Part 1: My Story
Hi all, my name is Ramona Richards but I go by Mona. I’m relatively new to the CDH community, having joined just before the holidays. By way of introduction, bear with me as I begin this article describing my crossdressing history.
Over the course of my almost six decades, I’ve followed the “typical” crossdressing career path (haha, as if anything about us crossdressers is typical):
Childhood: early fascination with dominant women and men in tights. Specifically, the original Batman TV series that ran during my formative years in the 60’s was a huge influence (apologies to younger folks who aren’t familiar with this show). I can recall identifying with Robin (the Boy Wonder) more than Batman, perhaps because my unconscious mind was drawn to his cute, colorful outfit and his role as the submissive partner to Batman. Then there was Julie Newmar as Cat Woman – smoking hot in her dominatrix-like catsuit. I remember being fascinated by the power she wielded in her efforts to entice and dominate Batman.
So, there I am at the tender age of six or seven, unconsciously experiencing an erotic charge from the costumes and innuendo-laced interplay between characters on a campy TV show. Clearly, our sexuality is hardwired, and I realize this is not an earth-shattering revelation to many readers.
Early teens: beginning of “transvestic fetishism” phase – secretly wearing sister’s underthings for gratification – enough said.
College: no interest and, with roommates, not many opportunities anyway.
Adulthood: marriage, career, children – very sporadic bouts of secret CDing but still limited to underthings (wife’s) for erotic stimulation. Long stretches with no interest, including the past 20 years, up until Right Now.
Right Now: my wife of thirty-plus years and I are empty nesters. I love her and our kids, love my job as a scientist – in short, I have a great life. But about 6 months ago, the urge to cross dress hit me hard, seemingly out of nowhere. In response, I have spent a small fortune to go all in – wigs, makeup, clothes, shoes, etc. This is way beyond anything that has come before, and the intensity is surprising and frightening.
All of my crossdressing activity up to this point has taken place in secret, usually followed by feelings of guilt and shame that so many of us have experienced. A few months ago, after agonizing about it for months, I came out to my wife. She was shocked to say the least, but also appreciates the courage it took to be honest and vulnerable. However, she does not want to know any of the details. The few times I’ve brought it up since, her only response has been that she is still processing it. In the meantime, our tacit agreement is that she will tolerate it but is not inclined to discuss it – and certainly does not want to see any evidence.
As with many of us, therefore, the only time I dress is when I’m home alone, and I am diligent about erasing all signs of my activities before she returns (I would make a good criminal, haha).
For me, dressing is an intoxicating activity. I’m a fairly typical middle-aged, balding, slightly overweight, suburban man whose day-to-day office wear consists of khakis and polo shirts (i.e., the casual corporate uniform). But for those few precious hours, I’m able to transcend the mundane routine of daily life, the often-mindless conformity, and magically transform myself into something soft and beautiful and sexy.
I believe this is perfectly logical: who doesn’t want to embody that which they love and desire? I think what sets many of us crossdressers apart is the strong drive to actually act out our fantasies. And here let me state that I am sensitive to the fact that for those in our community further along the gender spectrum, it is less a matter of fantasy and more about identity.
I‘m finding that I really enjoy the creative aspects of cross dressing – trying different combinations of wigs, makeup, clothes, etc. Basically, finding my style. Note to the gal on a budget: Salvation Army, Goodwill and Payless Shoe Stores are your friends.
Right now, it doesn’t feel like I’ve started down a path toward transitioning. I’m content with my life as a heterosexual man who enjoys a variety of interests and activities outside of crossdressing. Given my history of ebbs and flows, it’s possible that in a few months, my current strong urges will abate, maybe even go away completely for another extended interval (in which case I’ll be holding a hell of a fire sale, ladies!).
Anyway, if you’re still reading this, thank you for grinding through all the long-winded navel gazing. From my research, I think I’ve followed a fairly typical (haha) trajectory. However, it’s only half the story, because as we know, saying yes to the dress is not without a good deal of distress. In addition to the fun, I’ve been struggling to understand what is happening to me. I believe this is also typical.
Part 2: The Questions I Ask Myself
Mainly the question is why? And why now?
When I look closely at my face in selfies, I see a woman smiling back with unbridled joy. My eyes are sparkling, thrilled to behold the woman in the mirror, right there in front of me. It took me a while to realize that the look on my face is that of someone who has fallen in love. I think the technical term for this is gender euphoria.
This realization both excites and frightens me. Newly and wildly in love with myself, at my advanced middle age? WTF?
