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Friday, January 31, 2020

Being Transgender Today




Jennie Wood



From the Site INFOPLEASE
By Jennie Wood
Updated February 28, 2017


Years of Struggle

For years, transgender individuals have struggled for acceptance, protection, and visibility even among other minorities. With the list of states legalizing gay marriage growing and broad acceptance into pop culture, the gay and lesbian population has gained increased visibility and protection in recent years. However, transgender individuals have not been afforded the same rights. The numbers are one reason. In the United States, there are 8 million people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA's School of Law, there are 700,000 transgender people in the United States.

In 2011, one transgender person was killed every month because of their identity, according to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. The National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force surveyed 6,450 transgender individuals in the United States in 2011. Of those surveyed, 41 percent reported that they had attempted suicide compared to 1.6 percent in the general population. Also, 64 percent had been sexually assaulted, and 55 percent had lost a job due to their identity. Of those who had established their transgender identity as school-age students, over 78 percent reported they had been harassed and 35 percent had been physically assaulted. Nearly 15 percent left school because the harassment was so severe.

As of May 2015, 32 states still had no laws banning job discrimination against transgender individuals. Furthermore, in the first five months of 2015, seven transgender women were murdered in the United States.

Definitions

Many people still struggle with an exact definition of transgender, confusing it with other terms. Being transgender has nothing to do with sexual orientation, sex, or genitalia. Transgender is strictly about gender identity. Many transgender individuals do not have sexual reassignment surgery for various reasons. Some cannot afford it. Often health insurance doesn't cover the expensive surgeries. Some do not want to undergo procedures. For trans men, especially, the surgeries can be difficult.

The term transgender, first used in the 1980s, is an umbrella term that includes any person going against the social norms of their biological gender. This includes transsexuals, people who alter their bodies with surgery, hormones, or both. Intersex people, those born with ambiguous genitalia, are usually considered separate from transgender. Cross-dresser is a term often confused with transgender, but it simply refers to a person of one gender who wears the clothing of the opposite sex. Cross-dressers do not necessarily desire to be the opposite gender. Another term often confused with transgender is transvestite. Transvestite is a synonym for cross-dresser; however, cross-dresser is the preferred term. Finally, the term drag refers to a style of dress worn for entertaining. Drag queen generally refers to men in female attire while drag king describes women in male clothing, though both terms are sometimes expanded in meaning, and do not encompass the entirety of drag performance.

Lack of Protection and Support

Courts have struggled with how to protect and support the transgender community. The Equal Protection Clause and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not allow discrimination based on gender. The issue in courts is whether the protections apply to a person of one gender who was assigned another at birth.

In 2008, a Washington D.C. court ruled against the Library of Congress for retracting a job offer from a woman after she informed them that she was transitioning from male to female. However, in a 2005 case, Etsitty v. Utah Transit Authority, a court ruled that the bus company was allowed to fire a trans woman employee based on the liability to have someone with typically male sex organs using the women's bathroom.

Texas has a law requiring two opposite-gender birth certificates for a couple to legally marry. In May 2011, Tennessee passed a law that only protects a person from discrimination according to the gender on their birth certificate. The law does not protect transgender individuals because Tennessee does not allow changes to a birth certificate. In June 2011, a gender identity anti-discrimination bill in New York failed to pass.

However, on November 23, 2011, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick signed historic legislation that protects transgender individuals from discrimination in employment, education, housing, and credit. The law also provides additional protection against hate crimes. In doing so, Massachusetts became the 16th state to pass a law protecting transgender individuals. Of the new law, Attorney General Martha Coakley said, "For too long, transgender people have suffered in silence in seeking employment, safe housing, and educational opportunities. With the signing of this bill, Massachusetts has created a better, and fairer, future for all residents, regardless of their gender identity or expression."

Psychiatrists have debated over the years how to define and support transgender individuals. In 1973, the term "homosexuality" was removed from the second edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM). However, in 1980, the term "transsexualism" was added to the DSM. In a later DSM volume, the term "transsexualism" was included under the controversial "gender identity disorder." In 2013, a major change came with the fifth edition publication of the DSM. In that edition, "gender identity disorder," a term that had been considered by many to be stigmatizing, was replaced with "gender dysphoria," a term which refers to only those who feel anxious about their gender identity.

