Do you think most women can "sense" that a man dressed in drag is really a man and not a women, faster than most men can?
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Val123 (
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December 26th, 2009
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I can usually tell in an instant that I’m looking at a man dressed in drag, and not an actuall woman. I’ll tell my husband, and he always has to look more carefully, and it seems to dawn on him a little slower. Is that the norm?
I can usually tell in one glance at the guy’s face that it’s not a woman, but sometimes their bone structure can be fine enough that I may not realize it’s a man until I get a glimpse of their arms, legs or hands. The way the muscles are displayed in a man are somehow different than the way they are displayed in a woman, even if the woman works out…I can’t put my finger on it. But yes. I can tell before my husband can. How ‘bout ya’ll?
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19 Answers
I can tell faster as well. I think it has to do with women generally closely observing other women for most of our lives. What is she wearing? How does she do her make-up? Why did she think that hair color works for her?
Hubbs, like most men, notice the whole package that says ‘woman’ while most women notice the details and so are more likely to pick up on any discrepancy.
@gemiwing Good thoughts. I think women in general, for what ever reason, are more prone to pick up on unspoken social cues. For example, when on of my kids or my SO walks into a room, I can tell instantly that “something is wrong.” Not so my husband or my son. My girls can, though. I wonder what purpose that has served throughout human history?
I think we may be able to have a slight advantage being most women are geared by nature to suss out males.
@hungryhungryhortence “suss out”! That’s great! I haven’t heard that term in ages. I’m going to go find out where that came from!
Like, um, we’re geared by nature to notice subtle differences that would speak to the character of a man? Whereas men aren’t as concerned about character as they are about anything overtly sexual?
The adam’s apple is a dead giveaway.
It took me a while to catch on to Anne Coulter.
@Val123: I was thinking something more primitive, maybe pheremones to tip us off to who we can breed with?
@hungryhungryhortence Oh! Another good thought…BUT, wouldn’t men have the same “need” to register certain pheromones emanating from fertile women?
@Val123: I’m no scientist and his may come off sexist but I believe females are given more cues to identify males because females determine which are the best quality breeding stock. Men don’t determine breed quality so much as act as willing contributors.
I can look at some of the Filipino transvestites all day, and not realize they are men.
I showed my daughter the photos, and she didn’t catch on either, and she is quite good at this kind of thing.
I think for men it may be the triumph of hope over experience.
I dunno, but there was this time at a club down in old SoHo…
Well I’m not the world’s most physical guy…
From a biological stand point, it makes sense. Since women generally need to be protected during pregnancy, labor and right after birth, we have to be able to tell who our competition is so the father of our children won’t leave us for greener pastures.
On a side note, I can also generally tell when a woman is pregnant long before she shows as can a number of other females I know. However, I have never met a man who can tell when a woman is pregnant before she is showing.
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