#female to male transition education blog

[answersfromzestual]

I'm on vacation this weekend for my wedding anniversary, but it reminded of me some awesome companies I heard about to make dress shoes and suits for ftms, non-conforming, and women or anyone with smaller frames or feet.

Here are some proper dress shoes (yes, I even saw Oxfords!).

Tommy Boy Toes

You want a suit that fits you right. Having a smaller frame can make it a pain to buy a suit or even something as simple as a dress shirt off the shelf. A lot of the time suits look big on tranmen (especially at the beginning of hormones or without).

Having a baggy suit can make you look (maybe even feel) younger, smaller, less masculine, and can ruin your good time or the way you present to others and yourself. Plus, who wants a suit that doesn't fit, right? they aren't exactly cheap... Especially on that special occasion.

But always remember you can get a suit tailored, but the measuring of the chest and inseam can be issues of dysphoria, though to some, for example, in a traditional brick and mortar store.

I found a great article, but since they use a model that is controversial (so I've been reading), I will be posting just images. I will include the link also just in case you ever want to save it for the resources.

(They also included Tommy Boy Toes for shoes)

Article source

Edit: I find dress clothes on the Wish App are very slim fitting in the shoulders especially. I find that the sizes go well with smaller frames, even if you are a bit heavier, the clothes have not as wide shoulder stitching. It's really good to measure yourself. They even sell two or three piece suits that look quite nice. If you have a smaller frame the Asian sizes may be a nicer fit. Plus I'm not going to lie, I've gotten some really nice shirts, ties, and sport coats that were all under $20/ piece (CAD).

Stay Golden Everyone ✌️ 💙 💜

[frameacloud]

Zinnia Jones (May 31, 2021). "Early use of masculinizing steroid oxandrolone in trans boys can add 2 more inches of height compared to testosterone." Gender Analysis. Live link. Archive.

The above blog post is about a study about looking for more suitable sorts of puberty blocking and hormone therapy for transmasculine youth. It found a treatment that is more effective for letting them grow up to be a couple inches taller, if they start it early, at age thirteen or fourteen. It's about this study:

Grimstad, F. W., Knoll, M. M., & Jacobson, J. D. (2021). "Oxandrolone Use in Trans-Masculine Youth Appears to Increase Adult Height: Preliminary Evidence." LGBT health, 8(4), 300–306. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2020.0355

[cree-n-jewish-thoughts]

To find the entire blog and up-to-date posts follow: https://www.tumblr.com/answersfromtheshadows

This is just the new main account I transferred answersfromtheshadows to so I could have it be its own entity.

This blog will not be updated often / at all in the future. For further information, please follow :

https://www.tumblr.com/answersfromtheshadows

[radniss]

radfems do interact.

I’ve been flirting with radfem viewpoints for about three years (since I grey up from my “agender nonbinary” and TRA phase and understood why I identified as that in the first place), so I created this blog to engage with radfem theory.

I’m all about educating myself more and, since I’m still learning, feel free to help/correct me if you want. I have no problem with that, I actually appreciate it.

about me

✦ 21, brazilian, xokleng laklãnõ native indigenous descendant

✦ I live in an extremely conservative and misogynistic country, so I don’t know all about sex-based oppression in theories, but I know it in practice

✦ voluntary celibate

✦ I support real trans people because they recognize their sex and understand the differences of having a mental disorder and needing to transition medically vs being born with said sex. I’m against males (trans or not) hijacking female-only spaces and decreasing the importance of women’s rights because of their feelings

✦ no dni, I’ll just block you if I find you annoying

[chocolatelandwinner]

March blog #3- Gender and Sex: What's the difference?

Hello again reader! Last time we went down this rabbit hole, I barely discussed the surface level of what goes into Gender identity.

So for a small refresher:

Sex is the anatomical classification of people as male, female or intersex, usually assigned at birth.

AND

Gender identity is each person’s internal and individual experience of gender. It is a person’s sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither, or anywhere along the gender spectrum. A person’s gender identity may be the same as or different from their birth-assigned sex.

This however is different from Gender expression, which is how a person publicly expresses or presents their gender. This can include behaviour and outward appearance such as dress, hair, make-up, body language and voice. This can also be a person’s chosen name and pronoun which are also common ways of expressing gender.

A person’s gender identity is fundamentally different from and not related to their sexual orientation.

Now we can quickly talk about pronouns. There are a plethora of different pronouns and different combinations of them. I think the best way to approach it for me has been doing your best to use the pronouns people are comfortable with. If they use "them/they" then use them. It can be a bumpy transition if you were used to a different pronoun, but just correct yourself and move on. Make sure to talk with them if you have any questions. But don't treat them like a teacher, make sure to take the time to educate yourself as well!

We talked about Trans or transgender, last time as well. And Transgender can be used as an umbrella term referring to people with diverse gender identities and expressions that differ from stereotypical gender norms. It includes but is not limited to people who identify as transgender, trans woman (male-to-female MTF), trans man (female-to-male FTM), transsexual, cross-dressers, or gender non-conforming, gender variant or gender queer.

I know it seems like a sea of different identities, but people are diverse. We all go through life so differently and we all like and dislike so many things. To make a silly comparison, imagine it simply as food. For some people there are only two categories, spicy and sweet, but really it's a spectrum. Foods can even be both. No such thing is universal, that includes gender.

I'm a cisgender woman, meaning I was born a woman and I identify with that. But that's just me, it would be ignorant to assume that my mindset could be everyone's.

In the end, just get educated. The human experience includes empathy and trying our best to understand and be kind to others.

So, like my senior quote, "Be good people."

[coochiequeens]

Looked up the author of this story. Not surprised it’s by a TRA. 

ByKiara Alfonseca

November 23, 2022, 6:30 AM

Ky Schevers is fighting back against the anti-trans movement she once took part in.

Schevers was assigned the sex of female at birth and later chose to start gender-affirming care by taking testosterone to transition from female to male in her mid-20s. She stopped taking testosterone, though, in the years that followed while she continued to explore and question her gender, later falling into an online anti-trans group of "detransitioners" – people who once did but no longer identify as transgender.

Now, Schevers says she has “retransitioned," identifying as transmasculine and gender queer, which means she identifies with both genders. Schevers uses she and her pronouns, but heavily identifies with masculinity, as defined by the LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center states.

She says she considers herself to be a part of the transgender community.

When Schevers initially stopped taking testosterone, she sought out advice and companionship in online forums about detransitioning. In this virtual community is where she began to adopt anti-trans beliefs that misogyny and a patriarchal society caused her to initially transition from female to male. In blog posts, YouTube videos, interviews and workshops, she spread and promoted these beliefs. These posts became a popular tool for anti-trans activists looking to discredit the trans community in the name of feminism.