Now it’s time for my scientific side to enter the picture. This is the scientist who is hardwired to spend inordinate amounts of time reading and analyzing, and he is the one who is raising questions such as:
What are the psychological underpinnings of this form of “self-love”?
Am I just a guy in love with the woman I have created out of myself?
Or is my face in the photos that of the woman inside me bursting with joy after decades of repression, finally free to fall in love with herself?
On the other hand (there is always an “on the other hand” in science), could this all just be an exercise in vanity and self-indulgence, a form of narcissism that is somehow a defect in my psyche?
Am I trying to fill a void for something else that is missing from my life? Wouldn’t I be better off focusing my time and energy on more “socially-acceptable” things, that might bring the same or more satisfaction?
What if I am publicly outed? Am I prepared to handle the fallout, including a ruined reputation, damaged relationships with friends and family, etc., etc.?
Is the sudden and intense resurgence of this activity a form of mid-life crisis? Could it be due to low testosterone or some other hormone imbalance? Mental disorder?
How about adult-onset gender dysphoria, with a sprinkling of residual transvestic fetishism and a dash of autogynephilia?
OK, that last question should convince you that I do indeed read too much. And believe me, I could go on and on with these kinds of questions.
The problem is that I haven’t found any satisfactory answers, and I’ve heard many others say that nobody ever really does. My goal in writing this is to share my thoughts and experience with the CDH community and perhaps spark some conservation.
I’ll end with a question to the millions of my fellow balding, middle-aged, khaki-clad men who at best view crossdressing with benign indifference and at worse as a deviant activity that, on the long list of atrocities that we humans have proven capable of, ranks right up there with the likes of genocide and child molestation. The question I pose is: if you had the opportunity to step outside yourself for a time to embody the beauty, femininity and alluring sexuality that women possess, would you do it?
In my opinion, those who answer no are missing out on experiencing a transformation that is magical, powerful and fascinating. So for the time being, at least, I’m saying not only yes, but hell yes to the dress.
More Articles by Mona
- Proud to be a Goodwill Girl
- My Season of Doubt and Shame Part 2
- My Season of Doubt and Shame: Part 1
- Media Review: Casa Susanna
- A Hilarious Look at the Challenges Most Crossdressers Will Face
Really enjoyed this article…felt like I was the one writing it, since I identified with so much in there, especially the reason from the SO, and also the pure joy of seeing a woman looking back from the mirror. Gives me incentive to share my own thoughts some day.
Really happy to hear you enjoyed the article and were able to relate to much
of’it, Rikki. Although we are a very diverse group of people in this CDH community, it is amazing how many of us have very similar backstories. I am thinking there is much on this site of potential use to a researcher looking to gather data on this whole MTF crossdressing phenomenon.
Anyway, I would encourage you to share your story as well. Hope to see it one day. Hugs, Mona
I completely agree. Well stated. I finally came out to my wife at age 47. She’s been supportive, and has bought me outfits and has done my makeup. However, she still wonders if I’m gay, and doesn’t want me to go public yet. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I like my Male side and love my wife. I prefer to be Petra and wear women’s clothes more often, but don’t have the time and ability to always do so.
Great article Mona. So many things to comment about! One of the most important is when you ask something like “who would want to become the same object of their adoration?”. Some call it autogynephilia, and medically it may be acurate. But it should also have different levels. Because many here don’t want to really become females, we are happy with the idea of being as similar to them as possible. I used this term in the past. We become some kind of “Femmulators” (sorry Stana, I used the word waaaay before you created your site! ) And you ask…… Read more »
Hi Gaby, Thanks for the kind words and for adding these thoughts. i like your term “femmulators" as it captures so much more than just the dressing aspect and thereby more accurately conveys the motivations and actual experience of so many (the majority?) in our community. I’ve encountered similar terms but I think everyone trying to understand and label this activity (from “professionals" on down) is challenged to succinctly describe the extremely wide range of orientations (and their expression) that characterize us. In other words, this shit’s complicated man. I wish I had more time to write here but I’m… Read more »
HI Mona it’s Scarlett! I read through every word of your writing and with with a very few exceptions (the super heroes in tights, being over weight, balding, a being a scientist but a high profile professional none the less), your story and the questions I’ve asked myself over the years and our age is exactly the same – almost word for word. You’ve seen a ton of my photos and know the level I’ve taking it to and maybe even how much money I’ve sunk into my thrill of cross dressing. And that doesn’t include two very expensive purges… Read more »
Scarlett my Skater Sister! thanks so much for the kind words and for sharing your experience. Yes, i agree that being part of a community like CDH has really helped with my own understanding and acceptance of myself. There’s a lot more I’d like to comment on from your reply but I’m pressed for time at the moment. So it will have to wait. I love your statement above: “Bottom line is that I love getting my girl on as Scarlett," That love clearly shows through in your photos and writing and you should be very proud of that, girlfriend!… Read more »
Hi my skater sister! Just wrote you a longer reply note but it got deleted. You probably wouldn’t have had time to respond to it anyway because of the massive amount of responses your getting to your article and you have a real job still! Love ya girl friend! XOXO Scarlett
Mona,
That is one of the most literate, thoughtful and insightful articles that I have ever read on the evolution of an adult male crossdresser! I think it embodies many of the feelings and experiences that many of us have had as well as the questions about “what do we do now?" Hopeful our family, friends and significant others will read this and understand the compulsion/obsession which drives us to express our femininity.
