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Aside from writing, the central focus of my life is to fully understand what it is to be a woman, so I can more faithfully render them in my stories.
I was completely astonished to attend three functions over the holidays in which I was completely treated like a woman, a sisterhood member. At no time was the fact that I might be counterfeit as a woman mentioned and it felt really good.
One issue that I deal with every single day is that I HATE pants, and hate wearing them even worse. Part of it might be my puritanistic, Amish childhood. Another is perhaps that while the surgeon was doing my SRS, something happened that left my "front bottom" sensitive, and easily irritated. Hence, I never wear pants, or even leggings unless the situation demands it.
At one function several of us were making Orange rolls, chopping veggies, washing dishes, and other general scullery work. As we all worked there was lots of conversation and we spoke of everything from Bipolar Disease, to Bikinis, to shoes. At one point I mentioned that I hated wearing pants because it was so uncomfortable for me. After that there was general consensus that pants were uncomfortable and awful. I didn't get the chance to ask why they wore pants because the natural ebb and flow of subjects moves faster than a range fire.
I'm now left with a conundrum. If pants are so awful, then why wear them? That is the crux of understanding womanhood, perhaps. Perhaps Genetic women are like herd animals, so naturally just do what the others do? One shows up in skinny jeans and everyone else wears them? Gosh, perhaps I need to work on my conformant behavior, um quite a lot?
Still not wearing pants though.
Gwen
Comments
In my experience -
Conformity is quite a rare commodity amongst the transgendered community. After all, I believe it takes an individual sort of courage to recognise one's transgendered issues and even more courage plus determination to do something about it. Such individuality and determination sort of runs in parallel with nonconformity.
A number of reasons ...
I've talked with many women and read a lot of writings by women on the subject. There are a number of reasons why women might prefer pants:
1. Some women simply don't like skirts or dresses. My sister says she feels like she's cross-dressing when she wears a skirt. The women you spoke to may have all hated pants, but I think they're in the minority.
2. You feel a lot more vulnerable in a skirt, mostly because of the fear of people seeing your underwear. Women are drilled from their earliest years to feel ashamed and fear that they are a "slut" if someone can see their underwear, no matter how it happens. Back in the days when girls were expected to wear dresses or skirts all the time (that's my generation), boys would routinely tease (=harrass) girls by saying they could see their underwear, or by lifting their skirts. It's a problem for adult women, too. I've read that at conferences, e.g., SF conventions, creeps who use cameras on sticks to take "upskirt" photos are a problem.
Skirts and dresses are something of a hassle for this reason -- you have to always be conscious of how you sit, how you walk, what the wind is doing, etc., to avoid accidentally flashing.
3. Skirts are impractical for a lot of activities. Horseback riding, tree-climbing, construction, climbing ladders, crawling under desks to set up computer cables, etc.
4. Skirts and dresses are seen as feminine, and it's almost impossible to get any that aren't designed to make the wearer look pretty. And pretty is a hassle. An enjoyable one when you want it, but a lot of the time you've got better things to do with your time than spending hours making yourself look like a kewpie doll. I've been looking for practical work dresses, and they just aren't available. I'll have to make some if I want them. So if you buy ready-to-wear dresses or skirts, you have to deal with the fact that they're designed to make you look like a decoration.
5. In our society, feminine is seen as less than. I've seen a few articles by women in computer fields who find that their colleagues won't take them seriously if they don't dress like their male colleagues, i.e., like a slob. Keep in mind, except for a few (low-paying) professions, the world is run by and for men, and men's standards apply. There's a reason why Ms. Clinton was known for pants suits, not dresses.
6. In my generation (their 60's and older), girls spent their entire school years being required to wear skirts or dresses, and schools routinely policed skirt length (not too short, but not too long, either) and style. So skirts have bad associations for them.
Pants and Underwear
The words Visible Panty Line come to mind when people talk about the fear of wearing skirts in case their underwear is accidentally (or otherwise) exposed when with pants/trousers unless the wearer is very selective you can see the outline of their underwear.
A woman I worked with once never wore trousers to work. She was very successful in business but favoured mid-calf length skirts. These were never tight but either 'A' line or fuller.
She was asked by one manager why she didn't 'go male' like all the other femals middle managers. This woman replied
"I get noticed. I stand out from the crowd and besides, I like wearing what I do."
She had the confidence in her own self to stand up to all the wannabe lookalike managers(of both sexes) in the company we worked for and rise above them. Going with the flow/crowd/herd is much easier. The dedicated follower of fashion...(great song by the Kinks)
She went on to be CEO of a FTSE 250 Company. Sadly, she died in a diving accident in Indonesia a few years ago not long after she'd retired.
I don't know how true this is
but I have heard that about 1 in 10 women do not like wearing underwear with pants because of the way moisture builds up, causing them problems. For women that experience this, skirts and dresses are probably a good way to keep a little dryer there, while still wearing underwear.
My Pseudo Post Op Vagina
I have that issue also. I like riding my bicycle, but my front bottom gets intolerably sore, so can't ride it every day, and post ride hygiene must be very good, or I easily develop a UTI. Other women have shared the same issues with me. I never wear pants if it can be avoided. Pretty, sexy panties of the non-cotton variety are a pain.
My ex-wife
Hated, absolutely hated having to wear a dress or skirt!!!
It may be different for various areas around the country too.