearances), so I guess I feel like a woman all the time. How does it feel to be a man? I've been faking it for years, but I still really don't have any idea.

I'm not entirely sure how to answer this. I don't think I quite understand the question but I know I can answer how being with a man is different when you're in the female role as opposed to the male role, but it's not easy to explain.

To me when I am the girl and I'm with a man it feels more natural or fitting, it feels right to have that masculine/feminine, dominant/submissive contrast between you both. When I'm in the more equal or balanced role of being a guy too the dynamics change somehow, it's more of a mutual thing. When I'm the girl I'm alot more focused on pleasing the guy and giving him the kind of girlfriend experience I want him to have. This is when I most, or am closest to feeling like a woman, and it's one of the reasons I like men who are much bigger and older than me, I feel that contrast between us both a lot more, it's amplified.

Am I more shy or submissive when I'm more feminine just in general? I think so, I definitely feel a change in the way I act depending on my appearance, I think it's about conforming to how people are viewing me in a way. If I'm doing the same things as a man I'm alot more outgoing and confident, I'll talk in a slightly different, louder tone. I take up more space in a way you know. This is my way of projecting more of a masculine persona I guess.

I feel a bit like Jennifer at home, Devorah, and Doc, and Kate. I am a somewhat feminine , somewhat masculine non macho male, that gets dressed up to resemble a classy dressed lady, and when i look at the mirror, and the presentation is nice, i do feel a little bit like a lady, , but am not a lady, but when i take it all off, i go back to feminine/masculine non macho male.

I try to be accurate, so I have no idea what if feels like to be a woman. But I have learned from the US society what is termed feminine vs masculine. I have a strong desire and ability to express femininity as well as masculinity and society does not favor people doing both. To me, femininity is longer hair, tighter clothes, exposed smooth legs, high heels and the clack, perfume, more jewelry, changeable face via makeup, nail polish, more chatty/social/complimentary, more smiles. Paying more attention to your appearance and getting more attention because of your appearance. I look OK as a man, my wife says sexy. But as Ellen, I think I look fantastic and others also compliment me, but as the drab me, rarely.
So I do feel pretty
I do feel sexy
Embarrassed? I have not gone out in public to find out
Shy? I would in general public but hope to be social in a friendly environment such as here
Submissive - I like to please others(like requests for pictures), but will not get stomped on
Do dishes - no, same as male me
I would feel feminine passing in public if I did
When you're with a man - not interested in male partner but if a man pays me compliments with appreciative stare or words, that would make me feel feminine. If a male compliments the drab me (I have had subway toll collector compliment my tie), then I feel masculine but less than a compliment on my body vs clothing item.
Hugs, Ellen

I'd have to say that I only feel like a woman when I dress like a woman. And, of course I don't know what feelings women (literally) really have, but I still some have feelings that are best defined as "feeling like a woman". Being en femme evokes feelings that (to me) are girly or womanly.

Im with most others so far in that I don't know nor do I expect I can know what it feels like to be a woman. At the same time as a cross dresser I'm seeking and experiencing things I associate typically with women. The desire to be/feel pretty, enjoyment of clothes makeup shopping that emotionally more interactive friendship.....

Non of the things I desire, define being a woman (though I couldn't tell you what does). They are experiences that are generally more available for women so I find myself emulating women in some things when I can.

What do you see Traci G?

I just feel like me and make decisions on the same basis.
The only difference is I would not walk down the back streets in a dress, but I would wearing trousers.

Basic safety here and no thoughts of feeling like a woman.

I feel like me.

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Originally Posted by Ressie

I'd have to say that I only feel like a woman when I dress like a woman. And, of course I don't know what feelings women (literally) really have, but I still some have feelings that are best defined as "feeling like a woman". Being en femme evokes feelings that (to me) are girly or womanly.

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Pretty much the same thing for me as well, Ressie. It's the clothes, definitely. When dressed, I feel womanly (although we can never actually know what that is exactly) I think that (referencing another thread) that this is the difference between crossdressers and those who want to transition: those of us who crossdress and have no leanings towards transitioning in any way, and those who do. We feel feminine only when we're dressed. Those who are trans feel they are women all the time, day or night. Crossdressers like myself, in 'male mode' - don't. For me, it's like having a dual personality, and yet I don't think of Piora as a separate entity or persona. She is simply part of me.

Everyone, male and female, feels the emotions you list, sometimes. You cannot know what it feels like to be a woman. You also cannot know what it feels like to be a man. In fact those are nonsense concepts. People, individual, people have feelings. Classes of people do not have feelings. You can get some understanding of how another person feels, but I don't believe you could ever understand how it feels to be them, nor could they ever understand how it feels to be you.

The kinds of feelings many of us have more of when dressed are feelings that our culture has labeled "feminine", probably because they appear more frequently in genetic females.

Being a man I doubt if I could fully know what a woman feels like.

But for me, wearing beautiful clothing and making my self up with makeup, I feel very feminine and pretty. I feel so relaxed as well as look and feel much younger.

If this is what it feels like to be a woman, I am all for it.

Don't get me wrong, I haven't always felt I was a woman, in fact the notion literally hit me like wet cat thrown from across the room two years ago.

When I was a kid I didn't 'naturally fit in' with other dudes but given I liked girls I just worked really hard at 'fitting in' and it worked very well!

