The "taboos of society"

[BlackSabb]

Wow, this certainly is an interesting thread.

I agree with much of what you and QO have said. IMO people have no business nosing into what you do in private. Now in public I agree, that there are certain things one shouldn't do, not because they're necessarily wrong, but for the reasons already stated; that people can get freaked out or offended. If you're sensitive or have a hard time dealing with ridicule, I don't suggest going out wearing a miniskirt or tights if you're a guy.

I learned a lot about people's reactions to things that are different over the last two years. I spent my entire life up until that point trying to fit in and not really be noticed, and in fact went out of my way to not give the appearance of anything less than masculine (though I didn't do so very successfully much of the time). But then when I finally made the decision to transition I just wanted to be "normal" right away. I wore a few things I could never really get away with, like the outfit I have on in my avatar pic. I look pretty good in that outfit now, but a year ago most people would have said to themselves "Eww!" I've changed a LOT even in just the last year, amazingly so. Now instead of "Eww!" I get guys checking me out and hitting on me.

Do I believe that people should just be free to do, wear and be who they want? Heck yeah. But there are, admittedly, some things I don't even want to see. It would be nice if we as a society would just bend to allow for people to have more expressive freedom, but unfortunately we're not there yet, so if you want to blur the lines you have to be willing to take the heat.

It's like so many transwomen I know who complain they don't pass well and get read. And I tell them they have to make a decision: they either need to make changes to themselves, whether it be voice training, waiting for hormones to change them more or getting feminization surgery, wearing different clothes, wearing their makeup different, etc. or they have to accept the fact that people are going to stare, call them sir, make the occasional nasty comment and such. It's just the way it is, and you can take that and apply it to pushing buggies with cats (which actually sounds like fun to me lol) guys wearing tights (go for it) or whatever.

Great post. I saw this person once at work that was very obviously a male dressing as a female. The voice was deep, the chin was heavy square set, but this person was very friendly and jovial, and obviously had a mind set to take with good humour any situation that presented. This person had to have that attitude, as there was no way that he was going to be passed off successfully as she.

I gotta hand it to you geekgirlkelli, you're way more interesting than me, living on both sides of the fence. I don't know how you do it, but you get 10/10 for bravery in my book, not that's it my thing or anything. When I read your posts, I am reminded of this person that I saw, and I can't get over how difficult that would be to go out and about in society. And btw, nice tights in your avatar!! Hahaha.

Up until the 1950s a voluptuous woman, such as Marilyn Monroe, was considered the height of beauty, and a thin woman was regarded as unattractive.

In the Middle Ages, the ideal woman was plump, so things have changed a lot since then.

 

[JustBoo]

What I'm saying is that challenging attitudes is the only way to change them. It may be a a long slow process but I do not beleive anyone should have to rearrange their life around oppression or discrimination.

 

[spinningtutu]

Ok, first things first... there is right and wrong (but that is morality, not an issue of taboos)... That being said...

One of my goals in life is to be a living middle finger to society's taboos, be that culture, gender roles, political stereotypes, etc.

Now... a guy wearing a black leaether mini skirt with fishnet hosiery... that is just kinkalicious if you ask me... *meow* just thinking about it gets me all hot inside!! I'm not looking for a guy to be with, but, if I were, I'd be actively searching out a man in touch with his femmina emotionae.

 

[BlackSabb]

Now in public I agree, that there are certain things one shouldn't do, not because they're necessarily wrong, but for the reasons already stated; that people can get freaked out or offended. If you're sensitive or have a hard time dealing with ridicule, I don't suggest going out wearing a miniskirt or tights if you're a guy.

The funny thing about all these taboos and societal restrictions is that they're bizarrely inconsistent, which makes me ask "why should I care about the opinions of 'society?'" A guy could put on a pair of black lycra tights and ride around on a bicycle, or go jogging, play sports, do dance, do gymnastics, etc and no one would think anything of it. Heck, even flying in a trapeze in a circus for crying out loud, where large audiences enjoy the performance.

But then if he put them on under shorts and went about town, he's a freak, weirdo, breaking society's taboos etc. That makes no sense to me whatsover. So, go and run around on a bicycle and you're obeying society's rules. Throw a pair of shorts over the top and hop off your bicycle, and you're now engaging in a taboo, and being anti social. Ridiculous.

Even today, men suffer ridicule if they do a profession that is traditionally women's, eg nursing. But if a woman becomes a mechanic, she is praised and admired. No one ever says a women isn't a "real woman" if she is a factory worker, or tradesperson or farmer etc. But men who are nurses, dancers etc still get the "not a real man" stereotype. Why is that? Again, who makes all these inconsistent rules? And why should anyone obey the ever changing and fleeting conditions of society?


Btw, paxi1334, nice avatar! Are you a Sabbath fan? You know, the wings, the black and dark, the tombstone, the gothic creature. Aaaahhhhhh.......so nice.