As I've grown older and wiser I've examined some of my long held beliefs. I had strong inclinations to dress in private when I was younger but didn't for a variety of reasons. I was never a chauvinist but I did have some opinions that were perhaps formed in my repression of femininity.
1. I thought makeup was stupid. I was one of those who went on about women who wore too much makeup, and actually would say on a regular basis that women shouldn't wear makeup because they were conforming and whatnot.
2. I made fun of how long it took women to get ready. Now I realize how much fun it is to get ready, probably more fun that when you're getting ready for.
3. I made fun of how women were so obsessed with clothing and style, and how they were only really dressing up for each other.
4. I made fun of purses, and especially all the crap in them. I've realized that women's clothes don't have pockets for a reason, and women need to carry more stuff. I also realized that the purse is part of your outfit, and I love the way it feels to have a purse slung over my shoulder.
These are just the things dealing with appearance. I also always made fun of how emotion women were, and illogical all the while repressing my own emotions.
Did you ever find that expressing your femininity changed your outlook on things?