If there is one question that is seriously prevalent to my being, it is this: “How do you know?” I’ve asked that question enough times to fill my car with silver dollars. If they made a crossdresser anthem, that would be its title. Although it isn’t just about crossdressing, as it pertains to being transgender as well as any deviation from what they have spelled out as “Normal Behavior.” The “they” in this case are society, politics, religion, culture, history… you get the point.
I’m a mess inside as I struggle to come to any satisfactory explanation as to what I am and what I should be. I am neither male nor female. Ask me today and I might tell you that I’m comfortable being a CD, tomorrow, I may cry as I long to shed the masculine shell completely and become the woman I am, and the day after that… who knows. So again, “How do you know?”
I could rattle off all the things that I do know and try to equate that to some semblance of a dignified answer, but I’m only kidding myself. I don’t know and I wish that someone could give me an answer that is black and white that would help me to know. They can’t because if there were distinctive signposts for us to navigate, we’d all be holding hands and singing happy songs as we walk a similar path and then step off at our designated stop.
If I haven’t lost you, then let me try to rationalize my thoughts. I’m in constant turmoil trying to figure out “How do I know if I’m transgender… more precisely, I’m wanting to know what are all the feelings that make someone feel they are born in the wrong body and should be a female and must go through the process to rectify the mistake, and… I don’t feel that way. So does that make me, what exactly? Here’s the thing; if you gave me the magic pill, I’d take it in a heartbeat (that’s today and not me from 10 or 20 years ago.) My life is settled, and I can face all the obstacles that would come with a complete change. So, if I could take the pill, then why can’t I start the process on my own? “How do you know?”
I used to ask, “How do you know if I’m a crossdresser or just someone who has a kinky fetish for high heels and lingerie? That answer only came after years of trial and tribulations stemming from self-doubt, irritability, and failed relationships. It morphed into, “How do I know if I am more than a crossdresser and possibly transgender?” Does claiming oneself to be transgender suddenly mean they have to pursue hormones and sex reassignment surgery? Will I lose my club card in the CD world and not be fully accepted into the transgender sorority until I start some recognizable process that exemplifies that I am serious about becoming a woman? “HOW DO YOU KNOW?”
I’ve edited hundreds of articles that have asked and attempted to answer that very question, both on CDH and TGH. The multiple truths shared by everyone have only made that question more perplexing. There are some who indeed, KNOW. They know with every fiber of their being, and I applaud them and envy them. I’m drifting on the vast ocean searching for the mythical kingdom where I am going to be accepted for who I am supposed to be. It will likely be that I will die with that question unanswered. And maybe that is ok and in its own way the answer that I’ve been searching for. “How do you know?” could easily be reshaped to state, “Why do I have to know?” My happiness today, and long into the future isn’t going to be answered by a collection of points that detail a progression from here to there. My line is my line and I only need to accept what I am willing to, nothing more.
How do I know if I’m transgender? I don’t, but I think that I am, and it doesn’t matter if I don’t “Check” all the boxes. It shouldn’t take away from this wonderful experience, one that lets me enjoy being a complete crossdresser. I love femininity and there is nothing wrong with my appreciation of it. I’m single so I’m hurting no one—this is different for those in relationships. Not that I wouldn’t love to be in a relationship with an accepting individual. If it happens, great! I’m not holding my breath. I don’t know, so I’ll keep taking one high heel step in front of the other as I sashay along the path to… wherever I eventually land. My guess is that I will never dock my boat at the magical kingdom. It’s possible that I might even drift further away from it. How do I know? Who cares?
It’s time for me to be content in understanding that I won’t find answers to my questions in the stories of others, but what I will find are similarities that have importance to me. If I were to undergo some of the procedures, I can find examples of what to expect. That is essential information to have.
Each of us, in our personal way, asks the same question, “How do you know?” I think we feel the need to garner reassurances, an “It’s okay to feel that way,” even the recognition from our fellow members that our posted picture shows our inner female. The line between being transgender and just a crossdresser is as blurry as a 1960s television station without rabbit ears. (Sorry, couldn’t resist throwing some “old” humor out there.) That is why many of us will never find that particular answer. And… that is perfectly fine because the only answer that you need is the one that pertains to you finding your balance in life and the means to navigate it with happiness and compassion.
If there was one thing that I wish I could have told my younger self, it would be this, “Buy the shoes! Wear the dress! Treat yourself and others with respect and love everyone for who they are and not what they should be according to what society dictates.” Okay, that was much more than one thing. You get my point. I spent too much time hating myself and it took a toll on those around me. Today, I live by being as compassionate as I can. I have lots of years to still make up for, but at least I now like the person (whether in a dress or not) I’ve become and am still becoming.
May your life be enriched by the duplicity of treading the line between male and female, it is most assuredly a blessing and not a curse…
Until next time…
sorry to disagree Brina but in the end i feel duality is a curse
Ok, by me. I was at that same point, more times than I can state. If I could be certain of where I should be, I might concur, especially if wanting to be other than what I desire. Also, when trying my best to be that father and husband it felt like a curse. Thanks for commenting.
My thoughts, Blow it off, analysis leads to paralysis, wear what you like and look good in and when you want to. Emancipate your wardrobe.
As you wish… Thanks for the comments 🙂
Brina,
“How do you know?" I’ve been struggling with this for years. I finally came to the realization that what fits me is Dual Gender. I can’t slip in and out of personae (genderfluid) and I have no desire to live full time as a woman. I do like being Kathryn, but I also like my male self as well. And it IS a blessing to have these amazing parts of ourselves to love!