Born This Way


Lady Gaga
Even among other minorities, transgender individuals have been discriminated against at times. For example, an annual feminist music festival very popular with the lesbian community, the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, has a strict policy of only allowing women who were born women. The exclusion has inspired an annual protest called Camp Trans. Held across from the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, Camp Trans works to educate attendees on the issue of transgender inclusion.

In 2015, the organizers of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival announced that this would be the festival's final year. Attendance for the festival has decreased in recent years. Perhaps it was another sign of a sea change towards an awareness of transgender issues and discrimination. While the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival held to their strict women who were born women policy, a new generation of musicians such as Lady Gaga rose to fame, championing inclusion through music, videos, and charity work. In the lyrics of her hit song, Born This Way, Lady Gaga includes transgender in a verse about survival: "No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life. I'm on the right track, baby. I was born to survive."



Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The National Center for Transgender Equality, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Williams Institute at UCLA's School of Law, FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society by Aaron H. Devor.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

I Love A Success Story - Candis Cayne


Proud That We Are Recognized


Candis Cayne




















What a jagged image we use for women who achieve greatly, defining accomplishment in terms of the barrier rather than the triumph. There she is up where the air is thin, where men still outnumber women, but where the altitude is awesome. Our goal with Firsts is for every woman and girl to find someone whose presence in the highest reaches of success says to her that it is safe to climb, come on up, the view is spectacular. 

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Red Dress - Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone




If you are going to wear red then own it!  I love red and will wear it on many occasions. I love the attention. The dress featured is Amazon's "Bonlinedress Women Short 1950s Retro Vintage Cocktail Party Swing Dresses and it comes in a multitude of colors. By far the most attractive, in my opinion, is the red. It is priced at $28.99 and comes in x-small to 4x-large.  

All of the shoes are Nine West "Tatiana Pointy Toe Pumps"Many days they have sales, so check back often. Today the prices for all of the pumps shown above range from $49.00 to $79.00. Size from 5 to 12 and the Barely Nude color shown is available in wide. Check out their other style.  


Dressing does not have to break the bank - Boldly Go....


Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Feminine Differential - The Ideal Heel Height



My worst kept secret is that I love high heels. From the first time I put on my mother's beautiful heels to last Saturday's Palm Beach event, I never tire of how I feel and how I look in shoes of stature. Although the official shoe of Florida is the flip-flop, I sill see women every day in business situations, evenings out and at the mall, wearing heels. Many of my female friends, of my age, have given up on high heels.  Although I am not there yet; maybe sooner than later.        

As I surveyed my collection I noticed that there is a consistency in the height. There are several ways to measure heel height, however for me, the simplest is with the shoes sitting on my desk, I use a ruler to measure the distance from the bottom heel point to where the back of the heel meets the shoe. Most of my shoes are 3 to 3.5 inches; (75 to 85 mm). That seems to be my comfort height and I can navigate most any situation for extended periods without repercussions. One must always plan and know that there may not be seating at cocktail receptions or events. Several times because of poor planning my feet have paid the price for beauty-over-practically. 



Sure, I do have several of the 100 mm beauties that my friend describes as "limo heels"; wear when you are dropped at the door, make the entrance and head to your seat shoes.  As the Urban Dictionary further describes them:


Shoes that are typically high heels, exorbitantly expensive, and from couture designer brands that necessitate the wearer to be driven around town less they get them dirty or have to walk very far. 

I never gave much thought to there being am ideal heel height. The DailyMail site wrote;  "Ever wondered why a modest pair of kitten heels leaves some women in agony while others are happy to stride around in their ‘comfortable’ high heels for hours on end? According to the experts, some women are simply built for wearing sky-high heels, while others will be uncomfortable in any size heel."

So here is an illustration from The AlternationNeeded site that helps to find what might be your ideal heel height: The site also has more detail instructions so be sure to check. 





Spoiler alert - My ideal height is 3.5".  