Best wishes,
Susan
Hi Susan – thank you so much for the kind words! Knowing that I’ve touched even one person with my writing makes the whole endeavor so rewarding and personally fulfilling.
I’d like to say more but pressed for time. Please be well and I wish you nothing but happiness and peace as you continue along on your journey. Hope we can keep in touch.
Hugs and kisses, Mona
Hi Mona,
Thanks for your kind reply. Your words have definitely struck a responsive chord!
My sincerest best wishes. Let’s keep in touch and discuss our journeys.
Sincerely,
Susan
Mona, your experience, and your description certainly applies to me as well. I am struggling with the WHY of this, as I too was hit with this compulsion to dress up, and don’t know what’s going inside my 60+ year old brain! Like you, I did it the odd time from a young age, but I could do it, then leave it alone, sometimes for years at time. I also feel the thrill of trying to look as feminine as possible, and look the feeling of stockings, pantyhose, and bras against my skin. I wish that I could give you,… Read more »
Hi Amy, thank you and it’s interesting to hear how much the article resonates with you and matches your experience. So many of us struggle with the “why" question. This makes it doubly hard when trying to explain to others – if we don’t understand ourselves how can we expect them to? Anyway, I’m starting to think that there is a sizable community of others like us, where the urge to cross dress has lain dormant for many years and then suddenly comes on strong in middle age. It is a phenomenon that needs to be better documented and perhaps… Read more »
Thank you dearly Mona for sharing your experiences, thoughtful insights, and a learned perspective coupled to critical thinking. The path you share as you go about trying to understand the why and the how of your dressing and, indeed, who you are, is a path I take regularly in my own efforts to understand. Like you, I’ve been trained as a scientist, and more than anything, this is where we align completely. True, barring the funds to do the type of peer-reviewed research and longitudinal studies necessary to submit any sort of accurate conclusions, supposition is mostly all we have.… Read more »
My dear Syd, Thanks so much for the kind words and it’s truly heartwarming to hear how it resonates with your own experience. For one thing, it’s good to hear from a fellow scientist and analytical thinker – your mention of the DSM-V suggest to me that you’ve probably done as much or more reading and research as I have. We scientists just need to find that answer, don’t we? In terms of scientific study, I think there is some very rich material right here in our online community that could support a serious scientific analysis of cross dressers and… Read more »
I’m not sure whether I feel privileged or insulted that you wrote this??? You pretty much described me to a T…middle aged, balding, slightly overweight(but I’m working on it sister!) and a professional, wearing khaki’s most days…. All, I know is that I like wearing women’s clothes and exploring my feminine side, one day at a time 🙂 Although, I am relatively new to crossdressing, I find that it is becoming more and more a part of me and I don’t think I would ever turn back. I probably couldn’t. Thank you for writing this. I really enjoyed it. And… Read more »
Interesting progression to your CD life, Mona. I would just caution you to continue to respect your wife’s wishes (which you obviously are to this point) and don’t let yourself get carried away with your new persona. I know how you feel, being free to express yourself, to embrace your feminine side, so enjoy your time, but know your boundaries. You make reference to an interesting subject when you mention not knowing where this will lead. I believe that there is a spectrum for TG folks (actually, I believe there are several different spectrums), and that we are not necessarily… Read more »
Great article, my feelings are much the same as yours.
Thanks so much, Mindie – so glad you enjoyed the article. Hugs, Mona
hello mona and welcome to C.D.H. this is the place where we all have been there and still try to figure out why we dress up. to me guess its in the blood and my mom wanted a girl. i got hooked up on tights in a school play from there it has been up and down hiding it all my life. never thought of bat man and Robbin wearing tights or cat woman. the feeling of nylons is a great feeling of a message in the legs when wearing them. the bra feels great over the shoulders and around… Read more »