Someone asked "Does wearing women's clothes make one less of a man?"

[RainbowDash]

So today I answered a question on Quora which asked this question, and I was curious as to everyone's opinions about this.
I myself have not given it any thought as to whether or not crossdressing makes me less of a man and more of a woman. Well when I dress up , I do indeed feel more girly and feminine, and that's the way I like it. The suggestion of such a thing is crazy. But even if it did mean that dressing up as a woman would make me seen as more feminine and less manly, I would still dress up in absolutely everything that I have, because I love to express my feminine side, and it just feels so darn good to me when I dress up. I constantly keep thinking back as to when and how I became a crossdresser, and how I almost let this grand opportunity slip by. I get sad thoughts in my mind just thinking about how I could've very easily gone through life without dressing up. And why? Because I was afraid of this exact thing, that people would see me as less of a man.
As far as it making me less of a man, I say total bullshit. I still act and feel like a typical man and like the things they do. I could care less about sappy romance stories like a real woman would. I told him to just go with his guts and instincts and just go with it and have fun.

[Kay J]

As far as i am concerned you are right on!

[Robertacd]

In my case, yes it does. If wearing woman's clothing made me feel manly I wouldn't be doing it.

But that being said, I think this question is directly related to the whole TG versus CD label thing that goes on here.

I have noticed CD's seem go out of their way to ensure everyone that they are indeed "still a man". I know, I did it myself.

[susan54]

One time I was in a boutique where the owner knew I was male and she told me I had balls going out in public dressed as a woman.

[Gaz]

I think this question is directly related to the whole TG versus CD label thing that goes on here.

I have noticed CD's seem go out of their way to ensure everyone that they are indeed "still a man". I know, I did it myself.

Similarly, I have noticed that some seem to go out of their way to inform everyone that whatever a person might feel about themselves is inconsequential, because what's happened to them makes everyone else's future set in stone. I know, I've seen it myself.

[Alorob29]

This is a pretty interesting question. I do feel that this exactly is one of the many fears a cross dresser has. I can surely say that questioning if I am man enough has been what has stopped me for further indulging myself.
It's funny how society has transformed the fact of being a girl or feeling like one a bad thing as if women were some sort of undesirable thing to be as you would be dumber or weaker or something. I think this has todo with toxic masculinity with things such as "you run like a girl" "you crying like a girl" and stuff like that when as a matter of fact it has nothing to do with it.
I do think that it's been transformed that a woman wearing men clothes is even empowering while a guy wearing girls clothes is a fag or the likes. It shouldn't be like that.
Without entering in the gender dysphoria thing, I do think that it doesn't make you less of a man, or for that matter, less of a woman. We should only be worried about being less of a human being or less empathetic, without considering the gender or preferred social role as the definitions of what qualifies as "man" or "woman" vary a lot.
I know for experience that is really difficult to not care for what others might think, but as long as you are comfortable and secure enough of who you are and what you, I do think people will sort out themselves and most wont really care at all, and even if they don't, people who love you and care and yourself know better.

[ReineD]

As far as it making me less of a man, I say total bullshit.

Good for you!

The idea that men should be a certain way - i.e. strong, capable, stoic, self-confident, domineering, etc, and that women should also be a certain way - emotional, giving, coquettish, submissive, and even illogical (i.e. incapable of understanding car mechanics or balancing a checkbook), was very strong in the 1950s and 60s. Not any more. Both men and women can be and do all things now. The only difference between the two sexes, really, are their ability to give birth and lactate due to having different body parts, and the degrees of physical strength due to general differences in size and muscle mass.

And so what does it mean to be "less than a man" in 2019. Does it mean less than the male stereotype that was popular during the 1950s? I think this person was asking the wrong question. The question rather should have been, "Am I less than a person because I crossdress". The answer is no. We all are who we are and we do what we do. Period. It's all good, as long as we do no harm.

... that a woman wearing men clothes ...

You're new, so welcome! But I need to set you straight. Women don't wear men's clothes. We buy our pants and shirts in the women's section.

[GaleWarning]

You're new, so welcome! But I need to set you straight. Women don't wear men's clothes. We buy our pants and shirts in the women's section.

Perhaps so, Reine, but the majority of women I see on public transport here in London on an average day look as if they had bought their clothes in the men's section. Decidedly unfeminine!

[ReineD]

Decidedly unfeminine!

I'm sure that many CDers would agree with you. But, the rest of us don't judge femininity just based on clothing.