A 50-year study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior performed in Sweden estimated that less than 3% of people who medically transitioned experienced "transition regret." Other studies have estimated similar results, some citing even lower figures.MORE: Amid anti-LGBTQ efforts, transgender community finds joy in 'chosen families'

Despite this low percentage, these individuals have become a focal point of anti-transgender legislation and activism.

More than 300 proposed bills across the country have targeted LGBTQ Americans in the last year, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Health care for trans youth in particular has become the target of such efforts.

Before the ages of 16-18, youth are treated with reversible treatments based on guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Irreversible medical interventions, such as surgeries, are typically only done with consenting adults, or older teens who have worked through the decision with their families and physicians over a long period of time, physicians across the country have told ABC News.

Despite these common practices, officials in many states have launched efforts to crack down on gender-affirming care for minors. Some legislators have cited disputed research on this topic, stating that the majority of gender dysphoric youth will grow out of their dysphoria. The methodology in these studies has been highly critiqued.

Major medical associations support gender-affirming care for youth and adults. Transgender youth tend to have high rates of suicide, but those who transition often experience significantly reduced psychological distress.

A recent large study from Harvard found that gender-affirming surgery was associated with improved mental health outcomes in those who are transgender.

Another recent large study from Harvard found that even among those who do go on to detransition, it is often due to external pressures such as stigma and non-acceptance in their environments, rather than a sudden resolution of gender dysphoria.

But that's where “detransitioners" come in. Detransitioned activists have often testified in public hearings on policies concerning the transgender community.

"I was 30 and at the end of my rope when I transitioned … If I made this mistake as an adult, a young girl could too," said one detransitioned speaker at the Oct. 28 Florida medical board hearing concerning a ban on gender affirming health care for youth. "Not only did my surgery exacerbate my mental health issues, I now struggle with physical complications as well."

Another speaker at the hearing, who said she started gender-affirming treatments at the age of 16 and regrets it, spoke about struggling with her mental health while transitioning. She urged the board to ban hormones for people under 18 and surgeries for people under 21. "In 2019, I had a life-changing encounter with Jesus and began to find deep healing within myself. After nearly 4 years of being on testosterone, I decided to detransition and accept my womanhood," she said.

The Florida Medical Board later passed a ban on gender-affirming care for youth. The decision would prohibit providers from administering gender affirming care, including puberty blockers, hormones, cross-hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery for people under the age of 18.MORE: Transgender youth health care ban approved by Florida medical boards

When Schevers was in similar circles, she said she tried to ignore her uncertainty about her gender and how it conflicted with the message she was promoting.

"I never liked people who call transitioning mutilation or call trans bodies mutilated...A lot of them called trans people delusional," Schevers said. "Living as a trans person was something that people did to survive and actually, I didn't think of it as crazy or irrational because I had lived that life."

She continued, "I get why someone would do this. Like, it did help me. I did get satisfaction from transitioning and I had to rationalize that experience and make it fit with this anti-trans ideology."

Schevers said cracks began to show in her beliefs as more of the detransitioners and other activists she worked with began to partner with far-right groups like the Proud Boys on an anti-trans platform.

"That was kind of a huge wake-up call," said Schevers. "It didn't make sense to ally with the people who were creating the oppressive conditions."

Her use of the hormone testosterone helped her embrace her gender queer identity, she now says.

When Schevers sees or hears anti-transgender detransitioners speak about their experiences, she thinks of her past self. She says she feels guilty, like she set the stage for them.

Schevers says she wants people to turn their attention to the dangers of anti-trans outreach to youth as well as the ongoing legislative attacks on trans Americans.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton also launched an effort to investigate gender-affirming youth care treatments as "child abuse" through the state department of child protective services. A state judge later issued a temporary injunction blocking the effort.

An Alabama law made it illegal to give any type of gender affirming care to anyone under the age of 18. This would criminalize parents and physicians.

Joseph Ladapo, Florida's surgeon general, released a memo in June saying treatments like sex-reassignment surgery, and hormone and puberty blockers are not effective treatments for gender dysphoria.MORE: Florida to ban gender-affirming care under Medicaid for transgender recipients

This memo contradicts guidance from organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association.

These organizations say that research does show that the aforementioned gender-affirming treatments are safe and effective. Some, like the American Medical Association, even deem it "medically necessary."

Gender exploration is an ongoing journey for Schevers, and she hopes the trans and gender queer youth in the U.S. continue to be able to access a journey of their own.

"I do feel more firmly rooted in who I am. It's easier for me to accept myself as someone who has, like, multiple genders," Schevers said.

Anyone else think she detransitioned and was treated horribly by the TRAs and faced regular misogyny from normies and figured it was just easier to go make to having a special identity?

[zanademondraws]

So a quick trigger warning, my vent will contain some delicate subjects regarding transphobia

It's no secret that when I was 17 I had a massive misconception about gender, thinking that non-binary, queers and other people can't actually be trans unless they enter on the binary diagram

It's out there somewhere on the internet and I sadly said it out of anxiety because of a really unnecessary fight I had with someone while I was also made to belive that same statement

Context does matter but not really for the point I want to make: I mention this things because I myself came to the realization that I'm queer or just gender-non-conforming, thinking about transitioning, that I always wanted to be both male and female, yet I had to remain to think I was always "a girl but just a tad-bit masc" or that "yeah, I think I'm a "girl" but it's boring I want to be something else, but I'll still identify as female because everyone is telling me is a must" and I don't know how people will take it now that I am currently 20

I will not excuse myself as in "I was young and stupid" I should have known better and I should have educate myself, it doesn't matter what happen right there and there, I should have known

No one asked for this blog but I want to come clear about this, even if no one is poking at the subject, no one is outting me, cancelling me (for now) or anything, I feel like I should come clear, I should admit to my own faults towards everyone that is also trans

I don't want to be forgiven and it's ok to be reminded of that, I want to admit what I did was wrong because it's something I should have admit to a long time ago yet I always avoided the subject

In other words I owe the trans community a apology for being so ignorant at that age, I know it doesn't fix anything but I still should apologize because of the simple fact that what I did was wrong

[shivam95]

Exploring the Cambridge MPhil: A Pathway to Academic and Professional Excellence

The University of Cambridge, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious institutions, offers a range of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programs across various disciplines. An MPhil from Cambridge is not only a gateway to advanced research but also a prestigious qualification that enhances your career prospects in both academic and professional arenas. In this blog, we'll delve into the class profile, fees and financing, eligibility criteria, program and curriculum, employment upon graduation, and what makes the Cambridge MPhil truly unique.

Class Profile

The Cambridge MPhil programs attract a diverse cohort of students from all over the globe. Typically, the class consists of individuals with varied academic backgrounds, including recent graduates, professionals looking to deepen their expertise, and those aiming to transition into academia or research. Here’s a breakdown of the typical class profile:

Geographical Diversity: Students from over 50 countries.