Now You:

As AlterationsRequired ask: I’m super curious to hear if this test works for you! Let me know in the comments if you take the test and if your measured “ideal” heel height really is one that is most comfortable for you. 




 


Monday, January 27, 2020

20 Wonderful Makeup Tips For Women Over 50




By: Ramona Sinha

True that! I personally don’t think that there is anything ‘anti’ about aging. You move into a new phase of beauty once you enter your fabulous 50s. And just as your skin evolves with time, so should your makeup and skincare routine. You cannot be stuck in the beauty rut of using the same products in the same way as you did in your 20s and 30s.

So, all the gorgeous ladies out there, it’s time to update your makeup routine! Check out these makeup tips for women over 50 to get that age-defying look.



Makeup Tips For Women Over 50

  1. Take Care Of Your Skin
  2. Prep Your Skin: Conceal And Moisturize
  3. Select The Right Foundation: Go For The Dewy Look
  4. Say “No” To Face Powder
  5. Plump Up Your Lips
  6. Kiss “Goodbye” To Super Dark Lipsticks
  7. A Hint Of Color On Your Cheek
  8. Work On Your Eye Makeup
  9. Those Lashes
  10. Fall In Love With Black Mascara
  11. Use Pencil Liners
  12. Don’t Forget The Under-Eye Area
  13. Play With Your Features
  14. Maintain the Brows
  15. Illuminate!
  16. Stay Close To Being Natural
  17. Blend Well
  18. Don’t Forget Your Teeth
  19. Don’t Skip Sleep
  20. Smile!
___________________

Many of these we have already discussed, however, take in total these can make a big difference. On the site, all 20 of the items are discussed and expanded. Here is #20 - Smile:

SMILE!
 Because that’s the best makeup! If you are unhappy on the inside, no amount of makeup can make you beautiful. If you work on your inner self and are happy from within, it will automatically reflect on your face.
Coco Chanel once said, “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at 50.” Everyone has skin-related struggles in their 50s. But, just because you have crossed 50, it doesn’t mean you have to let yourself go. Keep surprising yourself and others too! 



Do you have any more tricks and tips to share? Why not drop a comment in the comments section below?


Friday, January 24, 2020

Tahiti's 'Third Sex'

Fascinating photographs reveal a rare glimpse into the ancient 'mahu' community who identify as neither male nor female on Polynesian island



The images, captured by Swiss-Guinean photographer Namsa Leuba
- for her new exhibition 'Illusions: The Myth of the 'Vahine' through Gender Dysphoria' - offer an intimate portrayal of the fascinating culture who exist outwith the male-female divide

From TheDailyMail
By SOPHIE LAW FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 16:05 EST, 9 October 2019


Fascinating and vibrant portraits of the 'Mahu' on the Polynesian island of Tahiti offer a rare glimpse into the ancient spiritual community who identify as neither male nor female.  

The extraordinary series of photographs showcase the island's 'third gender' painted in bright colours and adorned in flower garlands and shells as they pose on idyllic beaches against a backdrop of the South Pacific Ocean. 

The images, captured by Swiss-Guinean photographer Namsa Leuba - for her new exhibition 'Illusions: The Myth of the 'Vahine' through Gender Dysphoria' - offer an intimate portrayal of the fascinating culture who exist outwith the male-female divide. 


Wikipedia:In many traditional communities, Māhū play an important role in carrying on Polynesian culture, and teaching "the balance of female and male throughout creation". Modern Māhū carry on traditions of connection to the land, language preservation, and the preservation and revival of cultural activities including traditional dances, songs, and the methods of playing culturally-specific musical instruments. Symbolic tattooing is also a popular practice. Modern Māhū do not alter their bodies through what others would consider gender reassignment surgery, but just as any person in Hawaiian/Tahitian society dress differently...

In Tahiti, 'mahu' are born biologically male but family and friends believe they do not conform to traditional gender roles from an early age. 

The group play key spiritual roles in the community, as guardians of rituals, dance and also to provide care for children and the elderly. 

'Mahu have this other sense that men or women don't have,' Ms Leuba, who immerses herself in the culture for six months a year, told CNN. 'It is well known in (French Polynesia) that they have something special.' 


