If everyone was gender-non-conforming...

[lionelduty]

On these boards we seem to think that being GNC in various ways is great (I hate how gendered kids' clothes, toys, etc are and hate that I feel weird buying my son pink or flowery clothes).

It's also stated quite often that most people can 'tell' if someone's a natal male or female just by looking, but I've genuinely seen people I honestly am unsure about (and plenty of transmen on TV that I would have had no idea weren't born male).

Would life actually be better if we couldn't tell anyone's sex from how they presented? We actually would need to ask pronouns and in single-sex spaces wouldn't be sure if someone wasn't 'supposed' to be there. Do we actually need some sort of gendered shorthand to function as a society or would there be some sort of freedom in removing it?

(Just my idle thoughts but interested in people's views)

More and more men and women are now feeling safer and more confident to express themselves.
which is, of course a good thing. However, people have always struggled with self expression or realising their 'true selves'. This is not a contemporary issue. However, what is contemporary is the almost narcissistic revelling in public exposure. This has clearly escalated due to social media and the on-line world - in which many are now completely absorbed.

People now feel they have to have strong public 'personas' and images to post on instagram and everywhere; or write their own blog. Everybody is looking for public recognition; for their 15 minutes of fame. For the world to recognise them. It really is narcissistic.

To be so self absorbed in all of this image and 'self-expression' thing cannot be healthy, though - hence the escalating mental health issues we see today; especially amongst the young.

I think that is the main cause of the jump in cases of body dismorphia, there is so much pressure for men to be muscly and for women to have perfectly round bottoms and tiny waists. Both unrealistic body types for most people.

My ex did some modeling for asos (he is not a model), but they would only put his photos in the womens section as he didn’t have a body type men aspire to (he is very slim and petite). James Cordens comments about chubby people not finding love etc in films was very interesting and generally true.

I think that in todays western culture it is difficult for men to wear anything other than stereotypical male attire
The flamboyance of previous eras does not seem to have enabled men at all as far as I can see. Mick Jagger in his white dress, Bowie in extreme outre kit, the ruffles, florals, kaftans, beads, long hair, make up and general freedom of self expression of the sixties and seventies has not meant men today can feel free to wear skirts.
That, I believe is why some turn to the Trans route.
FloralBunting wrote above that she can be wearing make up, glitter and high heeled boots one day and combats with no make up the next.
Men on the whole do not have that freedom.

I have had a few female friends who have received verbal abuse from other women for using the womens toilets as they are quite masc looking women.

I hear this so often, and almost always from people arguing that males should be able to access female spaces. The same as those who want males in fmale spaces tend to have been sexually assaulted by women an awful lot, or had a lesbian stare at them when changing. Its odd really, how this only seems to happen to people with a certain view.

Where you live hugely impacts on this as well, my ex recently wore a little corset for an event, he then wore it on a night out, in London no one really cares, elsewhere he would have received very unpleasant comments about it.