Describing how I feel like a woman, I guess that's tough but it comes down to observation.

I (like many of us) are students of feminine manerisms and manerisms are just a physical representation of how we feel IMHO.

When I'm in ANY 'mode' other than full guy, I naturally have very feminine manerisms and I think that just means I 'feel' like a woman.

I guess because I naturally act like a woman, I must therefore feel like a woman...or why would I act like one?

I have no idea what it is like to feel like a woman. I have never "walked in a woman's shoes" in the sense that I don't have the hormonal makeup of a woman and that leads to a lot of particularly female outcomes that I cannot share.

I am a fetishistic transvestite. I enjoy attempting to appear superficially like a woman. I do washing, washing up, laundry, ironing and house cleaning. Occasionally I cook and I sit down to pee but none of that allows me to "feel" like a woman. I may empathize with a woman, or at least think that I am, but I don't really know if it is authentic. Neither do I know what it really feels like to be a transgendered person. I am more or less comfortable with my chromosomal makeup but choose to break societies social dressing and presentation norms

On the other hand, while I don't enjoy and avoid most "manly " things I do have some sense of what even very masculine men feel. much as I find it distasteful.

For me, it hasn't been about feeling like a woman so much as it is about feeling what it's like to experience different things with breasts. I don't know why but I've always been obsessed with breasts. Sometimes I wonder if I don't have breast envy in the way that women have penis envy.

Like dancing?

I feel very Pretty and Sexy but notEmbarrassed.
But I'm very shy.

I know that when I'm getting dressed there are all kinds of tactile triggers involved in the process. Rolling on stockings, putting on a bra, the whole change in posture with breasts and heels. Makeup is a pain in the ass that I would prefer to avoid but the visual is so feminine. It's a grand experience in feeling like a woman. But it's of my own design. And, I'm definitely a male.

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Originally Posted by Petra1

For me, it hasn't been about feeling like a woman so much as it is about feeling what it's like to experience different things with breasts. I don't know why but I've always been obsessed with breasts. Sometimes I wonder if I don't have breast envy in the way that women have penis envy.

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OH,my! Are you ME?

Hi Sherry :hugs: , When I see that pretty lady in the mirror smiling at me it just makes me feel wonderful

All I know is that it's just who I am and it's just what I do...:daydreaming:...

Hello all y'all
A perfect thread for me this morning, thanks for everyone sharing.

I will throw my 2 cents in.

I feel like me.

When I was a kid, I did not know why others did not make fun of me, or question my sexuality, because inside it felt like I was so feminine compared to the boys I experienced. I was also fascinated by females from a very early age. Why were they treated differently, why did they wear different clothes. I was very good athletically and did a bunch of sports and felt very good on a team of boys, but I often felt very different inside than what I experienced of the male culture on the outside.
It was not until my twenties that I realized why no one had figured me out. Apparently, on the outside, I presented masculine and heterosexual. By that time I had been secretly CDing for most of my life and often fantasizing about being a woman out in the world. In my thirties, I did some "men's work" and finally felt like I could, when necessary, experience myself as a man and fit in with other men because I really was one. It did not make me more feel more masculine or male, I just learned how to look for the masculinity and maleness inside me and play the role. Now in my late 40s, I am finally getting a chance to learn how to play female. I have dreamed about it for decades. When I really pay attention, I can feel the female inside of me just like I learned to feel the male inside of me (either I am delusional or I am transgendered in some very real way.) While I feel the "her" inside, it seems like I am discovering how to be "her" outside just as much as I learned to be "him" outside. At the same time, when I do see her smiling back at me in the mirror - looking like the her I have always felt inside me- with make up, long hair and women's attire - I feel deeply happy!!

Do I sound confused...check back in with me in a couple years and maybe I will know more.

I feel like me, which seems to be like a very small set of the population, so, I am so glad that there are a some of you like me around here..... - twin spirited, gender fluid, gender neutral - these are the labels that most seem to fit.

So glad to be able to be as honest as I can be here. If you resonate with what I have described please let me know. I could use some feelings of "not alone" right now.

Peace
Stevie

There have been times I've been dressed fully as a male (except perhaps for a pair of panties) but never felt more feminine. That came from being accepted into the "sisterhood" as if I was a woman. Once it was a restaurant meal with a supplier that happened to be three 20-something to 40 something women (I was about 50 at the time). The conversation quickly came around to girl talk, stuff and intimacies I've never heard a woman share with a man: their sex lives, their periods, childbirth, fantasies. It just made me feel so accepted afterwards.

Another time was similar. A friend had a bunch of us, with wives, over to his place. My wife was working so was not with me. He was showing us his man-project in the garage (restoring a vehicle). Frankly that sort of thing really bores me. So I thought I'd take my leave and went upstairs to say goodbye to the girls but they kept me chatting with them for quite a while, thrilled that one of the "men" showed more interest in them than the man-project (interestingly, the man-project guy and his wife divorced soon after). Again, mostly girl-talk.

Sometimes, even in male mode, I find myself adopting, unconsciously, female sitting postures when in a social context (legs crossed, etc.)

Presenting physically is one thing, but truly feeling womanly is, I think something hard-wired between the ears. These are events that have had me questioning my true gender more and more.