The photographer - who met most of her subjects as strangers on the street - interviews them for hours before taking their picture in order to gain their trust.

Continue to read here at CNNSyle:


PHOTO: Some gender diverse individuals in the Pacific do not see themselves as trans, but some others do. (Facebook: Samoan Fa'afafine Association)
See Also: Fa'afafine, fakaleitī, fakafifine — understanding the Pacific's alternative gender expressions By Alan Weedon

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Why Do Only Women Wear High Heels?

It’s enlightenment philosophy’s fault that women wear high heels instead of men





By Olivia GoldhillJuly 1, 2018


17th Century 


The first time a woman put on high heels, she wasn’t trying to be uber feminine. Quite the opposite. In 17th century northern Europe, only men wore high heels, and so the first women to try them out were actually going for a masculine look.

Elizabeth Semmelhack, senior curator at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada, uncovered the history of the high heel after she organized an exhibition around Chinese foot binding and realized that many visitors were fascinated by this unfamiliar practice, but incurious about how women came to wear high-heeled shoes. Semmelhack traced the heel to 10th century Persian men, soldiers who wore them while riding on horseback; heels helped them stay in their stirrups. Men in England and Holland would have become acquainted with this look by the mid-16th century, when they traded textiles in what by then had become the Iranian empire and would have encountered the empire’s large mountain military. By the 17th century, aristocrat European men were also wearing heels.

“There was a fashion trend at the time for some women, those willing to take sartorial risks, to borrow from the male wardrobe,” says Semmelhack. Some European women started to wear hats with large plumes, stomachers (decorative triangle panels on the front of women’s gowns) that looked like doublets and, around 1620, a few were even accused of carrying weapons in a bid to look more masculine. “It was seen as both fashionable and daring,” says Semmelhack—though, of course, they faced ridicule from some corners. “There’s been no time in history when women haven’t been criticized for what they wear and this is no exception,” she adds.

For a few years, though, both men and women wore high heels in Europe. But by the end of the 17th century, enlightenment ideas put an end to such androgynous styles. This philosophy emphasized rationality and practicality—but as distinctly male traits. Women, meanwhile, were seen as emotional, irrational, and distinct from men from men. Under the influence of enlightenment thinking, gender, rather than class, became the main way of dividing society.

“These are stunning ideas, that maybe the difference between people isn’t based on status at birth, but gender at birth: Maybe all men are untied despite what separates them economically, and separated from all women who are united regardless of economic standing,” says Semmelhack. “Men are portrayed as more rational, women are portrayed as less rational, and fashion becomes a way of expressing these differences.”

In particular, aristocratic men stopped wearing ornate clothing to signify their class, taking on a more monochrome look that was homogenous across economic classes. Practical, flat-footed shoots were in, and high heels were definitely out.

Some of the key ideas separating men from women were explicit in enlightenment philosophy; Semmelhack notes that Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the 18th century Swiss-French enlightenment philosopher, wrote extensively on sentimentality in motherhood, and believed women’s principle focus should be on the family. This sort of sexism was further enforced by the public interpretation of enlightenment ideas. In sermons at the time, Semmelhack says, there were constant comments about the illogical frivolous nature of women.

High heels—less practical than flat-heeled shoes for anyone not on horseback—soon became associated with supposedly female traits of frivolity and irrationality. By the 19th century, in Europe, the heel was “unassailably feminine,” notes Semmelhack. Then European imperialism spread this idea around the world. “Once European men abandoned the heel in the early 18th century, the meaning becomes so hyper feminized that as imperialism goes global, those are the meanings that are brought with the high heel.”

But though high heels today have an unquestionably feminine association, Semmelhack says the meaning is far from intrinsic. “Heels are just things. They can be given any meaning we decide they have,” she says. So could men start wearing heels once more? “Anything’s possible.”





Wednesday, January 22, 2020

There is Hope....

Fighter pilot Amy McGrath fought against Al-Qaeda. Her new mission is to unseat Sen. Mitch McConnell.






She's a retired Marine fighter pilot, which means she’s not afraid to fight for the rights of her fellow Americans. She's also a mom to three kids under 6, so it’s clear she can multitask, even with the theme of Elmo's World playing in the background.

