Changing gender... not what you think...
 

If you had the ability to change your gender at will instantly when ever you wanted.... would you... and if would.. how would you use it... please try not to get too raunchy..

Well, the only non-raunchy idea I can think of at the moment ( 1 vs. 99999+ ) is to choose whatever line is smallest (or whatever bathroom is cleanest) when out at bars and needing to hit the head. At the bar I visit (the only one in the area with Guinness on tap), the men's is an absolute pigsty, shit stains everywhere, urine, vomit, etc. - every time I go in there.

The women's can't possibly be as bad - so I'd flip the switch to woman, use the toilet, and then back to the good old me.

That what you're looking for? :)

I can imagine sexual identity issues are very difficult, especially if one "feels like" their gender changes from time to time, maybe even in the same breath. I'm sure it's also quite confusing to others who see the subject from their outside perspective, not knowing if the person is really one sex, or the other (or both?).

Regardless, picking one gender and sticking with it is usually best.

Hmm..I would change into a girl and cry my way out of a ticket everytime the cop pulls me over for speeding and driving wrecklessly. My reason would be that I'm not feeling so fresh. :D

Use the feminine charms to get a free Guinness before sitching back.

I'd pose as a new girl and find a spot within my group of friends. Then, I could find out what the girls I hang out with really think of me. And if they think I'm cute, of course.

You're thinking much clearer than I - you're absolutely right.

I must say I'd love to find out what it's like to have sex with a woman as a man. I sometimes have dreams where I have a penis, and inevitably end up masturbaing in said dream.

I would also like to have anal sex with Martel, both giving and recieving, as a man, just to find out what it would be like, tho I think he'd not go for it if I was a man.... If he could change to be a girl then that would be fun...

I've also had a few dreams where I had a penis, and in those dreams sex felt very different, and far more powerful than in my reality. Then again dreams always do anyway.

I love being a woman, and wouldn't change it for anything. But it would be interesting to find out what sex feels like as a man.

......uh.......Good....really, really good....heh


I would switch for a week, find out the hidden psycology of womanhood....and then write a book/Manual for guys to keep them from making the endless string of mistakes we inevitably blunder into.

I would be so damn rich......

wowo ... you think it will only take a week? I've been workin on that a while.. and i could sell a book but don't think it would help any :p

If I was to switch gender ... i think my main fascination would be how it feels not having boobs. I am well endowed ... although I don't need to be a guy to understand the fascination and fun they can bring :D

Everytime I was away from a decent toilet and needed to pee. It must be neat to be able to pee standing up. Also, in the summertime it would be nice to be able to walk around bare chested without attracting too much attention.
Whenever I needed a bit of extra strength. In spite of me being a manual labourer and having pretty impressive arm muscles, my brother who doesn't do *anything* straining is still stronger than me. So male Pip would be pretty strong I think.

Oh, and it would be great to be able to walk home alone in the middle of the night without having to worry about getting raped. Or be able to take a leasurly walk in the woods without an escort.

And I bet I would be devilishly handsome with sideburns! One of the things I am envious of is men's ability to change their appearance by growing a beard or moustache. I'd try that.

Sure, I'd pull a Tiresias, any time.

Google it.

Sure, at least for long enough to get preferential treatment for admission to graduate school.

I'd love to be a man for one day, just so I could have my libido back.

I'd change over and have enough sex to figure out the ultimate way to please a woman. When I changed back I'd be unstoppable. Some insight into how the female mind works would be nice, too.

edit: on second thought, it would be more of a "Black Like Me" experience, as I wouldn't have the 22 years of upbringing as a female that a real woman would, and I wouldn't learn shit past what I heard from other women.

I would change every now and then, just to switch things up. I bet it would be useful to better understand women as well.

I might be tempted, just to see what it's like, if only for a very short time, but I have it on good authority that being male isn't really all that great :).

