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That fertile ground for thought provocation, the forums, has worked again as I contemplate comments made in a recent post. Without specifying which post it was, for there are actually many of a similar theme that have appeared over the last year or so, I will say that it got me thinking about how we define ‘gender’. What is it that makes us a man or a woman?
Of course there is the standard societal definition, the body. Essentially, much of society is comfortable with a binary definition of gender based purely on anatomy. Indeed, those who seek to transition from male to female or female to male tend also to think this way. That’s where the ‘wrong body’ idea originates. But is it that simple? “I believe that I am a woman in a man’s body” or “I feel like I am man in a woman’s body” refers to anatomy but suggests something much more. How is this ‘woman’ in the man’s body or the ‘man’ in the woman’s body defined?
For some there is a strong desire for the physical anatomy, the breasts or genitalia, they consider so necessary to make them the person they want to be. That, in many ways, might be seen as shallow. Is that all there is to it? Are those features so critical? Or is it possible that for some they just represent ‘new toys’ whilst for others they are the necessary physical affirmation of who they are? For some it can even be as basic as the sexual stimulation it provides. The clothing worn might represent who the crossdresser is attracted to or who they want to be attractive as. I see those scenarios as gender defined by body.
Is empathy gender specific? Does being a specific gender set your thought processes? Can a man know how a woman feels? Can women really understand what a man is thinking? There seems to be consensus that men and women generally think differently (Mars and Venus perhaps?) but is that thinking set by their gender or by the social conditioning associated with that gender. Could that be why some of us have never really felt ‘right’? Perhaps I think like a woman and that’s what makes me different to other ‘men. Is that gender of the mind?
After all that; the physical aspects or how we think, maybe there’s another possibility. Some ‘feel’ a different gender. They might covet the physical aspects that are required by some to define a gender but know that such options are never really going to be open to them. They might feel they can empathise and understand, to a degree, how a particular gender thinks but they also recognise that they will never truly know what is in the mind of the other. Yet despite their anatomy, despite how they think and despite what they choose to wear they still ‘feel’ feminine (or masculine). Could that be gender of the soul? Maybe the soul is a bit of all three.
Interesting ideas Jane, I have questioned in the past whether one gender can say they feel like the other, or even if any person can know how another person feels.
Philosophically, I guess its enough to question this stuff.
Dang Jane you always make me think! I believe that your last paragraph saaid it well and is the way i feel much if not most of the time. I feel incongruous at times with behaving and feeling and thinking as it seems society expects men to think and behave...and darn it i really do like the way i look and feel as Cyn than i do in male mode. I guess i still have more pondering to do as well.
Luv,
Cyn
I find it interesting in spinning thru orchard corsets ecstatic customer reviews with common themes and comments...'the look is amazing...it makes me look and feel so much more feminine...looks cute and sexy...feels like a big warm hug'...etc... That is said by the ladies with the body to match, ranging from great shape already, or looking to get in better shape. So for the other satisfied lady customers...ladies on the inside perhaps...the reaction and feeling is mutual...just plain old 'feeling more feminine'...just a different starting point is all.
2016_crossdresser transgender chat: CDH JS original post:
That fertile ground for thought provocation, the forums, has worked again as I contemplate comments made in a recent post. Without specifying which post it was, for there are actually many of a similar theme that have appeared over the last year or so, I will say that it got me thinking about how we define ‘gender’. What is it that makes us a man or a woman?
Of course there is the standard societal definition, the body. Essentially, much of society is comfortable with a binary definition of gender based purely on anatomy. Indeed, those who seek to transition from male to female or female to male tend also to think this way. That’s where the ‘wrong body’ idea originates. But is it that simple? “I believe that I am a woman in a man’s body” or “I feel like I am man in a woman’s body” refers to anatomy but suggests something much more. How is this ‘woman’ in the man’s body or the ‘man’ in the woman’s body defined?
For some there is a strong desire for the physical anatomy, the breasts or genitalia, they consider so necessary to make them the person they want to be. That, in many ways, might be seen as shallow. Is that all there is to it? Are those features so critical? Or is it possible that for some they just represent ‘new toys’ whilst for others they are the necessary physical affirmation of who they are? For some it can even be as basic as the sexual stimulation it provides. The clothing worn might represent who the crossdresser is attracted to or who they want to be attractive as. I see those scenarios as gender defined by body.
Is empathy gender specific? Does being a specific gender set your thought processes? Can a man know how a woman feels? Can women really understand what a man is thinking? There seems to be consensus that men and women generally think differently (Mars and Venus perhaps?) but is that thinking set by their gender or by the social conditioning associated with that gender. Could that be why some of us have never really felt ‘right’? Perhaps I think like a woman and that’s what makes me different to other ‘men. Is that gender of the mind?
After all that; the physical aspects or how we think, maybe there’s another possibility. Some ‘feel’ a different gender. They might covet the physical aspects that are required by some to define a gender but know that such options are never really going to be open to them. They might feel they can empathise and understand, to a degree, how a particular gender thinks but they also recognise that they will never truly know what is in the mind of the other. Yet despite their anatomy, despite how they think and despite what they choose to wear they still ‘feel’ feminine (or masculine). Could that be gender of the soul? Maybe the soul is a bit of all three.
