Rethinking the question I have to say that ok, sometimes a pose or an outfit strikes me as particularly sexy or sensual and maybe I do get a touch stimulated.
Mostly though it's when I'm wearing something I find sexy, or I've been somewhere like a party that's made me feel that certain way that I've, shall we say, taken matters into my own hands, but in a womanly way.
I don't wear women's clothes, I wear MY clothes !
I get aroused looking at pictures of myself. When I think about it, I suppose I dress in the feminine way that I?m attracted to. Maybe it is that simple?
Brenda, I fully agree with you. I too feel better about being who I am after being on the forum. We're all here reading and understanding our similarities and differences, with some of us openly sharing who we are. BTW, the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm a work in progress.Originally Posted by BrendaPDX
And thank you again to everyone for your openness.
Nancy
This one is way too deep for me. However, my journey into cross dressing started with a pair of nylon panties. Putting them on was such a sexual rush and it was addicting. Adding more lingerie to the mix was was more of the same drug. Now, the question is: Was I attracted to myself or was I attracted to the lingerie and later the full gamut old wearing skirts, blouses and dresses? I don?t know. I?ve never considered myself or my body shape as being sexy but as a young teenager ( many, many years ago) I sure did like looking at the pretty women wearing pretty panties, bras and slips in the JC Penney and Sears catalogs.
A very interesting thread. Some researchers in Evolutionary Biology have said that many people are attracted to other individuals who appear similar to each other. Many have said husband and wives often have similar appearances. It might make sense that if we are attracted to certain items of clothing (for whatever reason) we may be somewhat attracted (or at least enjoy seeing) ourselves in those items of clothing. I realize that's a rather dry way of looking at it. Does it make sense to anyone else?
Linda
I too have experienced a boost in sexual excitement when looking at pictures of myself as Teresa.
Last edited by Teresa.Smith.VA; 05-08-2023 at 07:37 PM.
Linda, it makes perfect sense to me. It even ties into what Lacey said about her (and my) childhood fantasies, looking at the women's underwear catalogs. Seeing ourselves in those items that we fantasized about is exciting. And that's the interesting thing, we become our own fantasy! It's no longer about some woman in a catalog or that we see on the street, it's that attractive woman in the mirror. As I wrote earlier, there's also the realization that we were seeking our own feminine nature all along. If we have a partner to share that with, that's wonderful, but if one is like me, happily single, we can be our own nonbinary, happy couple.
I agree Nancy. A lot of similarities there for sure. I remember those catalogues too.
Last edited by char GG; 04-24-2023 at 10:42 AM. Reason: Not necessary to quote the post just before yours
Researching autogynephilia I found the following link which I believe offers a quick read with some insight to the term:
https://www.rodfleming.com/autogynep...ray-blanchard/
It is interesting that Dr. Blanchard began with studying a group of individuals who'd presented clinically to obtain gender reconstruction surgery. The insights were derived comparing these to men who'd found an interest in crossdressing in late middle age. The differences in the two groups described in the article were profound and meaningful to me personally.
Ok, I've hit the 3/4 century mark and I still don't know why I do, what I do. And, I've stopped trying to figure it out. Marina made a comment (#12) that probably has afflicted every cross dresser. From what I have read, no matter what the age a man may be, there is a healthy percentage that engages in self pleasure. Does it make a different if the self pleasure is aided by a Playboy magazine or being en femme? I think the wiping away with disgust is nothing more than a lack of reconciliation of who a person may be with reference to the societal norm. I know I went through the period of disgust or self loathing. Without reading the article, maybe for some the self loving has to do with the feeling one may be inadequate to have a relationship with another and the fall back to become preoccupied with self?
I started CD'ing at a pretty young age, well before puberty.
Of course, when that hit, naturally all bets were off.
As I've grown older, that has dissipated quite a bit, for various reasons.
Of course, sometimes when I get all dolled-up? Or at least as long as enough key ingredients are present (wig, eye make-up, etc.)?
Welp, my guy-self is hetero, and my female-self is bi, so, you know...
I see nothing wrong with it -- as long as it's done for positive/healthy reasons, and kept in moderation.
Last edited by ellbee; 04-27-2023 at 11:47 AM. Reason: clarification, LOL!
Welcome to the club! I think we are all initially autosexual
After many years in a sexless marriage, I am striving to become my own woman.
