Are cd's made,,or born??

[Amanda M]

People do imprint, that is true. We have to remember that we are all conceived as genetically female, in which case, it would appear on the surface that the theory of being 'born' as a crossdresser is of to a good start. However, what blows that out of the water is the fact that most genetic males (males at birth) grow up with NO gender related doubts whatsoever, and never develop a desire to crossdress.

My experience is that both nature and nurture have a place, but for MOST crossdressers, nurture is the more significant director.

That requires us to consider another issue. In the process of growing up - from about age three - children have very few ways of enjoying control over their own bodies. For example the "Don't you touch touch yourself down there, or God will make it disappear/ stitch it up" admonition is far from unusual.

And, of course "Little girls wear pink and boys wear blue" HEAVILY reinforced by society is a classic conditioning exercise.

I am not a Freudian either by gut feeling or by intellect, but I rather suspect that some of his theories of infantile sexuality hold more than a grain of truth. If this is an issue, the writings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung are well worth a look.

[Gillian]

Having the opportunity to rethink this, I have spent alot of time watching small children lately. My one son has two girls, then a boy, and the difference in the way they play is like night is to day. Even watching other peoples kids has me believing that the first signs of gender dysphoria should be seen at this early age. With the endocrinic system secreting hormones into a child while in the womb, then most of the brain would be totally formed and functioning well before any child would be aware of anything sexual in nature, as in gender, etc. Then if this is true, and many case studies are now confirming this, then it is of little wonder why those with gender dysphoria have such a difficult time at puberity. The best time to deal with this issue would be before the onset of puberity. Not knowing the chemical make up of the brain in early development would make it hard to determine whether one child would be TS, and another just gender dysphoric. I have read that some say that a CD'er is just a TS who doesn't know it yet. I can not agree, but I will say that as a child, I did deal with gender confusion issues that were resolved by my looking at my penis, and saying that I must then be a boy. That solved the physical issues, but not the mind issues. So, my mind issues could then get dealt with by my being a CD'er, once I accepted myself for who I was, I could then embrace and enjoy the lifestyle, which is where I am at now.

[Wendae]

I feel blessed and cursed with my CDing. I feel so wonderful when I'm dressed as Wendae. I can look in the mirror and say "Damn girl! Lookin good! Feelin fine". Then there is the down side........."What the hell is goin on!" I blame mine on PTSD but I did have an early panty fetish and really felt that the male anatomy didn't belong. In fact I hated it!
I belive mothers can raise their sons as girls, wives and girl friends can get the ball rolling and curiosity in trying on articles of female clothing can be a sensual trap. Or.....it could be genic!!
What ever the cause enjoy being the girl you want to be,

[JoAnnDallas]

If we are made then there is a lot of interest in the 10-15% of the male population and 5-8% of the female population that are TG.

[Anne Bonny]

This is a topic that never seems to find a resolution and the answers may be as varied as the very reasons we crossdress. Remember the story of the twins back in the 50's and the doctors believed that gender was all based on nurture. One of the boys was born or had some issues with his genetalia so the doctors convenced the parents to transition the little boy to a little girl, and raise him and treat him as a girl and everything would be just fine. The boy when he was grown told of his deep resentment of being given dolls which he had no intrest in playing with, and having to wear dresses. He eventually had his surgery to construct male genetalia and was married but later committed suicide. I do not therefore believe in the nurture theory because male and female brains are different. someone above observed just as we all do that girls hang out together, communicate, play with dolls, and are more gentile in their play while boys are rough and tumble, play war, climb trees, play with cars etc and may even pick on girls at an early age until they begin to like them - ha! That is why I believe in a genetic reason for crossdressing, and that like an alcoholic taking that first drink tripps something and suddenly there is no turning back you are a crossdresser or in the case of an alcoholic an alcoholic, Alcoholics seem to be able to overcome with AA, Crossdressing while harmless is like all sexual perversions (I mean differing from the vast norm of the population) is extremely difficult if not impossible to overcome I have been struggling with it since age 9 and I am now 55 and accepted this as part of who I am at about age 40 (an age at which many crossdressers seem to find self acceptance). I did have issues to sort out that took another couple years, but I sorted them out and I am now back. I am not currently crossdressed but may later today wear some article of clothing, it is winter I purchased skintimate shavning cream and a venus razor and shaved my legs, I have pink toenail polish on my toes but with shoes and long pants - who knows? I am not totally discounting some role for nurture - as I grew up with two sisters, father was frequently gone on trips and working, but was there frequently enough typical of any man with a career, my brother left in his 20's and was probably manic depressive but we rarely saw him after high school. I was not dressed or treated as a girl, but I did play with GI Joe, and by myself alot?? but had a normal childhood more or less in a wonderful family. I believe color scans of our brains would indeed find some shared functioning with women as well as men. God made me this way for a reason. I am sensitive, and share a few "feminine" traits with women, I really do prefer being in the company of women feeling I have more in common with them than with men (really!), have zero interest in sports, hunting, fishing, or camping - but like to sail. I love beautiful things, nature. I am not competetive, and only desire to lead myself, Oh and I do enjoy dressing and adorning myself on occasion and presenting myself - to myself at least as a woman. I savor and enjoy feeling like a girl. I believe we are largely born.

