Hi!
Can the crossdressing mirror reveal things about our male selves? I think mine did tonight.
My behavior as a woman does differ from my behavior as a man, and I suspect that is true for most of us.
Out in the real world acceptance comes from behaving in ways that are socially expected. Rewards and expectations are different for men and women. Men "show off" in different ways from women.
Most of my friends and associates are middle-aged to mature men and women and, like most others, I tend to conform to their expectations. Maybe because I want to "fit in," maybe because my expectations are similar to theirs, who knows? Who cares?
No, it isn't about trying to live stereotypes, it is the way things are.
Tonight one of my women's social groups had a Christmas party and, for a change, spouses and SO's were invited.
I was there as a woman, of course, and was seated diagonally across from one of the husbands.
A college professor by trade, he is one of those guys who knows everything and is perfectly willing to tell others what is "right" and what is "wrong." A rather pompous blowhard who is used to dominating conversations and setting the parameters of nearly any subject.
Frankly, he's one of the reasons we have a "women only" policy for most of our meetings and events. One guy like him can seize control of the conversation, particularly with a group of women who do not feel that they will gain points by stridently debating an opinionated man.
I wasn't particularly in his conversational group and I certainly wasn't going to bother debating any points with him. Why bother?
But suddenly something struck me. In male mode, although I am certainly not as pompous nor blowhard as he is, I am used to being an Alpha male, typically accepted as a leader.
It has been a very successful strategy for me in business and in social life. But I was seeing male behavior from the other side of the line tonight and I was less impressed. And I thought, "Is that me? Is that what I sometimes sound like?"
The crossdressing mirror was turned and suddenly reflecting "guy world," and my own male reflection.
Is it possible that crossdressing can help us become better men as well as better women?
Hugs,
Persephone.