Gender Ratio: Approximately 50% male and 50% female.

Average Age: 24-28 years, though this can vary depending on the specific MPhil program.

Academic Background: A wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to economics, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.

The diverse backgrounds of the students contribute to a rich learning environment, where different perspectives enhance discussions and research.

Fees & Financing

Pursuing an MPhil at Cambridge is a significant investment, but one that can yield large returns career opportunities and academic advancement. Here’s an overview of the costs involved:

Tuition Fees: The tuition fees for MPhil programs at Cambridge vary depending on the discipline. On average, the fees range between £25,000 and £35,000 for international students, while UK students might pay slightly less.

College Fees: Also to tuition, students are required to pay college fees, which typically range from £3,500 to £4,000 per year.

Living Expenses: The estimated living expenses, including accommodation, food, and personal expenses, are around £12,000 to £15,000 per year.

Financing Options:

Scholarships and Bursaries: Cambridge offers several scholarships based on merit and need. Some of the notable scholarships include the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the Cambridge Trust, and departmental scholarships.

Loans: Many students opt for education loans from banks or financial institutions. International students might explore loans specifically designed for studying abroad.

Part-time Work: While Cambridge has strict guidelines on working during studies, some students find part-time opportunities within the university.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the Cambridge MPhil programs are stringent, reflecting the high academic standards of the institution. Here’s what you typically need to qualify:

Academic Qualifications: A strong undergraduate degree with a first-class or high upper second-class honors, or the international equivalent, is usually required. Some programs might also consider a strong academic background in a related field.

English Language Proficiency: Non-native English speakers must demonstrate proficiency through tests like IELTS, TOEFL, or the Cambridge English exams. The required scores generally range around an IELTS score of 7.5 or a TOEFL score of 110.

References: Most MPhil programs require two to three academic references that can attest to your academic abilities and potential for research.

Personal Statement: A well-crafted personal statement or statement of purpose outlining your research interests, career goals, and reasons for choosing the specific MPhil program.

Research Proposal: Some MPhil programs, especially those leaning towards research, require a detailed research proposal outlining the topic you intend to explore.

Employment Upon Graduation

Graduating with an MPhil from Cambridge opens doors to many career opportunities. Whether you aim to enter the workforce directly or pursue further academic research, the Cambridge MPhil equips you with the skills and credentials to succeed. Here’s what you can expect post-graduation:

Academic Careers: Many MPhil graduates continue their studies by pursuing a PhD. The MPhil is often viewed as a stepping stone to doctoral research.

Industry Roles: Graduates are highly sought after in industries such as finance, consulting, technology, public policy, and education. Employers value the analytical skills, critical thinking, and research capabilities that MPhil graduates bring.

Average Starting Salary: While salaries vary depending on the field, MPhil graduates from Cambridge typically command starting salaries in the range of £40,000 to £60,000, with higher figures in sectors like finance and consulting.

Global Opportunities: The global recognition of a Cambridge degree means that graduates find opportunities worldwide, often in leadership or specialist roles.

Why Cambridge MPhil is Unique

The Cambridge MPhil stands out for several reasons, making it a coveted program for aspiring academics and professionals alike:

Prestige and Tradition: The University of Cambridge’s legacy of excellence in education and research spans over 800 years. An MPhil from Cambridge carries a reputation that is recognized and respected globally.

World-Class Faculty: Students are mentored by leading scholars who are at the forefront of research in their fields. The faculty’s expertise and dedication to teaching provide a rich and supportive learning environment.

Research Opportunities: Cambridge’s MPhil programs are research-intensive, offering students the chance to contribute to cutting-edge discoveries. The university’s extensive resources, including libraries, laboratories, and research centers, support this research excellence.

Interdisciplinary Approach: The flexibility of the MPhil curriculum allows students to explore interdisciplinary research, collaborating with peers and faculty from other departments.

Global Network: As a Cambridge MPhil student, you become part of a global alumni network that includes some of the most influential figures in academia, industry, and public life.

Conclusion

The Cambridge MPhil is more than just a degree; it’s a journey of intellectual discovery and professional growth. With its rigorous curriculum, diverse class profile, and unparalleled opportunities for research and career advancement, the Cambridge MPhil is an investment in your future. Whether you aim to pursue a PhD, enter a high-level professional role, or simply deepen your expertise in a particular field, the Cambridge MPhil provides the foundation you need to succeed.

[kevinnbrain]

Shocking Upset: Julien Alfred’s Historic Olympic Gold at the Paris Olympics!

Shocking Upset: Julien Alfred’s Historic Olympic Gold at the Paris Olympics! https://ift.tt/59Kn3To Shocking Upset: Julien Alfred’s Historic Olympic Gold at the Paris Olympics! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZFevMy1Qd8 Join us as we celebrate Julien Alfred’s groundbreaking victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she clinched Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal in the women’s 100-meter final. In a breathtaking race, Alfred stunned the world by defeating the reigning champion, Sha'Carri Richardson, with a record time of 10.72 seconds. Discover how this former NCAA champion transitioned to the professional track scene and etched her name in the annals of Olympic history. Subscribe to Caribbean Focus Sports for exclusive updates, interviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at your favorite Caribbean athletes’ journey to glory! #OlympicGold #JulienAlfredGold #Paris2024 #SaintLuciaOlympic #trackandfield CHECK OUT OUR OTHER CARIBBEAN FOCUS CHANNEL ► Caribbean Focus Lifestyle https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVK2kdq_dS8AC8-ZyvBMYFw ► Caribbean Focus Travels https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpbS2NlicZM-nT5_L8qhqA ► Caribbean Focus Blog: https://ift.tt/hLl0Ucw ► CF Online Store https://jirie.store/​ ✅ OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN WATCHING 👉 Top 10 Caribbean Male Track & Field Athletes to Watch in the 2024 Olympic Year Season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ_n3W4Lzak&t=18s 👉 Top 10 Caribbean Female Caribbean Athletes To Watch for 2024 Olympics Olympic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioz5Ux2XJaA&t=8s 👉 Top 10 Best Male Track & Field Performances by Caribbean Athletes In History https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk-2g8MLch8&t=16s ✅ STAY CONNECTED WITH US 👉Facebook: https://ift.tt/0yeFdGm 👉Instagram: https://ift.tt/RfynVlI 👉Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/JirieC 👉Pinterest: https://ift.tt/xwvTrP2 👉Website: https://ift.tt/ahMOcm0 BUSINESS & ADVERTISING INQUIRES info@CaribbeanFocus.com ============================= ✅ ABOUT CARIBBEAN FOCUS SPORTS Welcome to the home of Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie channel, where you’ll find the best coverage of all sports where Caribbean athletes participate within the region and globally. Covering up-to-the-minute sports news, headlines, scores, highlights, debates & stats, exclusive interviews, commentary, and live on-demand events including but not limited to the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and Diamond League. For copyright queries or general inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: info@CaribbeanFocus.com 🔔 Want to follow Caribbean athletes globally? Subscribe to Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie for top sports news, debates, and live event coverage. Stay ahead with us! https://www.youtube.com/@caribbeanfocussports360/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================ ⚠️DISCLAIMER: All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel do not claim any right over them. Copyright Disclaimer Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is permitted by copyright statutes that might otherwise be infringing. AFFILIATE LINKS: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service using our links, Jirie Caribbean may receive a small commission. There is NO ADDITIONAL charge for you! Thank you for supporting Jirie Caribbean so we can continue providing free content about Caribbean Lifestyle and Travel Adventures! © Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie via Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOjKpSZxJYB4qe8oOs4Q3w August 05, 2024 at 08:36AM via Caribbean Lifestyle by J-irie https://ift.tt/K2LAkjs August 05, 2024 at 10:02AM

