So Unfair

[JaytoJillian]

Last night, I enjoyed a great evening with friends at a swank waterfront restaurant area-the weather was perfect--balmy and breezy. As we relaxed, I took note of what the ladies were wearing--soooooo many great looks from short skirts and dresses with heels, sandals and flats, to short-shorts and tops with plunging neck-lines. All of us guys (yes, I was in drab) were just one long parade of BORING t-shirts/polo shirts/button-ups paired with shorts/jeans/slacks. I was bummed when I thought about how socially unacceptable it is for men to dress in "women's" clothing, but the ladies can wear whatever. I know guys get over in soooooooooooooo many other ways--like the pay gap which is wayyyyy more serious of an issue than this, so no need to begin a debate about who has it better when it comes to men and women. I just wish everyone could be free to wear what they want, when they want. Can I get an "Amen?"

Cheers,



Jillian

[Katey888]

Can I get an "Amen?"

No.

Remind me again what prevents you wearing what you want? We have plenty members here who go out wearing what they choose whether full on femulation or just a bit of Moosey swishing (sorry MM.. )

You ARE free to wear what you want, when you want - you just have to be prepared for the exposure and any reactions that go with that... like others do.

Have a think about the folk who can't even get to a swanky waterfront restaurant in any mode before you start complaining about unfairness...

That's not even entertaining.

[JaytoJillian]

Oh geez Katey.

Really, you found this post to be heavy?

Heavy is being a victim of trans/homo phobic violence because of the way you're dressed.

So no, not everyone is "free" to wear what they want where they want or when they want.

And me going to a swank eatery has zilch to do with fairness, I came from a family that had next to nothing, but I learned quickly to work twice, sometimes three times as hard as my peers to get ahead. That said, I've earned any bit of "swankiness" to which I decide to treat myself or my friends.

[JenniferR771]

Amen. Acceptance by everyone and everywhere would be so cool!

[Tracii G]

I'm with you Jill.
Katey gets all worked up sometimes but let it slide.

[Ally 2112]

A lot of times i have felt the same way Jill

[Alice_2014_B]

I've been to events like that; so jealous of how the women dress.

[Tracii G]

A constant thing with me and I am jealous of women and what they can wear.
Guy clothes are so boring that why I don't wear them.
People probably think I'm weird for dressing the way I do but its their problem.

[denese]

Amen, Amen, and Amen. that's really how i feel too. like someone posted recently, i don't really want to go the whole route all the time. sometimes i just want to wear whatever feels good, comfortable or right.

[stacycoral]

amen would it not nice just to wear what you want to, and when you want to. hugs.

[Allisa]

Such is life, just curious but did your friends know of Jillian? If so you had a choice in your manor of dress. But as long as you enjoyed yourself why sweat the little stuff?

[JaytoJillian]

Such is life, just curious but did your friends know of Jillian?

Nope, they have no idea.

[mikeyp]

Yeah, I've tried CDing at a mall before. Worst experience of my life so far /;. I got called out by some redneck guys and soon enough, I had to leave the mall because it spread like wildfire. My calves are huge, my feet are like a size 13 in heels and my face is pretty masculine, but I am 5 '6'! I too wish I could wear whatever I felt like without any backlash. Maybe in like 20 years this will all be over?

[AngelaYVR]

Actually, I'm with Katey. Who forced you to NOT wear a nice suit or sport coat? We get this argument all the time but there are members here who do wear what they want and they have lived to post about it.

[Ineke Vashon]

It gets worse. Look at the recent prez wannabe's debate. All the men in the same same-oh black suits. Check out formal heads of state meeting in Europe, all the men in the same black suits. To paraphrase Henry Ford: "You can wear any suit you like as long as it is black." Women on the other hand can dress anyway they please, any color, bare arms, legs, a freedom we could only wish for.

Who decided that us men have to dress as ?

Ineke

[MelanieAnne]

Remind me again what prevents you wearing what you want?

I'll take "What Is Common Sense" for $100, Alex.

[JaytoJillian]

Who forced you to NOT wear a nice suit or sport coat?

Well, the last time I checked, the "T" in LGBT is not a protected class here in the states. If presenting the way I'd like could be grounds for dismissal from my job, I would say that there is indeed a policy that "Forces" me to dress a certain way.

[AngelaYVR]

Well, in that case, complaining here will definitely change the law. Or you could wait for other people to expose themselves to do it, I suppose.

[mikeyp]

Well, in that case, complaining here will definitely change the law. Or you could wait for other people to expose themselves to do it, I suppose.

this is the plan! low self esteem warriors unite

[JaytoJillian]

Wow, Ms. Angela--the few replies you've made to my posts have been on the border between snarky and mean--what have I done to you? This really was a light-hearted post about a CD (ME) having a Walter Mitty moment while watching a parade of great outfits.

Geez

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Jillian, You are preaching to the choir here.

[Elli87]

Amen, Everyone should be allowed to dress how they like. Always remember if someone has a problem it's their problem let them keep it.

[justmetoo]

I get what you said in the OP, J, and the tone of your post as well. I get feelings of wistfulness when I see women in various settings wearing outfits I would love to be wearing (although, in some cases only if I could look half as good as they do in them).

Sure, we could wear these things, but there could be a cost we aren't willing to pay in the particular circumstances. Or there could be other extenuating factors at play.

But we can still dream.

[Suzie Petersen]

Jillian: ... post about a CD (ME) having a Walter Mitty moment while watching a parade of great outfits.

Ha ha!! That brought a smile to my face girl :-) I love that movie and could absolutely connect the dots in that mental image.

I'm with you on the wishful thinking too. I have had my fair share of envy of the womens outfits over the years, both business and casual situations. And no, most of us cant just do it if we want to for all sorts of reasons.

- Suzie

[Sarah Doepner]

I do the wishful thinking thing as well. The closest I can get to wearing something fun is when I pick something out from my collection of Hawaiian shirts. The ladies have nothing on me as far as colors or patterns there. Of course those shirts are usually paired with a pair of tan shorts or jeans, so it's a limited act of color, but I do like it when nothing girly is going to be acceptable.