Feminism interfering with crossdressing?

[Shananigans]

One thing though, is that all CD's, transsexuals, drag queens & kings, transvestites, gender queer, and the many other's all fall under the Transgender umbrella and can be anywhere in that spectrum. That being said, I think a lot of people no matter where they fall under, don't understand that clothes don't make the person. I've read many CD's posts on here that are very aware of that fact, and say if it wasn't for family obligations that they would transition, thus making them trans in a way.

I do agree though that there is a vast majority of people, which includes many on here, who feel that femininity is only what you wear on the outside. When it truly is who you are on the inside.

True. Even if it is hard to lump people under one category, it seems to be done out of convenience. I have mixed feelings about the lumping under the TG umbrella...I think the labeling can be both helpful and confusing at the same time. I'd say that someone who dresses for purely fetishistic purposes isn't TG...but, that's just my opinion. At least it gives common ground for people who seem to participate in the same activity. This can be helpful for banding together for overall acceptance.

I also hope that before someone would make the huge jump into transitioning that they would know it's not just about the clothes and the physicalities. There's a lot of people who say they would LOVE to transition, but if it were me I'd be pretty hesitant. It's seems like a very painful process. I also think that people have unrealistic expectations about transitioning and hormones in general that can leave them disappointed and leaning towards more and more plastic surgeries. That's a whole different debate for a different day. But, what I think is relative is the fact that if you know what you are on the inside and have a lot of satisfaction in knowing that no one can take that away from you, hopefully the physical manifestations of yourself aren't as important. And, I know that's a completely radical concept that most people won't agree with me on; however, I really ascribe to the philosophy that the physical manifestation of myself has little to do with who I am on the inside. I'm just a bag of skin filled with bones and blood...the real me cannot be touched physically.

I think that philosophy is why it's hard for me to give a definition for what IS femininity. I think it's a very internal thing that I can't put a physical dimension too. I think wearing pretty clothes and shoes can help someone feel more "feminine" by the definition of what femininity is to society. But, the definition of femininity to the outsider is by chance. People that are observing the physical manifestations of someone acting feminine probably wore clothes that were assigned to their appropriate sex. Therefore, the feminine essence is tied into this physical manifestation that entails a certain dress code. However, the dress code is by chance and is not important. When you see past the dress code and into the feminine essence, then you "get it." You are no longer the outsider who saw the physical manifestations of femininity and therefore assigned it (femininity) to a dress code for all outsiders to understand as feminine.

Okay, enough hippie crap for today.