And now, she's mounting the Democratic challenge to longtime incumbent Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), making it clear that she’s committed to making real change happen in Congress.

Meet Amy McGrath, the first woman marine to fly an F/A-18 Hornet jet in combat, and now one of the record number of women in the historic “pink wave” who have run for office in response to the 2018 midterm elections.


I’m running to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Everything that’s wrong with Washington had to start somewhere—it started with him. 

McGrath tells MAKERS that she believes only real people— and women— in government that can make the change that needs to happen in Washington. She says:

The culture does not change until women rise in the ranks — whether it's in the military or whether it's in a company — into positions where they are respected peers or in the positions of power.

______________

This video gave me chills of hope.  Mitch McConnell is a plague that needs to be eradicated.  There is hope.  I see Amy as qualified, and represents a new generation that can/will restore American pride.  Click on the link in the title and watch the full video of her accomplishment and her vision.


Tuesday, January 21, 2020

THE GENDERFLUID GENERATION | Jeffrey Marsh



An adult nonbinary TV STAR!! Jeffrey Marsh appears on KTLA

Monday, January 20, 2020

Shift Happens

Be Observant - A Skater Mini Skirt



I saw an adorable outfit at work last week.  A co-worker had on a short black flair skirt, black sweater top and black tights. The shoes were black booties. Much applause and she had planned the look to the T.
Second Sunday Event

What really pulled it all together was the skirt. Yes it was short, but with the tights (beautiful legs), and booties, everything on her worked. I had everything in my closet but the flair skirt. I Googled "short flair shirt" and to my amazement, Amazon had a High Waist A-line Circle Full Flared Skater Mini Skirt; $15.95. Not typically my first on-line shopping destination, but with Prime (free second day delivery) and free returns, what was there to lose.   

The outfit will be perfect for winter dinners when traveling out of Florida.  I have an all white flair coat that will be a beautiful contrast.    

For retail, the world in which we live is amazing. I ordered the skirt late Friday evening. It was delivered Sunday afternoon and I wore it Sunday evening to my "Second Sunday" event.  As much as I enjoy the "girl-time" shopping experience, there is a good reason why Amazon is shifting the world of consumer retail.  Sometimes shift happens. 

Inspiration can come for everywhere. Be observant - And Escape!


  










 

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Friday, January 17, 2020

How to Dress When You Have Flat Buns

I am sure that Deborah at the blog Fabulous after 40, is not necessarily thinking of our community with her fashion advice. I always reference her on my blog simply because her fashion advice is so good and germane to all.    
Hello my name is Rhonda and I suffer from flat buns. There I have said it.  In years past I placed foam bun pads at the skin layer of three pairs of pantie hose. Don't snicker; you did it too. However, now with the casual no-hose look, and the fact that my fake buns fell apart, I am fake bunless. They always felt a little odd when sitting and maybe skinny jeans just seem to work now. Long story short - I don't miss them.  They always felt, well, fake. 

Here is what Deborah has to say on flat buns:


Are you middle-aged and losing your butt?  After the age of 30, our bums start losing muscle mass and tone making them droop and wrinkle. Things get worse when we hit menopause, and falling estrogen levels lead to less fat in our butts, making them look flat as a pancake. What’s a gal to do?The good news – by using some of these easy styling tricks, you can take your butt from flat to fabulous! Here’s how:


  1. STEER CLEAR OF SHAPELESS JACKETS
  2. WEAR BODY SKIMMING DRESSES TO ACCENTUATE YOUR HIPS AND BUTT
  3. DEFINE YOUR WAIST
  4. WEAR LIGHT/ BRIGHT COLORS ON YOUR BOTTOM
  5. SEEK OUT BUM ENHANCING PANTS AND JEANS
  6. TRY BUTT BOOSTING RIGHT SHAPEWEAR
  7. WEAR HEELS (My favorite)





Under each of these item she delivers detail advice so check out her whole post.  The closing advice is: "Don’t let a droopy tush get you down. Give these tricks a try to get the look of a perky posterior."



