How Many More?

[theresa]

The longer I live, the more I realize that the MTF TG population is much larger than I had believed. Over the last 10 years my idea on size of the population has continued to increase.

I remember when I was very young and up through my early 40s that I thought I was the only person in the world with such a strong desire to be transgendered. I thought for sure there was something strange about me, and it was my little secret. Then I started to read about others who had similar beliefs and desires as me. Then the internet opened up and whole world of information with it. I realized I was by no means alone and actually part of a much larger population. And even better, it was acceptable, at least in certain environments, to live my life as a transgendered person. I would have never thought that possible 10 years ago.

Now I start to wonder how many there are of us in the general population? I've read some estimates that from 5 to 10 percent of the male population may have some TG tendencies. I have no idea of knowing whether those figures are realistic or not, it may be lower or higher. But it makes me wonder how many other people out there live their lives without being able to understand why they feel TG urges. Or those that don't understand and suppress the feeling. Or even worse, those that have those feelings and don't know any other way of dealing with them than hostility, intolerance or even abuse to others who are TG.

What do you all think about this? Am I way off base here or is there something to this?

[Karren H]

May be that 100% of men are TG to some level but just won't admit it? And there in lies the problems... You will never get an acurate count...

[Jason+]

Prior to the internet and a few good books I thought the same way, that I was the only man that looked at a woman's dress and thought it looked good and her followed by wondering how it would look and feel on me too.

My research on the matter comes up with around 10% as well although I firmly believe that 50% of statistics are made up on the spot

[theresa]

Karren,

I've thought that at times too, that perhaps 100% of men may have at least those tendencies, but thought that might be way controversial. For instance, I have noticed that some of my male acquaintences and family that get "dressed" for halloween fun look way too smiley and happy in that frilly dress.

Even if it was 5% of the population, can you imagine how many millions of males have these feelings across the globe? Could totally redefine the commercial demographics market for sales of makeup, womens clothes, perfume, shoes, forms, etc.

[sometimes_miss]

If you use TG to include all the gay, bi, TS as well as just CD'ers, then yeah, I'd guess about 10% is probably about right. There are probably many more who have had an isolated curiosity, but that was as far as they experienced it. As above, we'll never know. It's not something that 99% of 'straight' men will ever admit to.

[Nigella23]

May be that 100% of men are TG to some level but just won't admit it? And there in lies the problems... You will never get an acurate count...

Totally agree with this, I would suggest all male children below a certain age would play dress up, wear make up, etc etc. not until parents and society imprint gender roles onto them do they have opinions either way. I would also suggest though that not all would grow up and continue.

It's not something that 99% of 'straight' men will ever admit to.

There lay the crux of the problem, only a man totally at ease with his sexuality would admit to most things. I would suggest 99% of 'straight' men, aren't 100% straight!

[MissKara]

The internet has really helped to bring the TG/CD community together and show its real numbers. I believe it has something to do with the relative anonymity of the internet, being able to talk about it without being readily identifiable.

Lots of Love,
Miss Kara

[theresa]

[QUOTE=Nigella23;1975494]Totally agree with this, I would suggest all male children below a certain age would play dress up, wear make up, etc etc. not until parents and society imprint gender roles onto them do they have opinions either way. I would also suggest though that not all would grow up and continue.

Excellent point Nigella. I think you are on to something here. Perhaps there is also a matter of how strong this tendency is when a male child is born. Those with the strongest tendencies will continue in their lives as TG while those with weaker tendencies may be changed by societal or other pressures.

[Kate Simmons]

Beats me Hon. It seems some folks need an anvil to fall on their heads to "get it" though.

[Frédérique]

Now I start to wonder how many there are of us in the general population? I've read some estimates that from 5 to 10 percent of the male population may have some TG tendencies. I have no idea of knowing whether those figures are realistic or not, it may be lower or higher. But it makes me wonder how many other people out there live their lives without being able to understand why they feel TG urges. Or those that don't understand and suppress the feeling. Or even worse, those that have those feelings and don't know any other way of dealing with them than hostility, intolerance or even abuse to others who are TG.