John Varley's nine worlds society is built, among other things, on the concept of being able to change sex cheaply and easily. It leads to a society with a bunch of interesting characteristics:

There is essentially no sexism.
Gender distinctions remain.
People tend to consciously adopt the traditional manner of presentation and mannerisms for their chosen sex, to the point that, when changing sex, most people go overboard.

At first, the majority of those changing sex were male-to-female (just as in our reality), and would do so permanently, but as it became accepted, a larger and larger proportion of the population began to do it, and it became normal for a person to change sex several times during a lifetime to fit their mood, as a means of expression. Eventually it becomes the norm, with only a small portion of the population staying one sex permanently.

This isn't the only aspect of the society, and it's only the central point of two or three stories, but it creates a background that adds flavor to just about every story.

Steel Beach is the best introduction to the world, involves a sex-change for the main character, and a lot of commentary on the differences between the sexes.

I do find it a little interesting that, though the sex changes tend to go both ways equally, there are more stories looking at male to female than the opposite. Or maybe not. There are a number of male sci-fi writers who like to explore the male-to-female sex change theme, while female to male tends not to get the same focus. Female sci-fi writers tend to be more likely to make their sexually non-traditional women lesbians rather than transsexuals. I think that says something about how men and women think differently.

I tend to think it's unlikely that things would progress to the point they do in his world, but he's such a good writer that it's convincing when you're reading it.

Gilda

Gilda,
I agree that it MIGHT say something about how men and women think differently. However, i think it says more about who buys sci-fi. The same reason women in comix are the way they are.
(I tend to belive men and women have FAR more in common than not.)

I consider myself very in tune with most women, but I'd still be first in line to buy this one.

The only way I'd change is if my wife became or discovered that she was a lesbian. If that were to happen, I'd switch in a second.

Hmmmm... switch gender at any time? It'd be pretty difficult to not use a random power like that. I'd switch to a man any time I want to go running at night, or engage in other activities that many advise women not to do alone (backpacking, rock climbing, traveling, walking around the city at night, etc.) I'd be unstoppable. Especially if I could choose to have a different body type when I turned into a male. I'd be incredibly ripped and no one would want to mess with the big, tough me. :)

I've suddenly reaslised that at least 3 of my daily webcomic reads involve this very issue.

I think I'd use my sudden femaleness to surprise the living daylights out of everyone at my next unofficial high-school reunion. That and get a lot of free drinks.

Wow, if you could change gender at will, you'd be like a super hero ... GenderMan! or GenderWoman! .... well, I suppose you might need to get two logos made up, actually.

I would absolutely use this power, over and over and over again. I would love to be able change my gender like I change my socks.

There would all sorts of applications from the sexual to the practical.

How about GenderPerson? :p

I definitely, totally would. For perspective blah blah blah, but I'd mostly want to have some sex and enjoy a libido again (good point, LPM). And see how much gender bias there is in the world for real.

If I instantaneosly changed into a woman I'd probably spend at least a week staring at myself in the mirror.

No shit... playing with my boobies, staring into the mirror and enjoying the ability to multiple orgasm.

I'd wouldn't leave the house.

Too true Charlatan. :lol:

Seriously though, I wonder how our body insecurities would carry over? At what point does the novelty of my new breasts wear off and the distress over the parts that sag where they shouldn't begin?

Would these feelings be more acute because of a lifetime spent evaluationg women's attractiveness?

1) When I picture a female me, it is the hot, ideal me.
2) When the novelty wears off it's time to switch back to my male self...

So, does your hot, ideal you have a hot, ideal sister? ;)

Uhm.


Ah. Uhm. (Ben looks at his shoes. fidgets)

Well....



Nope. Sorry. Can't answer this one without being raunchy. If you want my opinion, please don't sensor me before I reply.

edit: For the record, it is possible that I would be the Ugliest woman in the world if I switched genders.

Oops. Second Ugliest. I just remembered Phredgreen and his cross-dressing pic that stared at me every time I visited the TFP for all those months!

Ranma. Chameleon. Skrull.

Gilda

Well, the thought of turning into a stocky, muscular 50-year-old woman -- my female counterpart -- doesn't actually bring any erotic fantasies to mind. I'd only take the deal if my wife could, too. Seeing sex from each other's side would be instructive to both of us.