[answersfromzestual]

What can I do to masculinize my mannerism? I was raised very upper class lady-Ly and I have trouble letting go of a lot of the “proper” mannerisms that I find tend to clock me as trans

Hello,

This isn't going to happen overnight, but I will list some things you can do. Some may seem simple or "odd" but it's just like learning another culture.

Sitting up straight, and tall, same with standing. You want to stand so tall that you feel taller than those around you.

Taking up space! Sitting with your legs open, opening your chest so your shoulders and chest look bigger (wider). Taking up space also means standing up straight (no leaning) when talking, project the energy that you won't shy away. Take up space and be an alpha!

Do not flail your hands

Head nods are a social gesture instead of waving, or they can replace maybe a handshake in friendly interactions. A single nod up quickly is a masculine way of acknowledging those around you in a non-professional setting. It can say: "What's up," "I see you," "it is/ they are over there (nod in direction of the object/person)," and "hello."

Speaking assertively, this doesn't have to be aggression. It's more instead of saying, "I was wondering, maybe we should do ____". The more assertive way to do this would be to say, "I want to do ____" taking out those filler words, making people perceive you as more dominant.

Making eye contact is important, you want them to basically look away first, you are again showing your assertiveness, and sending alpha energy. It's going to take practice, you may seem weird at first, but you will eventually be able to determine the amount of eye contact needed in that social situation.

It all goes back to wanting to be the alpha male in the situation.

You want other people to see you as dominant and in control.

Handshakes are super important. They are common for many more professional atmospheres. You want a firm handshake, but you don't want to hurt the person. If you have someone to help you practice, that would be good. It seems you always are squeezing tighter that you should, but a strong handshake is a huge indicator to a lot of people of not your masculinity but your character.

Try working on your vocabulary and take out filler words such as "like", "um", "uh", "maybe". Speak with intention. You need to speak like you know all about what you're talking about. Confidence is the point. Be direct as possible. It's not about lying.

Walking: Stand tall, chin straight, walk with your shoulders more than your hips. Again, no flailing. Hands by pockets.

Remember these are subtle changes and it will take some time to dial in on exactly how to do everything, but these are some of the main/big things I could think of. I will add more if I think of more or people are free to add some of their own.

Edit: Alpha doesn't mean you need to be the typical version of masculinity either. It means you take control of the situation, you don't back down or shy away. For example, if someone steps towards you it can be an act of intimidation, but if you stand your ground, they will most likely see their failed attempt and back up again. I don't want you thinking it means being hyper masculine. It's I guess some people call it "big dick energy".

Good luck,

Stay Golden ✌️ 💙 💜

[jiriecaribbean]

Shocking Upset: Julien Alfred's Historic Olympic Gold at the Paris Olympics!

Shocking Upset: Julien Alfred's Historic Olympic Gold at the Paris Olympics! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZFevMy1Qd8 Join us as we celebrate Julien Alfred's groundbreaking victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she clinched Saint Lucia's first-ever Olympic medal in the women's 100-meter final. In a breathtaking race, Alfred stunned the world by defeating the reigning champion, Sha'Carri Richardson, with a record time of 10.72 seconds. Discover how this former NCAA champion transitioned to the professional track scene and etched her name in the annals of Olympic history. Subscribe to Caribbean Focus Sports for exclusive updates, interviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at your favorite Caribbean athletes' journey to glory! #OlympicGold #JulienAlfredGold #Paris2024 #SaintLuciaOlympic #trackandfield CHECK OUT OUR OTHER CARIBBEAN FOCUS CHANNEL ► Caribbean Focus Lifestyle https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVK2kdq_dS8AC8-ZyvBMYFw ► Caribbean Focus Travels https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpbS2NlicZM-nT5_L8qhqA ► Caribbean Focus Blog: https://ift.tt/hLl0Ucw ► CF Online Store https://jirie.store/​ ✅ OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN WATCHING 👉 Top 10 Caribbean Male Track & Field Athletes to Watch in the 2024 Olympic Year Season https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ_n3W4Lzak&t=18s 👉 Top 10 Caribbean Female Caribbean Athletes To Watch for 2024 Olympics Olympic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioz5Ux2XJaA&t=8s 👉 Top 10 Best Male Track & Field Performances by Caribbean Athletes In History https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk-2g8MLch8&t=16s ✅ STAY CONNECTED WITH US 👉Facebook: https://ift.tt/0yeFdGm 👉Instagram: https://ift.tt/RfynVlI 👉Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/JirieC 👉Pinterest: https://ift.tt/xwvTrP2 👉Website: https://ift.tt/ahMOcm0 BUSINESS & ADVERTISING INQUIRES info@CaribbeanFocus.com ============================= ✅ ABOUT CARIBBEAN FOCUS SPORTS Welcome to the home of Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie channel, where you'll find the best coverage of all sports where Caribbean athletes participate within the region and globally. Covering up-to-the-minute sports news, headlines, scores, highlights, debates & stats, exclusive interviews, commentary, and live on-demand events including but not limited to the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and Diamond League. For copyright queries or general inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: info@CaribbeanFocus.com 🔔 Want to follow Caribbean athletes globally? Subscribe to Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie for top sports news, debates, and live event coverage. Stay ahead with us! https://www.youtube.com/@caribbeanfocussports360/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================ ⚠️DISCLAIMER: All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel do not claim any right over them. Copyright Disclaimer Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is permitted by copyright statutes that might otherwise be infringing. AFFILIATE LINKS: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service using our links, Jirie Caribbean may receive a small commission. There is NO ADDITIONAL charge for you! Thank you for supporting Jirie Caribbean so we can continue providing free content about Caribbean Lifestyle and Travel Adventures! © Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie via Caribbean Focus Sports by J-irie https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOjKpSZxJYB4qe8oOs4Q3w August 05, 2024 at 08:36AM

[cree-n-jewish-thoughts]

I have completed the transfer to its own Blog

It is still, technically, a side blog, I haven't figured out if it is possible to transfer it and also make it a main blog without reposting the data post by post.

