At an outdoor music event where I was in guy mode, flying solo, I noticed a couple consisting of a young man and lady walk on to the lawn and pause. The guy stops, puts his hands on his hips and looks around to assess the situation. The woman stops, watches the guy for a second, then starts looking where he’s looking, and scanning the area. He seems intent. She seems curious about what she should be looking for. The male and female dynamic seems apparent, or perhaps I’m projecting on to them my own stereotypes.
As I watched them, my mind went back two weeks prior when I was visiting in Asheville, NC. I took several opportunities to dress, sometimes as an all up girl or sometimes androgynous or genderless. One of the total en femme evenings was a dinner out with a friend who is an ex-girlfriend from 5 years ago. She is a dear friend now, and she is one of the dozen or two people who know Lorie exists. This was her first face to face time meeting Lorie.
It was exciting to be out in public, and my friend seemed comfortable with the situation of me being Lorie. In a later conversation she shared that it felt just like any dinner with her other girlfriends, just chatting away, and not like she was with a guy. This was nice to hear!
But while we were having dinner, I felt a certain discomfort, or internal contradiction, perhaps. I couldn’t place it. It seemed quite silly, because I was delighted to be out in public, despite any (perceived) curious glances from other diners.
It was when I saw that couple at the music event that I got a glimpse of why I was a little awkward at the dinner. I wondered if perhaps the discomfort was because I was not accustomed to the female role in a relationship, whether as a friend or a significant other. I felt a bit disoriented by the change in my role (again – my perceived role). I was more familiar with the guy role of assessing, evaluating, and working the logistics.
There were several questions running through my head such as: How does a woman behave and relate in this situation? What is this feeling I’m experiencing of relating on a more emotional level, and less pragmatic? Can I see how I want to reach out for the old and safe anchor of male practicality? What do I do with that, especially in a potentially anxious environment that can trigger a desire for the safer, familiar ground of maleness?
Then I began to wonder about the dating scene. I’m attracted to women still – always have been. So that means I’ll be going out with women and flirting as a woman. What will that be like? Can I find my voice in that situation? Can I stand inside my feminine self without resorting to the male persona? How much do I tend to control conversations or relationships in guy mode? Time to take an honest look.
This journey sometimes feels a whole lot differently than it “thinks”. It can feel both like a home-coming and stepping onto foreign soil at the same time!
I am grateful for this awareness and the opportunity to integrate it all so that I can be made whole.
What integration are you aware of that feels disorienting, conflicting, or confusing?
When dressed totally en femme, do you find yourself attracted to females, males, or possibly both? And how that may be different when you are dressed in all guy clothing?
Thanks for taking time to read my article and I’m looking forward to hearing your responses.
Love ya, Lorie
More Articles by LaWren Peace
- “SelfPartnered:” A New Way To See Myself
- Coming Out; My Favorite System
- I Wanted To Be The Girl In A Dress
- Can I ever be Enough?
- Dancing at the Redmoor
Lorie, thank you so much for your introspective and thought-provoking article. No question that when I am out and about in male mode, that my circuitry upstairs can heavily lean towards those male characteristics. But when I am out en femme as Anne, I feel like a different person and enjoy that feminine persona that takes over. But I realize that part of this is because I am purposely trying to mimic and evoke those feminine qualities that make women what they are. I find myself wondering how much is forced and how much is naturally occurring because I am… Read more »
For me, I feel that it is natural to express as feminine, even if some of the mannerisms or behaviors may feel a little awkward. I know I feel my feminine energy swell and blossom as I adopt more feminine behaviors. I believe that is the natural part of me expanding with the freedom of expression. In other words, it’s just more of me being me.
Hugs, Lorie
Hi girls, I know this is an old topic but it is something that has become a reality for me recently. After much serious reflection over the last year I came to the realization that I am not just a crossdresser but am, and always have been, a transgender woman. So I recently “came out" to everyone and started living as the woman I’ve always been. I have transitioned at my workplace and was asked yesterday what my sexual leanings are. I replied that I’m attracted to women, not men. So she says to me, that means you’re a trans… Read more »