15
2011Boy or Girl
Today was an Androgyny Day for me… a day when I had to go out and not set off alarm bells, even as I wanted to be a girl. 
I have made a point in the past of explaining how I really prefer to keep the genders separate, both in my own way of being and in the people to whom I am attracted.
I never seek to come off as a feminine male or a masculine female, so this exercise may come off as seeming to be a bit contradictory.
What I am trying to achieve here is a look that is kind of a blank canvas – neither feminine nor masculine (the definition of androgynous) – so that hopefully my gender will be ascertained entirely from my demeanor, which can be quite specifically male or female, as the situation requires.
If my clothes themselves, or my appearance, do come off as either masculine or feminine, or both, then I have failed, and have ended up doing what I am trying to avoid – mixing the genders together.
As you can see from the photos, I am wearing all girl clothes from head to toe (underneath too), and even a bit of jewellery. Girl jeans, a girl long-sleeved T, girl running shoes… well, you can see.
What I am not wearing is makeup (other than my light foundation), a bra, or heels.
So, what do you think? Boy? or girl?
klyde
I don’t think you hit the mark. The poses and the attitude in these pics definately show a casually dressed girl.
cdjanie
Don’t you think that if I stood in a more manly pose, I’d look like a guy? (I kinda do.) But, I guess I can accept being taken for a girl if I have to. 😉
klyde
Possibly. But as I said those pics say girl loud and clear.
Shirley Corning
Definitely girly you silly. How girly do you have to get to qualify? I just went on a seven day cruise with nothing more than a little makeup, jewelry and pink acrylic nails and ended up a celebrity as Shirley popular with the teenagers and a bunch of adults I had never known before. Go figure. All it takes chutzpah I guess.
cdjanie
Oh, Shirley, I suspect you have a lot more going for you than a little chutzpah!
Shirley Corning
Thank you Janie. Your quite right. A good friend of mine who now lives in England and is a professional artist and fashion designer promptly dismissed the little frills I had simply telling me it comes from within. That struck a chord and I realized he was right. All the meaning comes from the heart felt spirit you express.
Cyrsti
Janie, girl.
You would have to work to come off as a guy in these pictures.
“Me thinks” your guy days are behind you!
Cyrsti
cdjanie
Aw, such a sweet thing to say, Cyrsti! I could kiss you!
Stana
IMHO, your beautiful mane has to go before you can even start thinking about passing en homme. But, please don’t do anything that drastic, i.e., cutting your hair!
cdjanie
Thanks, sweetie! It’s taken a lot of time (and excuse-making) to grow my hair – it isn’t going away without some serious deliberations and changes of course.
Stacy
Face it. You’re a girl.
cdjanie
Not sure it’s as simple as that, Stacy, but I take your point. BTW, I loved your most recent post on your own blog.
Stacy
Thanks for the thumbs-up. I was hoping it wouldn’t be a dud..
Shannon Townes
All girl, Janie….. not even close. Maybe it’s the attitude and poses, as somebody else said, but I think even a “guy pose”, whatever that would be, would look like a girl having fun imitating a guy.
I agree, your guy days are way behind you. Enjoy the girl!
cdjanie
Again, thanks Shannon. I think it is always easier for others to see a clear picture. Often they are right. But sometimes they miss critical details. I hope this will resolve itself in time and I will be sure one way or the other.