Thanks Deborah. 

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Photo Difference - Trump vs Obama

Which two pictures, when compared, best capture the difference between Obama and Trump for you?






Photos are subject to time, place and subject manipulation. However shown is a deep contrast between this president and our previous president. The White House meeting photo top left, (Trump present earlier) shows the administration and lawmakers discussing a new healthcare bill affecting access to pregnancy and maternity care. Yes, 25 men discussing the reforms – and not a single woman. The contrasting photo above shows Obama meeting with his top advisers; many of which were women.  

Also note the mighty umbrella telltale!  Enough said. Source Quora












Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Beauty Blogger NikkieTutorials Comes Out As Transgender

The popular YouTube star and makeup artist NikkieTutorials reveals she's transgender.


By Amanda Jackson, CNN


Nikkie de Jager, a YouTube star better known as by her online persona NikkieTutorials, uploaded a very personal message to her fans on Monday revealing she is transgender.

She added that she was making the admission under the threat of blackmail and chose to tell her fans herself instead.

The 25-year-old makeup artist and beauty vlogger has been creating makeup tutorials online for over a decade, where she ranks among the top in the popular category. On Monday, she posted a 17 minute video titled "I'm Coming Out" on her Youtube channel.


"Today I am here to share something with you that I've always wanted to share with you one day, but under my own circumstances, and it looks like that chance has been taken away from me," she says in the video. "So today, I am taking back my own power and I have to tell you something."




A Wonderful Video


She continues to explain that she always wanted to be her own person -- without any labels. "It's time to let go and be truly free," she then says. "When I was younger I was born in the wrong body, which means that I am transgender."

"I am NikkieTutorials, and I am Nikkie. I am me. We don't need labels. But if we are going to put a label on it, yes, I am transgender. But at the end of the day I am me," she said.

The star vlogger then opens up about her childhood, and explains how she always identified as a woman growing up. "By the age of seven or eight I fully wore girl's clothes only and it felt amazing." She said she fully transitioned by the age of 19.

As for the timing of the decision to reveal the news today, the YouTuber said it wasn't entirely of her own choosing.

"I have been blackmailed by people that wanted to leak my story to the press," she said. She didn't name them.

Nikkie says she always wanted to open up about this part of her life but wanted her channel to be about her art. "The last thing I want in my life is for you to not trust me any more or to look at me with different eyes." she says. "At the end of the day I am still Nikkie."

Fans, celebrities and other YouTubers offered messages of support on Twitter.
"TRANS IS BEAUTIFUL," said Nikita Dragun, a transgender YouTuber who also shares makeup advice. "I am so proud of u! i know how hard it is. to see u out and living ur truth has brought me to tears! u don't know how many people ur inspiring and helping by sharing ur story. i am one of them! she said WOMAN."
    "Congrats to @NikkieTutorials for reclaiming your story," added Jinkx Monsoon, a drag performer who won the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. "NO ONE has the right to out anybody else. Period. Coming out is a personal thing, and you do not get to decide that for someone else. I'm so sorry, Nikkie, that you went through that, but I applaud how you handled it."

    NikkieTutorials has amassed over 12 million subscribers on her Youtube channel with her makeup tutorials and reviews. This video alone has been viewed over eight million times -- and counting.

    Tuesday, January 14, 2020

    About a Boy

    At fourteen, Skylar, born a girl, adopted
     a boy’s name;  at sixteen, he started
     taking testosterone and had a mastectomy.
      Not concerned with being a “macho bro,”
     he plans to date boys.
    Transgender At Sixteen.
    New Yorker Magazine 

    By Margaret Talbot - March 2013

    Skylar is a boy, but he was born a girl, and lived as one until the age of fourteen. Skylar would put it differently: he believes that, despite biological appearances, he was a boy all along. He’d just been burdened with a body that required medical and surgical adjustments so that it could reflect the gender he knew himself to be. At sixteen, he started getting testosterone injections every other week; just before he turned seventeen, he had a double mastectomy. The essay question for the University of Chicago, where Skylar submitted an early-action application, invited students to describe their “archnemesis (either real or imagined).” Skylar’s answer: “Pre-formed ideas of what it meant to have two X chromosomes.” No matter what people thought they saw when they looked at him, Skylar wrote, he knew that he:


     Was nothing along the lines of a girl.