[Erica Bern]

Not entirely sure this is the proper place for this, but, as I am constantly trying to disect myself, (wondering why I do what i do), I will ask for your gals opinions. Are cd's made,, or born??

I analyzed my life and realized I was to close to my mom, and I was influenced spiritually by a femenin spirit Erica

[DonnaS]

Hi everyone. I feel as if I was born this way. Not gay.
But feel so secure as a woman. But wished body was same.
I do have feelings, that if I was a genetic girl, how a man would
Feel. But enjoy being with my wife as Donna. So confused.
I feel as I am doing wrong. But wife says all is ok. So lucky to
Have supportive SO. I guess I will have Remain recreational
Cd. Would have to find new job for cd to be permanent.
Feel so quilty that I am robbing wide of husband. My feelings
Are so strong to cd that I can't suppress them. Truly believe
Yet bodily and by society there is the fight to be manly. Only
Wife knows of cd. Family does not, nor does daughter. Not sure
How that would be accepted. But yes, I feel born this way.
Always have wanted to cd. Thanks.

[ArleneMcCarthy]

I was born this way, being a girl off & on since age 8, dreaming about living as a female an adult full time. I've been doing so since 2004 and loving it. Living this way has opened new doors for me, such as dating men.

[Chrissy Hunt]

I was made but before I was born, so both I guess lol
Sorry, i'll get my coat

[Karen Marie]

i really believe that we are born.look at the ts community,
most felt from an early age that they were in the wrong body.
i think we fall somewhere in between.it has to be genetics.
i know that for myself,i have always identified and related to
females.

[Marda]

Hi, Me again ... Tnx again for allowing me this "fresh release"after 6 years
Now that I'm "out", officially, functionally, politically ... etc ... ... I'm beginning to feel a real "surge" of self-confidence, that I never imagined ...

It seems to me that the entire "gender" thing, is just a "technical" issue, that has a whole lot more to do with the "perpetuation" of the species , rather than the ongoing "harmonic" "regeneration of "humanity"
which is more important to us as a"multiversal" "SOULMASS", than the more "reductive" approach of attempting to actually "understand " /"feel comfortable with /about" ourselves, as we "self-discover"
Love/Marda

[Ralitsa]

so it's not clear to me if we are talking about CDs or TS. It seems like many use the term interchangeably when I think there is quite a huge difference.
I like to crossdress. I do not feel like I am supposed to be a woman and got stuck as a male. I like to do some things that women do, but I also do many guy things. BTW, hunting, fishing and camping are not exclusively male pursuits, a few of my nieces and some of their friends are more into that than many guys I know. An interesting aside, after some important family/church function I suggested to a few of my nephews and nieces that we go target shooting, and my niece said something like "that will be fun, shooting in a dress and high heels." Sounded like great fun to me!

