For many CD's crossdressing means much more than wearing female clothing. It also involves acquiring (or imitating) more complex feminine attributes and behaviors - including posture, mannerisms, and speech patterns. Acquiring such skills can bring great personal satisfaction but is also necessary for CDs who want to avoid attracting too much attention while crossdressed in public.

When we first encounter someone, visual clues are used to identify their important characteristics - including gender, Such determinations are usually made without any conscious effort, rapidly (with a glance), and at considerable distance. If we have difficulty making a subconscious determination of gender, we may "decide" to examine the person more closely. However, once we have categorized someone, we resist changing their assigned gender. If the person is unknown and unthreatening, we also tend to simply "ignore" them - making it unlikely that we will ever question their initial gender assignment. For CDs who want to "pass", first impressions are critical! The CD will usually succeed if he can avoid causing others to consciously assess their gender

Why is the way we walk so important?

Body movements and posture are long distance visual clues to gender. For this reason, a female walking style is at least as important as unobtrusive clothing in allowing the CD to go unnoticed in public. For a woman with otherwise feminine characteristics, a masculine walk may not arouse suspicion. However, that same walk could be an immediate giveaway for a CD with other masculine features that are also obvious at a distance (such as extreme height or large stature).

Well then, how does a man learn to walk like a woman?

It only takes a few minutes of people watching" to see that there are almost as many styles of walking as there are people. It also becomes obvious there is a great deal of overlap between men and women. However, there are patterns of movement that most of us would recognize as masculine or feminine. The initial goal for the CD is to minimize the obviously masculine body movements while maintaining good posture. The gender illusion can then be refined by incorporating more feminine arm, hand, and hip movements. It is true that some differences in walking style reflect sex-related differences in pelvic anatomy, torso and body extremity length, etc. However, with practice most males can achieve an entirely female - or at least non-masculine - walking style.

Enough intellectualizing and psychobabble! How do I do it?

OK, OK! But before beginning you'll need to find a good location to practice. A long hallway with a full length mirror is ideal. Eventually, you'll also want to solicit constructive criticisms from a "sister" or other sympathetic individuals.

It will be easier if you practice in female clothing - at least wear a good pair of shoes and a skirt. Low 1 to 2 inch heels will help keep your center of gravity shifted forward while assuring stability. They are also just high enough to help remind you that you're crossdressed. Unless you are very skilled and dressed up for an evening on the town - avoid very high or stiletto heels like the plague. We all love them and they do make your legs look great - but can be a dead giveaway! Uncomfortable shoes can also make you look uncomfortable - the last thing you want if you're trying to avoid being noticed.

Beginning Recommendations

Don't:
1) Slouch,
2) Walk Fast,
3) Take long steps,
4) Hold your arms stiffly at your sides.

Do:
1) Keep your back flat and shoulders relaxed, and your bottom tucked in - not pushed out (try to imagine that your body is suspended by a cable attached to the top of your head),
2) Keep your chin up (confident, proud, and ready to greet the world around you),
3) Walk slowly (unless late or under attack),
4) Take fairly short steps - usually less than a foot length,
5) Keep your thighs and knees close together and place one foot in front of the other,
6) Keep your feet fairly parallel (avoid having your feet angle outward),
7) Shift your weight slightly forward, and onto the balls of your feet - don't walk flat footed, but don't tip toe,
8) Keep your upper arms close to your body, but allow them to swing freely from front to back. Keep your elbows and wrists fairly relaxed.

Refining Your Walking Style

Relaxed and interesting arm and hand movements are quite important - don't be afraid to touch your hair, fondle your necklace,. or adjust an earring or bracelet. Also, watch how women carry their purses.

Learning to move your hips in a feminine way can be quite difficult. Exaggerated hip movements are more likely to cause unwanted attention than enhance the transgender illusion. However, one technique is to allow your hip to lead slightly as the weight is transferred from your front foot - this gives a slight sway about the knees (similar to the way weight is shifted during skiing). Another approach is to simply allow your upper body to turn gently from side to side at the waist. Remember - be subtle!!

As with all skills, the secret to success is practice, practice, practice! Eventual results will be worth the effort! By the way, when you do 90 out for a stroll -

above all else - relax and enjoy yourself!