Thanks, Kathryn for sharing. I think I’m similar, maybe leaning more toward the feminine side because I feel that I’m portraying being male than how I feel inside. I’m much more content when dressed, even if just minimally.
Content is a wonderful term! I feel the same!
Most all of us question our “why" and through the years I have searched far and wide for an answer but the only certain thing I have found is I know I’m not like any “traditional" male or female model but somewhere in between. Why I’m this way I will never know and that has to be ok.
I totally agree 🙂
Brina, another wonderful post. I feel very similar to you in terms of questioning. For me, I have gone through these stages: -Crossdressed and repressed for 30 years. -For much of my life I did not feel much like a normal/macho man. -Late 40’s admitted to myself “yes I am a crossdresser." -Came out to my wife when went amazing. Thankful. -Thought crossdressing would be “a part time hobby." -Ended up crossdressing every day. Um, this didn’t seem like a hobby now. -I started to think of myself as “Gender Fluid." And then began to do A TON of research… Read more »
Mine fairly well line up with yours, maybe not in quite the same order. I’ve bounced back and forth from gender questioning to gender neutral, and even 2-spirit, because I just don’t know where to label myself. That is the inherent problem for most of us that “Don’t Know." Thankfully, we don’t have to be one or the other, even when some will tell you that you need to do this… to be this… Your line, “I’m ok with my guy self, but prefer my female self." Yep, that’s me, only I still have to do the one in privacy… Read more »
I wanted to follow up. To be fair, “I don’t know" as it relates to me being Trans. I wish there was an official checklist that let us know. LOL. Otherwise, we just have to guess. How do we feel? That’s why I canvassed others opinions to get a “large sample size" of how people feel and then relate them to my feelings. Also, like you, I only dress in private. In public I am the guy. But a guy that underdresses and wears some androgynous female outer clothes. Still living in 2 worlds.
-Christina
My whole life I have asked myself questions about what or who I am. Now in the 4th quarter of my life. I think I know pretty much the answers. But knowing them and whether I’m going further is the big question. I have a friend who is older than me who transitioned very late in her life. She is in her 90s. She is a amazing person. I envy her for her courage. I am still at that crossroads that I was almost 60 yrs ago. I’m still asking questions which may have no answers.
Yes, I can concur. I think what I most understand now is that whatever it is that I am it only matters if I’m ok with it. If I can find my own space in this crazy world and be happy in it, then I’ll survive no matter how far or short I fall from one end of the spectrum or the other. Thanks for commenting!
As always Brina, than you for a well written thought provoking article as the ladies have expressed their feelings with their thoughts. i have sought counseling to this very question and realized I am gender fluid and to paraphrase Christina “When I feminize to my true self I just feel more euphoric and relaxed. -I feel my male persona is more of a “tool to get around society” without problems. BTW. Brina thank you for taking the time to edit and help me with my “First Party Article” and realized I was so euphoric in expressing my true self… warmest… Read more »
Thanks for commenting, and you are welcome! 🙂 I liked her line as well. To me, being dressed is the same feeling as coming home after being away for a long trip.
Brina, Today, the term transgendered has come to cover anyone who expresses differently than the sex they were assigned at birth. So by that definition all of us here at CDH are indeed trans. But under that “trans" umbrella we are all unique individuals with different journeys. For example, Christina’s comment (“I am ok with my guy self, but prefer my female self") describes me perfectly. Other CD’s are similar, many are different. So I guess I’m trans but I’ve never had the desire to transition in any way. As to why I do this, I haven’t the foggiest idea… Read more »
I can see that; however, I’m betting most of us will acknowledge a difference between the two. Crossdressing has been used mostly in the past to describe wearing as opposed to feeling feminine. To me, that is where the distinction lies. Kind of like putting two big circles with the distinctions and merging them together to show the overlap. Today, (I’m agreeing with you) those circles would have much more of an overlap than 20 years ago. Thanks for the comments! 🙂
Wonderful article Brina. I logged in today because I felt that frequent uneasiness of not fully being me and needing, wanting something to help the swish of things in my mind about “who do I want to be". Your article was that something. I know I am not “normal". I had to get dressed up formally in guy-mode and as I looked for my guy dress shoes, my eyes saw my pointed-toe flats and had me wondering, what if on the outfit. Then of course not, followed by why not in my head, finishing with No. For years, I refused… Read more »
What a wonderful response. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I won’t add more as your comments are enough 🙂
I can tell you I know that I have no plans to transition. I know because I don’t want to be a girl. I like wearing feminine clothing, I like doing certain feminine things, but I don’t want to be a girl and never have. Even earlier today I’m wondering why is it that I can’t just go out in a skirt without having to put in breast forms, do makeup (even if it’s just beard cover), or put on a wig. I had a workman coming to my home and had to cover my feminine top with a sweatshirt… Read more »
There is a lot in there. I think most of it accentuates my driving point. This is a very personal journey with no scheduled stops or itineraries that you must follow. Those who can fly by the seat of their pants (skirt) may find resolutions easier than those who must have the details in place before embarking. This is not to say that one is better than the other. Those who plan are more likely to “know" and are ready to follow a detailed plan. But… what if knowing you are not going all the way? That’s where it gets… Read more »