There is no reason to follow the other blog, this one will remain intact as it is.

The entire account is dedicated to this blog and only this blog. So I apologize for all those who followed the new blog.

This blog has the same URL, title, and content as before. Nothing has changed on your end.

Here is the link to the Blog Directory

Remember, if you need some advice and would feel comfortable sending me an e-mail, it is still answersfromtheshadows@gmail.com Feel free to write me and we can have more of a conversation about the questions you may have. Of course we also have the Ask Tab.

Thank you to all the loyal followers who have waited and waited for this to be its own entity.

Stay Golden 💙🩷

[aestivaclinic]

When Should Breast Augmentation Be Recommended?

Breast augmentation, commonly called augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure intended to improve a woman's breasts' size and shape. One of the most popular cosmetic procedures is done every day worldwide. However, there are several circumstances in which breast augmentation is advised and is pursued for reasons other than purely aesthetic ones. 

Dr. Mrinalini Sharma of Aestiva Clinic, who provides the best breast augmentation surgery in Delhi, has shared information related to breast augmentation. Utilizing those insights this blog will explore about the specific indications for breast augmentation, along with the psychological and medical aspects that may play a role in a woman's decision. 

Congenital Disabilities: The underdevelopment or asymmetry of certain women's breasts at birth can cause self-consciousness and low self-esteem. Breast augmentation can help treat these inherited flaws, bringing back the breasts' symmetry and balance. The surgery can enhance a woman's body perception, ultimately increasing her confidence and well-being.

Breastfeeding and Post-Pregnancy: Both breastfeeding and pregnancy can significantly alter a woman's breasts. After giving birth and nursing, many women notice a loss of breast volume, drooping, or changes in breast form. Breast augmentation is an option that can help women regain their pre-pregnancy appearance and confidence by improving breast form and restoring breast fullness.

Post-Mastectomy Reconstruction: Breast augmentation can be a crucial component of the reconstruction process for women who have undergone a mastectomy due to breast cancer or other medical conditions. It can assist in breast restoration, restoring a sense of femininity and promoting emotional healing. After battling breast cancer, breast augmentation, along with breast reconstruction, can have a substantial impact on a woman's quality of life and self-image.

Breast Asymmetry and Size Disparity: Many women are concerned about breast asymmetry, which occurs when one breast is visibly smaller or shaped differently. Breast augmentation can help with this problem by giving a person a more symmetrical and balanced appearance. It requires using various-sized implants to achieve the desired size and form and improve the overall proportion of the breasts.

Age-related Volume Loss in the Breasts: As women age, their breasts may inevitably get smaller and less firm. This may cause them to feel self-conscious and unsatisfied with how they look. Breast augmentation can replace lost volume, giving the breasts a fuller, younger-looking appearance. It can improve a woman's self-esteem and revitalize her overall silhouette.

Gender Affirmation Surgery: Breast augmentation is a key component of gender affirmation surgery for people going through a male-to-female transition. It contributes to developing more feminine shapes and proportions per the person's preferred gender identity. Transgender women's physical and emotional well-being can be significantly enhanced by breast augmentation.

Breast augmentation is a flexible surgery with various indications that can meet medical and aesthetic requirements. Breast augmentation dramatically affects many women, from addressing congenital flaws to assisting in post-pregnancy alterations and post-mastectomy restoration. However, speaking with the best plastic surgeon in Delhi is imperative to go over your specific objectives, anticipated results, and any possible hazards related to the surgery. 

To ensure the best results for each individual, the decision to undertake breast augmentation surgery in Delhi should ultimately be founded on educated decisions and consideration of particular circumstances. For further information, visit Dr. Mrinalini Sharma, a leading plastic surgeon at Aestiva Clinic. 

[nothorses]

Interview With An Ex-Radfem

exradfem is an anonymous Tumblr user who identifies as transmasculine, and previously spent time in radical feminist communities. They have offered their insight into those communities using their own experiences and memories as a firsthand resource.

Background

I was raised in an incredibly fundamentalist religion, and so was predisposed to falling for cult rhetoric. Naturally, I was kicked out for being a lesbian. I was taken in by the queer community, particularly the trans community, and I got back on my feet- somehow. I had a large group of queer friends, and loved it. I fully went in on being the Best Trans Ally Possible, and constantly tried to be a part of activism and discourse.

Unfortunately, I was undersocialized, undereducated, and overenthusiastic. I didn't fully understand queer or gender theory. In my world, when my parents told me my sexuality was a choice and I wasn't born that way, they were absolutely being homophobic. I understood that no one should care if it's a choice or not, but it was still incredibly, vitally important to me that I was born that way.

On top of that, I already had an intense distrust of men bred by a lot of trauma. That distrust bred a lot of gender essentialism that I couldn't pull out of the gender binary. I felt like it was fundamentally true that men were the problem, and that women were inherently more trustworthy. And I really didn't know where nonbinary people fit in.

Then I got sucked down the ace exclusionist pipeline; the way the arguments were framed made sense to my really surface-level, liberal view of politics. This had me primed to exclude people –– to feel like only those that had been oppressed exactly like me were my community.

Then I realized I was attracted to my nonbinary friend. I immediately felt super guilty that I was seeing them as a woman. I started doing some googling (helped along by ace exclusionists on Tumblr) and found the lesfem community, which is basically radfem “lite”: lesbians who are "only same sex attracted". This made sense to me, and it made me feel so much less guilty for being attracted to my friend; it was packaged as "this is just our inherent, biological desire that is completely uncontrollable". It didn't challenge my status quo, it made me feel less guilty about being a lesbian, and it allowed me to have a "biological" reason for rejecting men.

I don't know how much dysphoria was playing into this, and it's something I will probably never know; all of this is just piecing together jumbled memories and trying to connect dots. I know at the time I couldn't connect to this trans narrative of "feeling like a woman". I couldn't understand what trans women were feeling. This briefly made me question whether I was nonbinary, but radfem ideas had already started seeping into my head and I'm sure I was using them to repress that dysphoria. That's all I can remember.

The lesfem community seeded gender critical ideas and larger radfem princples, including gender socialization, gender as completely meaningless, oppression as based on sex, and lesbian separatism. It made so much innate sense to me, and I didn't realize that was because I was conditioned by the far right from the moment of my birth. Of course women were just a biological class obligated to raise children: that is how I always saw myself, and I always wanted to escape it.

