Not picking at any particular person's position or viewpoint, but I
feel compelled to express my thoughts on the whole notion of
comparative labelling.
In terms of clothing (since that's the most recent focus of this thread),
it bothers me that my preference for wearing comfortable, 'androgynous'
clothing is usually interpreted as 'butch' or 'masculine'. It bothers me
but I usually ignore such labelling, preferring to live by example.
I endeavour to challenge the very basis of what most people seem to mean
when they use terms 'masculine' and 'feminine' in as many ways as I can
by living my life as truthfully to myself as possible. Much of the time
these terms are referring to the average practice of the society in which
they/I live rather than any quantifiable 'masculine' or 'feminine' trait.
I feel no less a woman because, in the course of being myself, others
interpret and label my appearance, clothing, manner as 'masculine',
'feminine', 'butch' or whatever they need to better categorize their
experience of me. But my understanding of being a woman isn't terribly
congruous with any socialized concepts of womanhood...
I guess my point is that the labels don't distinguish between what is
socialized 'masculine' and 'feminine' and what is not.
As an example: I have been told by some that I [look|think|act|learn|
dress|etc.] more like a man than a woman. I usually reply with something
like, "I think I [look|think|act|learn|dress|etc.] like a strong woman."
Erin 8)
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