I don't think this woman looks masculine at all:

http://anninc.scene7.com/is/image/AN...0_9000?$pdp2x$

[GaleWarning]

I'm sure that many CDers would agree with you. But, the rest of us don't judge femininity just based on clothing.

I don't think this woman looks masculine at all:

http://anninc.scene7.com/is/image/AN...0_9000?$pdp2x$

I don't think her look is particularly feminine at all, Reine. Apart form the fact that she has a decidedly more female visage than I, I could probably dress in those clothes and a wig and pass!

What shoes is she wearing? Now that might make me change my opinion!

[Alice Torn]

Reine, i agree with you to a good extent, but women's brains are slightly different, also. The corpus colossum , which joins left and right brain, are thicker in most all women, so they are able to MULTI TASK better than men. Which makes women better at taking care of children, and doing other things a the same time, far better than most men.

[AnotherSarah]

Does it make less a man, no, just prettier!

[April Rose]

@Alice Torn; actually, Alice, there are those in the scientific community that would dispute that:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00677-x

[Aunt Kelly]

It's not the clothes. 😉

[Micki_Finn]

Well with any question like that you have to ask, what is the standard for “a man”?

[Alice Torn]

J Edgar Hoover, the long time law and order strong leader of the once great FBI, is sadit ohave been a crossdresser.

[dallasmann]

There are those instances where it's been somewhat true, but as Aunt Kelly so clearly stated, it's not the clothes. I know to a certainty that in so many aspects of married life, I was far less than the man my ex-wife needed and wanted. My desire to dress was barely a blip on the radar. Dressing does not stop me from doing the things one would generally associate with being the man of the household. Then again, I do many stereotypical woman of the house things, too, and for me, that's not about fulfilling my desires and roles as a woman, but is rather about being a good partner and sharing duties. Anything that required a steady hand was my responsibility and anything that was heavy and needed to be moved was hers.

[NancyJ]

Yes, being transgender makes me less of a man. I don’t like being a man. So what? Nancy

[Jodi Yardley]

hi all, its not the clothing that makes me feel less masculine but to me rather getting older is the reason. Some things that have affected me is less physical strength, other people needing to depend on me less and also the issues with ED, this makes me feel like less of a man. (I have no regrets)

Not to diminish the roles of women's place in society, but I now feel I fit in better being feminine and acting like a woman. I feel SO much better when I am dressed and doing things anymore.

I am married for 37 years without her knowledge of my cd'ing and it would end the marriage if she did find out.

Not sure if this makes any sense to others but this is the best that I can explain it.

[LilSissyStevie]

Being less of a man is the whole point for me. I know clothing is only symbolic but like a prison inmate reading tropical travel brochures, it offers momentary relief from the reality of the situation.

[Jean 103]

Yes if you are talking about the stereotypical man, like mister C from happy days. How much less? It would depend on the individual.

Like if he were to wear a witch costume for halloween, I don't thing it would have any effect at all. If he were to started wearing dresses 24/7, I think that could be measured.

A better question would be does it make you less of a person, or does it have the exact opposite effect and make you a better person. Then it could have no effect at all.

It does make life more interesting.

[abbiedrake]

I'm not sure people are so easily altered.

I'm no less a man because of the clothes I wear. But the same token I'm no more a man when I'm in male clothes.

The woman I am is not affected by what I wear is what I'm saying. But I can express a preference.

[Rachelakld]

Totally a less of a man when dressed, unless the situation changes and I need to be a man, then I'm more of a man than most men.

[suzanne]

Wearing a dress does not make me less of a man. It makes me more of a complete human being. I am not complete unless both my male and female sides are full partners in my day to day life.

I think of it this way. For the first forty years of my life, the male side drove the car, and drove it like a real man, in all the ways possible, good or bad. Meanwhile the girl stayed in the trunk. At first, she believed that was where she belonged, but when we were about 16, she poked her head out and found mom's lingerie drawer. The man cub tried to keep her hidden and even tried to get rid of her, but she was resilient and adamant. Over the years, the power dynamic shifted and now she drives he car while the man rides in the back seat, having enjoyed decades of alpha male privileges and burdens. He now realizes.its more fun and relaxing in the back seat. And he doesn't mind being complimented for his sexy legs!

[Stephanie47]

Totally a less of a man when dressed, unless the situation changes and I need to be a man, then I'm more of a man than most men.

I've been rereading this thread for the last two days trying to put my two cents in the pot. I have no idea what this sentence means. Not the slightest.