I tried to stay in the realms of TIRF (Trans-Inclusive Radical Feminist) and "gender critical" spaces, because I couldn't take the vitriol on so many TERF blogs. It took so long for me to get to the point where I began seeing open and unveiled transphobia, and I had already read so much and bought into so much of it that I thought that I could just ignore those parts.

In that sense, it was absolutely a pipeline for me. I thought I could find a "middle ground", where I could "center women" without being transphobic.

Slowly, I realized that the transphobia was just more and more disgustingly pervasive. Some of the trans men and butch women I looked up to left the groups, and it was mostly just a bunch of nasty people left. So I left.

After two years offline, I started to recognize I was never going to be a healthy person without dealing with my dysphoria, and I made my way back onto Tumblr over the pandemic. I have realized I'm trans, and so much of this makes so much more sense now. I now see how I was basically using gender essentialism to repress my identity and keep myself in the closet, how it was genuinely weaponized by TERFs to keep me there, and how the ace exclusionist movement primed me into accepting lesbian separatism- and, finally, radical feminism.

The Interview

You mentioned the lesfem community, gender criticals, and TIRFs, which I haven't heard about before- would you mind elaborating on what those are, and what kinds of beliefs they hold?

I think the lesfem community is recruitment for lesbians into the TERF community. Everything is very sanitized and "reasonable", and there's an effort not to say anything bad about trans women. The main focus was that lesbian = homosexual female, and you can't be attracted to gender, because you can't know someone's gender before knowing them; only their sex.

It seemed logical at the time, thinking about sex as something impermeable and gender as internal identity. The most talk about trans women I saw initially was just in reference to the cotton ceiling, how sexual orientation is a permanent and unchangeable reality. Otherwise, the focus was homophobia. This appealed to me, as I was really clinging to the "born this way" narrative.

This ended up being a gateway to two split camps - TIRFs and gender crits.

I definitely liked to read TIRF stuff, mostly because I didn't like the idea of radical feminism having to be transphobic. But TIRFs think that misogyny is all down to hatred of femininity, and they use that as a basis to be able to say trans women are "just as" oppressed.

Gender criticals really fought out against this, and pushed the idea that gender is fake, and misogyny is just sex-based oppression based on reproductive issues. They believe that the source of misogyny is the "male need to control the source of reproduction"- which is what finally made me think I had found the "source" of my confusion. That's why I ended up in gender critical circles instead of TIRF circles.

I'm glad, honestly, because the mask-off transphobia is what made me finally see the light. I wouldn't have seen that in TIRF communities.

I believed this in-between idea, that misogyny was "sex-based oppression" and that transphobia was also real and horrible, but only based on transition, and therefore a completely different thing. I felt that this was the "nuanced" position to take.

The lesfem community also used the fact that a lot of lesbians have partners who transition, still stay with their lesbian partners, and see themselves as lesbian- and that a lot of trans men still see themselves as lesbians. That idea is very taboo and talked down in liberal queer spaces, and I had some vague feelings about it that made me angry, too. I really appreciated the frank talk of what I felt were my own taboo experiences.

I think gender critical ideology also really exploited my own dysphoria. There was a lot of talk about how "almost all butches have dysphoria and just don't talk about it", and that made me feel so much less alone and was, genuinely, a big relief to me that I "didn't have to be trans".

Lesfeminism is essentially lesbian separatism dressed up as sex education. Lesfems believe that genitals exist in two separate categories, and that not being attracted to penises is what defines lesbians. This is used to tell cis lesbians, "dont feel bad as a lesbian if you're attracted to trans men", and that they shouldn’t feel "guilty" for not being attracted to trans women. They believe that lesbianism is not defined as being attracted to women, it is defined as not being attracted to men; which is a root idea in lesbian separatism as well.

Lesfems also believe that attraction to anything other than explicit genitals is a fetish: if you're attracted to flat chests, facial hair, low voices, etc., but don't care if that person has a penis or not, you're bisexual with a fetish for masculine attributes. Essentially, they believe the “-sexual” suffix refers to the “sex” that you are assigned at birth, rather than your attraction: “homosexual” refers to two people of the same sex, etc. This was part of their pushback to the ace community, too.

I think they exploited the issues of trans men and actively ignored trans women intentionally, as a way of avoiding the “TERF” label. Pronouns were respected, and they espoused a constant stream of "trans women are women, trans men are men (but biology still exists and dictates sexual orientation)" to maintain face.

They would only be openly transmisogynistic in more private, radfem-only spaces.

For a while, I didn’t think that TERFs were real. I had read and agreed with the ideology of these "reasonable" people who others labeled as TERFs, so I felt like maybe it really was a strawman that didn't exist. I think that really helped suck me in.

It sounds from what you said like radical feminism works as a kind of funnel system, with "lesfem" being one gateway leading in, and "TIRF" and "gender crit" being branches that lesfem specifically funnels into- with TERFs at the end of the funnel. Does that sound accurate?

I think that's a great description actually!

When I was growing up, I had to go to meetings to learn how to "best spread the word of god". It was brainwashing 101: start off by building a relationship, find a common ground. Do not tell them what you really believe. Use confusing language and cute innuendos to "draw them in". Prey on their emotions by having long exhausting sermons, using music and peer pressure to manipulate them into making a commitment to the church, then BAM- hit them with the weird shit.

Obviously I am paraphrasing, but this was framed as a necessary evil to not "freak out" the outsiders.

I started to see that same talk in gender critical circles: I remember seeing something to the effect of, "lesfem and gender crit spaces exist to cleanse you of the gender ideology so you can later understand the 'real' danger of it", which really freaked me out; I realized I was in a cult again.

I definitely think it's intentional. I think they got these ideas from evangelical Christianity, and they actively use it to spread it online and target young lesbians and transmascs. And I think gender critical butch spaces are there to draw in young transmascs who hate everything about femininity and womanhood, and lesfem spaces are there to spread the idea that trans women exist as a threat to lesbianism.

Do you know if they view TIRFs a similar way- as essentially prepping people for TERF indoctrination?

Yes and no.

I've seen lots of in-fighting about TIRFs; most TERFs see them as a detriment, worse than the "TRAs" themselves. I've also definitely seen it posed as "baby's first radfeminism". A lot of TIRFs are trans women, at least from what I've seen on Tumblr, and therefore are not accepted or liked by radfems. To be completely honest, I don't think they're liked by anyone. They just hate men.

TIRFs are almost another breed altogether; I don't know if they have ties to lesfems at all, but I do think they might've spearheaded the online ace exclusionist discourse. I think a lot of them also swallowed radfem ideology without knowing what it was, and parrot it without thinking too hard about how it contradicts with other ideas they have.

The difference is TIRFs exist. They're real people with a bizarre, contradictory ideology. The lesfem community, on the other hand, is a completely manufactured "community" of crypto-terfs designed specifically to indoctrinate people into TERF ideology.