I doubt that I was born with the need to CD. I don't recall having any particular interest in playing with girls or wearing their clothes until I was probably about 10. I rather suspect that my desire for it is rooted somewhere in my inability to have successful and meaningful relationships with females. I think it's some sort of substitution device where I satisfy my desire for female companionship by essentially "being my own girlfriend". I probably ought to go get my head fixed and solve that problem, but I'd rather just go shopping and spend the money on some cute clothes

[Elly (SO)]

An old post... But been thinking and researching a bit
I agree... In this aspect it should be stated between TG/CD, TG has been found in scientific studies to have DNA interactions so likely it's biological AND nurture (usually isn't one of those all or nothing type things).. From what I've found CD tends to be more nurture than nature so to speak.

If I say, "Don't blink" what're you likely going to want to do so badly? Blink! That's just how most of our brains work. So.. parents see their child masterbating (really often and normal to do but some parents don't get that) or dressing in the opposite gender's clothes (again normal but something most parents are hesitant to "discuss" with the child)... If they OVER-react it can make it a point of fixation, or fetish, later down the road; in the same token many people's things like foot fetishes arise. That being said I personally feel that many people are really "half and half" of 'womaly' and 'manly' traits, and in our society/homes etc it's just conditioned over time that these traits should decrease- but when they don't in many people it can create a split in personality or how one carries themselves to where they really only express the gender traits based on their clothing or situation which can lead to many CDs feeling that they can only be extra "girly" if they're dressed...

Women made great strides for equality, however Men's rights haven't been so socially advocated for just yet!! Which IMHO is silly and such a double-standard that it needs a tune-up!! Think about it... Technically women who wear jeans are CDing, but it's "socially acceptable", seeing a man in a dress or nice heels is still deemed "unacceptable" when it's literally the same definition... Odd how societies function!!

[Marda]

An old post... But been thinking and researching a bit
I agree... In this aspect it should be stated between TG/CD, TG has been found in scientific studies to have DNA interactions so likely it's biological AND nurture (usually isn't one of those all or nothing type things).. From what I've found CD tends to be more nurture than nature so to speak.

If I say, "Don't blink" what're you likely going to want to do so badly? Blink! That's just how most of our brains work. So.. parents see their child masterbating (really often and normal to do but some parents don't get that) or dressing in the opposite gender's clothes (again normal but something most parents are hesitant to "discuss" with the child)... If they OVER-react it can make it a point of fixation, or fetish, later down the road; in the same token many people's things like foot fetishes arise. That being said I personally feel that many people are really "half and half" of 'womaly' and 'manly' traits, and in our society/homes etc it's just conditioned over time that these traits should decrease- but when they don't in many people it can create a split in personality or how one carries themselves to where they really only express the gender traits based on their clothing or situation which can lead to many CDs feeling that they can only be extra "girly" if they're dressed...

Women made great strides for equality, however Men's rights haven't been so socially advocated for just yet!! Which IMHO is silly and such a double-standard that it needs a tune-up!! Think about it... Technically women who wear jeans are CDing, but it's "socially acceptable", seeing a man in a dress or nice heels is still deemed "unacceptable" when it's literally the same definition... Odd how societies function!!

Oh, Myyyyyy .... What should I do/think/How should I behave?/ What will people say/think?, Now that I am no longer confused

Love Marda

[Anne Bonny]

For some reason once I got the idea in my head to try on that first exotic item of feminine clothing I was hooked and it grew from there. It is over 46 years later now. I would probably do it much much more and nearly every day were I alone and free to do so. Isn't it a shame that there is a huge double standard. I am very pleased to see society on the verge of grudgingly and slowly moving in the right direction and many women out there are thinking why not as well! There has to be some genetics. I can see conditioning playing a role but we seem to need it to feel like a whole person, as if we have to hide part of who we are. Most men do not have this desire and that would tell me that genetics must play some role, we would not choose this. We are tormented and driven but suffer our entire life suppressing a desire we are not allowed to express, suppressing half of who we are - how sad! Otherwise we would have lots of photos and fond memories of being one of the girls, or alternatively one of the guys at will. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be included in a wedding shower, or on a girls night out when our feminine side is running strong, along with all the other pictures of our masculine sides sailing, or doing whatever.