I think that's overstated

Yeah, it is definitely easier for women. And it's easier in some places: I wouldn't get comments on the street if I dressed in male drag, but I might get them in the office, since my place of employment is fairly conservative.

But there's plenty of places in this country where it would be pretty tough to be even a little androgynous.

Case in point: [link] Michelle Bachmann's Congressional district, where teen suicides are through the roof because the schools refuse to even have a policy defending LGBT kids from bullying. Note: that's a horrifying article--don't read it if you're depressed.

No negative impact to my professional or social standing.

Yeah--because other days you wear a skirt and corset. Most of my friends who wear a tie and cufflinks every day, but aren't male (or haven't transitioned enough to pass as male) DO get shit for it. Not always obvious, and not always out loud (though sometimes it is!), but there's definitely shit.

That's like trying to teach a dog to lay off the chicken bones. They're always gonna wanna.

This, exactly. I spend a lot of time working on keeping her focused. And it's worth it for me to do that, so far. But if I take my eye off the ball things start cropping up and I can't have this kind of turmoil going on around us.

I don't know if it has been posted, but Komen has reinstated its grant to PP and apologized.

I will say this about the Pink Ribbon stuff: Like msbelle, I love me a pink kitchen. Before Kristen moved in, my kitchen was pink and I was saving for a custom-made pink diner booth. Kristen's not such a big fan, so now the kitchen is red.

The Komen pink stuff made it way easier to accessorize, at least?

I'm a big fan of sparkly pink girly stuff. I love pink. And like Jesse, I'm often disturbed by the crap that the Jolie-Pitt kid gets about the drag. That kid is freakin' adorable in her short haircut and sweater vests. I'm sort of glad that they're so whatever about it, it's kind of inspiring in that it's a good example.

But can a guy in your office (or in a more structured corporate environment) wear a pink shirt and some lip gloss and earrings with his suit?

I think it's overstated because women are 50% of the population, and we don't have it that badly. Guys can wear pink shirts here, and do (I've had guys covet my pink shirts without shame), and although I hope to never see it, it was explicitly called out that capri pants were okay for both genders.

In a workplace too conservative for corsets.

because other days you wear a skirt and corset

Nope. Many women here never wear skirts or heels and don't wear any makeup or jewelry. More than one is straight up (so to speak) short haired and always androgynously dressed (unfitted slacks, polo shirts, etc). I'm girly up in here--the boundaries of drag are not being pushed by me. Other women here got that.

there's plenty of places in this country where it would be pretty tough to be even a little androgynous

What counts as even a little androgynous? No makeup or chick jewelry? Jeans and sneaks and loose gender-neutral tops?

I think it's because some fans of Brad and Angelina have this sense that when Shiloh was born, they got a new toy. And that she has some kind of dynastic duty to be the world's prettiest princess. I think that's why people make such a deal out of Clooney not marrying and/or knocking up the babe du jour--they're not sad for him, they want a moppet to play with.

When I was a kid I wanted an Erector set. Fat chance. I did get the chemistry set.

I wanted both. I got neither. I'm still bitter.

I have never been a fan of the Komen people, and since the breast cancer, I have come to hate them a little more every year. For one, there's a lot of what has been termed "pink washing" out there. Many of the companies that paint everything pink in October make a single donation that is not linked to how many pink mixers or pink guns people buy.

The ugly truth is that poor women have a much higher risk of dying of breast cancer than women who have the money or insurance to be able to afford good medical care. While there are controversies about mammograms, they are a big part of the increase in early diagnoses, and an early diagnosis means a less physically damaging treatment and a much higher probability of preventing recurrence.

Research is all very well, but it's aimed at saving women in the future. Screening and treatment for women who can't afford it saves lives now.

Also, if you look at the numbers, you'll see that more of Komen's budget goes to "awareness" than research. Awareness is a fuzzy term that can be interpreted as "getting more companies to give us money so they can make pink things."

OMG!

I'm calling my bank to report my lost CC and they want my account number - for the cc. . . which I don't have because I' ve lost the damned card.

Jeans and sneaks and loose gender-neutral tops?

For those middle-schoolers? Yup. Fat girls who dressed in sweatshirts got thrown into garbage cans and bullied into cutting and suicide attempts.

I'm calling my bank to report my lost CC and they want my account number - for the cc. . . which I don't have because I' ve lost the damned card.

Do you have an online banking account you can check?