Part of my interest in TIRFs here is that they seem to have a heavy hand in the way transmascs are treated by the trans community, and if you're right that they were a big part of ace exclusionism too they've had a huge impact on queer discourse as a whole for some time. It seems likely that Baeddels came out of that movement too.

Yes, there’s a lot of overlap. The more digging I did, the more I found that it's a smaller circle running the show than it seems. TIRFs really do a lot of legwork in peddling the ideology to outer queer community, who tend to see it as generic feminism.

TERFs joke a lot about how non-radfems will repost or reblog from TERFs, adding "op is a TERF”. They're very gleeful when people accept their ideology with the mask on. They think it means these people are close to fully learning the "truth", and they see it as further evidence they have the truth the world is hiding. I think it's important to speak out against radical feminism in general, because they’re right; their ideology does seep out into the queer community.

Do you think there's any "good" radical feminism?

No. It sees women as the ultimate victim, rather than seeing gender as a tool to oppress different people differently. Radical feminism will always see men as the problem, and it is always going to do harm to men of color, gay men, trans men, disabled men, etc.

Women aren't a coherent class, and radfems are very panicked about that fact; they think it's going to be the end of us all. But what's wrong with that? That's like freaking out that white isn't a coherent group. It reveals more about you.

It's kind of the root of all exclusionism, the more I think about it, isn't it? Just freaking out that some group isn't going to be exclusive anymore.

Radical feminists believe that women are inherently better than men.

For TIRFs, it's gender essentialism. For TERFs, its bio essentialism. Both systems are fundamentally broken, and will always hurt the groups most at risk. Centering women and misogyny above all else erases the root causes of bigotry and oppression, and it erases the intersections of race and class. The idea that women are always fundamentally less threatening is very white and privileged.

It also ignores how cis women benefit from gender norms just as cis men do, and how cis men suffer from gender roles as well. It’s a system of control where gender non-conformity is a punishable offense.

[audreydoeskaren]

Have you read Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim? Idk what Era precisely it's meant to be, but I'm curious if anyone in the Chinese fashion sphere has anything to say about the clothes making/designing portions of the book, re: what clothes making was really like, the job of a royal tailor/tailors in general (were they common, or did most people make their own clothes? Was it a respected job?), that kind of thing! Thank you for your work on this blog!

I don't usually read fantasy novels like Spin the Dawn but I can say a thing or two about clothing production in imperial China. The state of dressmaking was different for each era and I can only talk a little bit about the Ming and Qing. Obviously I don't know the complete details of every stage of production for clothing, I'll just share some things that I do have knowledge on. Most of my information came from Rachel Silberstein's book A Fashionable Century: Textile Artistry and Commerce in the Late Qing, which could be read on JSTOR.

Royal dressmaking

Clothing that was meant for royal use was seldom created by one person alone, but rather the combined efforts of specialists and professionals in different areas. The designs would be made by artists in court, then textiles used for the clothing would be commissioned from state owned textile workshops, then sent to tailors to be sewn into garments and then to embroiderers if embroidery was required. Embroidery wasn't always necessary, since for most of the Ming fashionable and prestigious clothing was made from fabrics with woven patterns (e.g. brocades, damasks) instead of embroidered ones; embroidery would not become the dominant form of decoration until the Ming-Qing transition in the mid 17th century. Normal people wouldn't be able to purchase fabrics from the imperial workshops, but imperial workshops have been on the decline since the late Ming and commercial workshops were producing quality fabrics on a par with those from the imperial ones. Imperial workshop also frequently sublet their work to commercial ones.

As to the design aspect, formal court dress was heavily regulated as to what patterns and garments could be used for what occasion, so there wasn’t much room for artistic liberty. It was on informal clothing that more creativity could be exercised; embroiderers could choose what patterns and motifs go on garments and tailors could experiment with different proportions.

Source

Women’s 吉服 jifu formal ensemble from the Qianlong era. The patterns and their placement for such formal garments were fixed.

Source

Guangxu era informal 氅衣 changyi. The final appearance of this garment was still the combined efforts of many people, e.g. the weavers decided on the purple color, the tailor decided on the proportion and the embroiderers the floral motifs etc..

Home dressmaking

Common people prior to the 17th century mostly made their own clothes, particularly by the female members of the household. It was very common to make clothing from scratch i.e. the growing of cotton or grooming of silkworms, to fabric weaving, sewing and embroidering. It was considered a part of women's education to learn how to weave fabrics and sew garments together, but this doesn't mean that the entire dressmaking process was confined to women or one person either; men, who were expected to do farm work, would grow the crops necessary for the weaving of fabrics, and often assisted in the weaving process. Since the majority of the Chinese population lived in the countryside, many families produced fabrics from raw materials they made on their own farms and made clothes from said fabrics. Because of the difficulty in weaving brocaded fabrics by oneself, home dressmakers who couldn't afford to buy ready woven fabrics prior to the late Ming had to limit themselves to plain fabrics. In the late Ming and early Qing, the rise of embroidery as the dominant method of decoration meant that fashionable patterns became available to less wealthy people who couldn't afford to buy expensive brocaded fabrics, since they could reproduce all the fashionable patterns with just needle, thread and spare time. Embroidery books showing popular patterns and motifs were widely available and could be purchased cheaply. With that said, that doesn't mean that the entirety of a garment had to be made from scratch; many decorations and notions could be bought from shops, like trimmings, ribbons, buttons and prefabricated embroidery appliques. The seamstress would just need to buy the fabric, decorations and notions and put them together as one garment. In the Qing, women seldom went out of the house, and they relied on vendors or middlemen for vendors who brought products to their homes for sale. For women at the time, being a skilled weaver, seamstress or embroiderer was a highly desirable trait, not just because it symbolized "female virtue" whatever that means, but also because it provided work opportunities. Women who were otherwise not employed could take commissions from commercial weaving, tailoring or embroidery workshops as a side income.

Commercial dressmaking

Since the 17th century, the textile industry was increasingly commercialized and it since became more viable to purchase ready woven fabrics from commercial workshops, especially for people in urban areas.  These were usually owned by rural families as a side income, and they would often hire landless people to work in their manufactories. I don't know if owning a textile manufactory was a respected job (probably not, considering the literati's hatred for everything commercial) but these people did make serious money. Family operating businesses were often co-owned by wife and husband. Embroidery workshops making prefabricated embroidered appliques and tailor shops making ready to wear garments were also quite common, often relying on middlemen for delivering orders and negotiating prices between the workshop and individual embroiderers/seamstresses in the countryside. In Qing tailor shops, it was often the case that only menswear could be purchased ready to wear, whereas womenswear was made to measure or by the wearer herself. Within tailor shops, there were many subdivisions of labor, like some people did pattern drafting, some people cut pattern pieces and some people assembled the garments. The status of commercial tailors has historically been low, mostly because of the Confucian ruling class’ disdain for consumption, luxury and anything non-self sustaining.