[SIZE="2"]I assume there are many people that have transgendered tendencies, running the gamut from casual or on-a-whim to very serious or even unwanted behavior. Whenever they try to estimate the number of us in the general population, you have to wonder how the information is acquired in the first place. How many males would answer such a survey, or be perfectly honest with their responses? What if the interviewer looked unsympathetic or uninterested – would you share your private secrets with such a person? If asked, I would say, “None of your business,” so I would not be included in the findings, slipping through the cracks yet again. With this in mind, I think there are a lot more of us out there than you think…

Here’s another tidbit for discussion – how many of us recognize transgendered behavior or feelings and act upon them? I’m sure there are many people who are not in touch with how they feel, preferring to deaden or discard any transgendered proclivities out of hand. After all, such ideas go against our assigned or impregnated gender roles, don’t they? For instance, I may get a thought about killing someone (I’m not going to say “I hear a voice in my head”), but I dismiss it, simply because I’m not a person who would kill someone, period. I know who I am, after all. In a similar fashion, if I was a “typical” male who suddenly had a thought about wearing panties, I may think about that for a minute and say “Nah! I can’t do that – I’m a male, and I have to maintain my maleness at all costs.” Does that person have TG tendencies? Would they admit to such a moment of gender “weakness?” I wonder…

We’re living in a time of global confusion, where gender roles and values are being strengthened at the expense of feeling and common sense. “Are you with us?” seems to be the battle cry, and you can translate that as “Are you a man?” or, more accurately, “Are you a weakling? With this in mind, you may get an inaccurate picture of just how many TG or TG-sympathetic people there are in the world. The overall climate is not conducive to someone stepping forward and declaring their gender queer-ness, even though this is precisely what is needed in terms of compassion and understanding at this time. I would answer the call and gladly step forward into the storm of intolerance, but nobody has bothered to ask, so I assume they don’t care about us “different” types – out of sight, out of mind, so the mind remains darkened, not enlightened… [/SIZE]

[NathalieX66]

Totally agree with this, I would suggest all male children below a certain age would play dress up, wear make up, etc etc. not until parents and society imprint gender roles onto them do they have opinions either way. I would also suggest though that not all would grow up and continue.

I agree.
But if you've ever seen the French film Ma Vie En Rose, there's the scene where the boy finally gets his long hair cut, and feels kind of violated and depressed, there is just something happening there. I'm not sure how many men can fully empathize with that feeling. It was kind of sad.

[linnea]

"Could totally redefine the commercial demographics market for sales of makeup, womens clothes, perfume, shoes, forms, etc."


I think that it already has had an effect on the sales targets as evidenced by the number of TG sites on the internet as well as the reception that CDs/TGs get at Nordstrom, Macy's, Lane Bryant, Penney's, and many small shops/boutiques.
Getting an accurate count or percentage is virtually impossible for many of the well-known inhibiting reasons, but is beginning to change (slowly) too.

[JenniferR771]

Well Google has 4 million hits for crossdressing. However does anyone have a good idea of how to count the percentage of crossdressers in the population?
Is it the same century after century?
Is it the same in all countries and cultures?

[sherri52]

I don't know what the stats are transgenered but I once heard that 25% of all males have at one time or another tried on girls or womens clothing. Peer pressure may have stopped them from going any further.

[DiannaRose]

I always use the "10%" number when I'm counting people on the street, in the mall, at a concert...everywhere. It really makes me feel not alone when I imagine that of the hundred or so men I pass during my lunch-time walks around Cambridge, MA, ten of them might have been wearing panties, same as me.

I went to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestre a month ago, and I estimated that of the 8000 people there, there could have been as many as 400 panties-wearing men in that stadium with me.

[Wallflower]

The internet has been a great tool to bring us all together and give us a sense of community but the internet can also falsely overinflated the conceptual size of the population. 5% would be great - 1% seems more likely, if that. Of course with societal pressures, there my be a missed population. The good news, even with just 1%, that is still a very large population that has a need to purchase. Maybe that is why chains like VS have policies for CD friendliness, there is money there!