    Skylar is an F.T.M., or “female-to-male,” transgender person, a category that has been growing in visibility in recent years. In the past, females who wished to live as males rarely sought surgery, in part because they could “pass” easily enough in public; today, there is a desire for more thorough transformations. Skylar took hormones and underwent “top surgery” at a much younger age than would have been possible even a decade ago. Yet, in his new guise, he doesn’t labor to come across as conventionally masculine. Like many “trans” people of his generation, he is comfortable with some gender ambiguity, and doesn’t feel the need to be, as he puts it, a “macho bro.” He is not sure yet if he will have genital reconstruction when he’s older.

    ....

    In the fall, Skylar’s high school had announced that it would be electing a Homecoming King and Queen for the first time. After some students pointed out that, as Skylar put it, “not everybody would fit either label,” the school adopted the term “Homecoming Court.” Skylar decided to run for the court with his friend Julia, who considers herself “genderqueer.” They won. At the Homecoming Dance, Skylar wore a natty gray vest and a tie, and Julia wore aviator sunglasses and a tight black tank dress. They were crowned with matching gold plastic headpieces.

    The next day, Skylar attended a conference on youth leadership. He gave a speech in which he recounted being picked for Homecoming Court, even though he and Julia are “ridiculously, openly queer.” He wasn’t bragging, he said—it just made him “really happy that that was possible at my school.” Skylar was amused, and flattered, when a girl from another school came up to him afterward to say that she and her friends thought he was cute. For a while that afternoon, there were several girls following him around, giggling and smiling over their new crush.


    ________________

    My Note: This is a long and well thought out article.  Read the complete narration. Considering it was written about 7 years ago, it get many points correct and discussed with candor the then emerging non-binary concept. I like that Skyler did cosmetic confirming surgery but not gender surgery. I believe many of us are in that place and define this to be our own brand of being transgender.   

    Monday, January 13, 2020

    Feminine Differential - Wearing A Blazer



    I had a job interview several weeks ago and the position called for an executive look.  Sure a dress would work or black pants and a light knit top. However. I wanted to more "up style" look while keeping in mind the Florida casual attitude. I remembered from my last job in Stuart, that my co-worker always either wore a dress/skirt and heels. What made her standout was the stylish jacket she wore in every morning. Before going to a meeting or going on a donor call, on went the Jacket.  She looked "all together".

    The few blazer/jackets I had saved from my professional years were vintage "man-look", shoulder pad, power-suits designs from the '80.  So, shopping I did go. (Heigh-ho). 

    I really did not want to spend a lot of money on something that would be used for an interview or maybe just a few business meetings. Fortunately Macy's had just what I wanted and on pre-Christmas sale. Bar III Faux-Double-Breasted Windowpane-Print Jacket;  $47.00 that weekend. 

    Macy's Bar III Jacket
    For the interview, I wore it with a black dress and the Windowpane-Print had brown stripe so matching brown Cap-Toe pumps worked perfectly. Of note is that it had a completely feminine cut. The open front has a mock double breasted look that does not close and the sides are tucked in just enough to give shape.     

    I had also been eyeing the Lauren Ralph Lauren Lightweight Pinstripe Blazer since it came out last fall. The price had started at $295 and was unjustifiable for an item that was not an every-day piece. Both Macy's and The Lauren site had marked it down several times, but even half off just did not work for me.  Macy's this week had it in the "Last Act" section for $47.00 so I did get it; thus the above fashion layout. I think with rolled up sleeves and jeans it will get Florida winter wear.

    Here is a good description from Fashion Tasty on how women's blazers have come back:


    A blazer is a very special layering piece that will make you look put together. It will underline your classy style and make you stand out from the crowd. In today’s blog post we are going to see the best women’s casual blazer outfit ideas. In this street style compilation are gathered tasteful combos that can be easily recreated in nearest future. There are thousands of awesome ideas to try out, all you need is to experiment and never be afraid of sporting something new that will make you feel comfort.