Source

Ca. 1780s export painting showing weaving women.

Feminist tangent

In the Qing, most home weaving and embroidering were done by women, but the commercial workshops were male dominated and their guilds prohibited entry for women, because commercial dressmaking had become a lucrative business and men didn’t want to share employment with women. Male employees in workshops were considered artisans and better paid, whereas women who had to work at home were considered unskilled labor and paid less. Most commercial tailors in the Qing were also male, for reasons similar to why embroidery was male dominated. Whereas women commonly sewed clothes for themselves and their families, they were often prohibited from becoming professional tailors working in workshops or joining a guild. It’s that bogus thing where handicrafts are “women’s work” but when men see how profitable they are they suddenly become “artistic” and limited to men. 

Commercial tailors, who were male, were seen as a cultural abomination for doing what was historically seen as “women’s work” for profit. In order to elevate themselves to a higher, more respected status, they chose to throw women under the bus and revise the history of all things historically considered “women’s work” to make them more male centered. An example of this was the 露香园 Luxiang Yuan or Dew Fragrance Garden, a renowned Suzhou embroidery workshop built up by three generations of women of the Gu family, who owned the estate and was the namesake of their style of embroidery, 顾绣 guxiu or Gu embroidery. The male family head at the time, Gu Mingshi, later became the patron saint of the Suzhou embroiderer’s guild founded in 1867. The reason why Gu Mingshi was worshipped instead of the three women who made Gu embroidery famous was largely because male members of the Suzhou embroiderer’s guild needed historical justification for their exclusion of women and erasure of women’s contributions. Apparently late 19th century scholars also complained about this misogyny so this isn’t a new understanding.

Source

Gu embroidery by Han Ximeng, one of the three OG Gu women.

With all of this said, it doesn’t mean that women stopped working in commercial embroidery; women were actually the backbone of the industry, they just didn’t get any recognition from official, male written guild records and such. Many people in the 19th century observed that while the resident embroiderers in commercial workshops were men, a lot of their work was sublet to independent female embroiderers in the countryside, who were not credited on the finished product or advertising. 

Now I’m kinda inspired to make a whole rant about working women in the Qing and their representation (or lack thereof) in the Republican era, but there are some 20 unanswered asks sitting in my ask box so maybe later😅

[tightsituationsblog]

Hi everyone. It’s a little while now since I began this blog so I just wanted to comment on some aspects. To those of you who have followed me, thank you kindly, I appreciate your taking the time and finding sufficient interest to take that step. Some of you have been in touch with me & it’s lovely to have your feedback & views. Others have visited, commented &, in some cases followed, however I’ve chosen to block further contact. This will be for one of the following reasons:

I have found an empty blog when returning your visit - I don’t trust empty blogs!

I have found material I personally find offensive to me, to LGBQT people, to women (CIS & Trans). Possibly your material is just plain gross - BLOCKED!

My personal image is that I, perhaps strangely, consider myself a straight guy, but with a very dominant feminine trait, which I attempt to satisfy by cross dressing in female clothes. My absolute preference sexually is for women of all persuasions & appearances, although it will be apparent from my blog, that I am attracted to an elegant, very feminine or girly stereotype. I consider myself & describe myself as a lipstick lesbian.

I suffer terribly from gender envy when it comes to women. I totally realise that being a woman is far far more than just a license to wear sensual, colourful attractive clothes, make-up, hairstyles, hosiery & high heels. Life as a woman in this world can can be pretty damned awful. Women are abused, (especially by men), women have periods & menstrual complications which men such as me can never fully comprehend. Many women are born into societies where they are subjected to horrific practices such as genital mutilation & starved of education & basic freedoms which I take for granted. I do not take any of these issues lightly. I believe in feminism. I believe that men, women & LGBQT people are all equals. Please RESPECT these views if you visit my blog or follow me.

My journey of self-discovery is one which has gone through many phases over the years. From a very early age I had an abnormal interest in women’s hosiery in particular. I put this down to growing up in a house with three women where I constantly saw, & was intrigued by the differences in the clothes we wore. As puberty arrived mail order catalogues, with their lingerie pages, became my study material. I became besotted by the curvy shapes of a woman’s body. I found myself reading more & more about what it meant to be a woman. Their access to fashions enthralled me. I wanted to try it for myself. The more relationships I had with women & female friends the more I became obsessed. Crossdressing began with trying a sister’s stocking on my leg - it felt good- I was hooked.

It never ends there however. I still can’t totally explain why I do what I do, however, I know now that it will not leave me. As I’ve read on other’s sites, we frequently decide that enough is enough, pledge to stop, & purge our collections of tights, skirts, dresses, lingerie, make-up, wigs & shoes only to begin again a few weeks, months or whatever down the line. The curiosity & desire to take one step further next time only becomes more prevalent.

For many, especially today, the journey will conclude with full transition from male to female (I recognise many women also wish to transition to male). I hope that all will find peace, comfort & health when they reach that goal. For me I possibly would have considered that option if there had been more general understanding & compassion for transgendered, dysphoric individuals when I was younger. I’m still not certain that’s what I truly desired. I’ve enjoyed my male life. I’ve had gloriously passionate relationships with lovely, lovely women. I’ve also been able to escape to being Linda - to striving to enjoy that small part of being part of the girls club. I wish it could be more.

I also wish I could show more than just below the waist shots, however I am not out, or indeed brave enough to do so. I greatly admire those of you who have felt sufficiently liberated & confident. You are all heroes to the cause. 💕

I follow many lesbian blogs where the owners allow. Whilst I appreciate many CIS women abhor what I do, as do many lesbians, who only fall for TRUE women, I am still mostly attracted to woman to woman relationships. Please if you’re a lesbian site out there understand I am in awe of you & you have my utmost respect - & ENVY! 💝

Many of the visits I have experienced on the blog relate to sissy behaviour and to sexual penetration by men. I would like to state here that I think of myself as a transvestite or cross dresser & don’t really like being described as a sissy, although ultimately I suppose in many people’s eyes that is indeed what I am. I’m not excited by extravagantly frothy, ultra-girly, satins and lace type clothes. Whilst I do not rule out that my feminine persona may one day wish to find a real penis to worship, or be penetrated by, in as close to a girl manner as is physically possible to me, that is not my immediate preoccupation at this time. Also I would be extraordinarily cautious in terms of I would undoubtedly choose another cross dresser, who I found attractive & suitably elegant & understanding. My point is DON’T SEND ME DISGUSTING MALE MEMBER IMAGES!

Best Wishes,

Linda. 💕

#tightsituationsblog

#tightsituationsbloglinda for my personal images.