Honoring the woman within
Like others here, wearing lingerie has been arousing since I was a teen. But that seems more a fetish to me since I don?t have to see myself to get the effect. What I found interesting was when I started going full femme I became rather asexual. I wasn?t particularly affected by anyone?s attractiveness, let alone my own. So while autogynophillia is often implicated as a cause or reinforcing agent for CDs, it doesn?t appear to work that way for me. Being Bridget just brings a sense of calm and completion. I only bring this up to demonstrate that there really is a spectrum of reactions within ourselves to what we do and enjoy, and it?s that diversity of experiences we should respect and celebrate.
Autogyrotechnicolor is a crock. Its quintessential mansplaining and, more importantly, the theory ia based on circumstantial and anecdotal accounts collected by one man.
I'm still appreciating everyone's views on this. Bridget Ann, I couldn't agree more. And, Monique, that's sounds like the feeling I had, "This female part of me is what's been missing all along."
I abmit i have felt aroused when looking at pictures of myself dressed up but never when I'm dressed up it's more when my guyself is looking at then and I am thinking about being dressed up.
I do get aroused when dressed, but it's the female form of the women that I would like to be with that I believe is what arouses me. Although this arousal has subsided over the years, perhaps simply due to age.
I share your experience. I too loved looking at the lingerie ads in the JC Penney and Sears catalogs when I was growing up. Maybe that wired my brain so that I got a sexual rush from putting on a bra. And it was very addicting - it overcame the shame and guilt I felt from crossdressing.
I wonder what made me different from other boys who also looked at pictures of women in lingerie but didn't end up crossdressing. Did they never try on a bra or panties? Or maybe they did, but didn't get "hooked"?
BaliGirl; I recall reading one time that about half of all adult men have crossdressed at least once. Usually it has nothing to do with wanting to crossdress because you want to crossdress, but other reasons.
This may have more to do with some kind of sexuality other than auto, but am I the only one who was never turned on by the Playboy (and similar) images? Don't get me wrong, I thought they were beautiful and sexy, but for some reason they just didn't do it for me to the level that they did other boys/men. For years (decades) I figured it was just that I wasn't into porn, which I thought was probably a good thing. Now I'm pretty sure it meant something else.
BaliGirl, it was addicting for me as well. I have no idea if that's what led me to putting on my mom's clothes, but I imagine it helped. It's funny now, I really don't remember feeling shame or guilt. It was more about fear of getting caught or my mom finding my stash (which she did).
Rhonda, when I was young I was fully taken by those images but that slowly dissipated. Looking back, I do think it was the lingerie as much as the female form. The "autosexual" part now is feeling fulfilled by being myself (ourselves), not needing a partner (or porn of any kind) to feel completely satisfied.
No, Rhonda Jean, you are not the only one. I was never into photographic presentations of sex, especially when there was no lingerie. (One time I found a copy of Playboy in the middle of the street. I took it home, but I literally read a few articles and that was it.)
I recently learned a term for yet another variant of sexuality: demisexual. From a Googled website, "People who identify as demisexual only feel sexual attraction to someone after they've formed a strong emotional bond with them. Compared to the general population, most people who are demisexual rarely feel sexual attraction."
This seems to fit me quite well, although the term I have always used is I'm a "romantic." Throughout my life, I have (and still do) frequently gotten a crush on someone, but it rarely moves into thoughts of plain sex. And I almost never have any sexual dreams (at least that I am aware of when I wake up). I can only recall a few in my whole life - and one was with Cher, who I have never been particularly attracted to (lol).
Among the few things that do arouse me/turn me on are the sensual feel from wearing women's clothes, primarily lingerie, and erotica, specifically TG and CD erotica. But porn - nah.
If only our families and friends could be as supportive as our bras!
All very complicated and lots of theories but no real answers. But the best that I can say is that a pair of panties was always ready when I was. Never had to take them to dinner, buy roses or make sure that I was saying all the right things. Perhaps not nearly as rewarding as a relationship but certainly as a teenage boy and later they provided welcome fun.
Lacey, your comment made me smile, "Never had to take them to dinner..." That's my experience as well, no complications, just all the things I enjoy.
Colleen, Demisexual is a good description of most of my life. Things do get complicated when we're on the trans spectrum and want to be open with our partner, so I think that's when sex becomes more of a personal experience.
Last edited by char GG; 05-22-2023 at 04:48 AM. Reason: Not necessary to quote the post just before yours
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