Also, we could take turns being "the guy" or "the wife" in situations where one sex or another is expected to take the lead. It'd be instructive, and also easier on both of us. Like, when I didn't feel like negotiating with an automechanic, we'd switch genders and she'd do it without automatically being devalued for being a woman. Or when we were going to a women-oriented store that was dominated by particularly bitchy females, I'd take the lead -- because I'm impervious to the art of the indirect-but-vicious female putdown.

Oh yeah, and the restroom thing; going female for when you want a clean one, going male for when you want a quick piss without standing in line.

I am unable to see any reason that I would want to be a woman.

I just thought of one:

I would be able to post in The Ladies Lounge. That would be hot...

I hear that the Ladies on TFP dress up in Pajamas and have pillow fights in there, but it always progresses to lesbian orgies. Have I been given accurate information?





edit: Is that too raunchy?

Fresnelly say
"Seriously though, I wonder how our body insecurities would carry over? At what point does the novelty of my new breasts wear off and the distress over the parts that sag where they shouldn't begin?
Would these feelings be more acute because of a lifetime spent evaluationg women's attractiveness?"

I think they would be present, but not as acute. You spent your formative years as a guy playing baseball and building your confidence up, not as a girl reading teen magazines and being indoctrinated into the cult of insecurity that is womens marketing.

JustJess says
"And see how much gender bias there is in the world for real."
Alot i would guess.
I remember thinking how unfair it was that i made a dollar fifty more than my black female co-worker, just because I am a middle class white guy. (Same exact job. She even had more seniority.)

As for me, i would make a truely stunning UBER-HOT chick. I have the perfect body for it! (I have had atleast 2 g-fs tell me that. And when i actually started asking around, everyone thinks i should have been born a girl!) That does not mean i am a wimp. I just have a naturally slender build. (I would wear a dress size 4, prolly an A or a small B cup) I am also pretty strong, as i take my physique pretty seriously.
Also, when I change back and forth, am I the same girl every time? Cuz if i am someone different, that changes EVERYTHING!
How totally socially liberating. Yet at the same time it would kill any hope for a relationship, which is where some real understanding could come from. (If you get involved, you would have to stay a girl until the relationship ended, or they would be left feeling all abandoned, and stuff.)
I think i would prefer being the same girl everytime.

Here is something else i have always wondered about:
Genuinegirly said:
"I'd switch to a man any time I want to go running at night, or engage in other activities that many advise women not to do alone (backpacking, rock climbing, traveling, walking around the city at night, etc.)"
I would do all of these things as a girl for several reasons.
1) I have always wondered what are the odds of being attacked. I mean, there is alot of stats and stuff, but how reliable are they? Are they REAL, or just a cautionary tale?
2) How would it change the experience to run or w/e and always have to be ON ALERT watching for danger?
3) It would be a nice surprise for the attacker to try something foul, and then when he least expects it, turn back into my guy self, and *hurt* him! Although honestly i am pretty sure i could do just as much damage either way.

have ya read some of the threads in there, son? :lol:

You are allowed to read... and if you have something to contribute you can let a female moderator know and they can post on your behalf... I"m not quite sure HOT would be a word to describe some of the topics in there :)

I think the salary bias is absolutely there.. but women also get away with a lot more in the workplace then men do... I am sure most men would love to be able to use cramps or PMS or other (I'm betraying the 'sisterhood' here) lameass excuses that I've seen too many women use over the years.. Take a freakin Midol and get over it... How many men would be able to get away with crying in the work place? Again, I've seen too many women over the years pull that crap...

Though - I seriously wouldn't mind losing my temper and yelling at someone and NOT have it be blamed on PMS but rather the fact that I am ticked off as all get out... Yeah, when my temper kicks in - it'd be good to be a man.

Serpent:

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about breaking hearts when I change back... I would just have my wife do me with a strapon... :lol:

As for the concerns about men attacking... If you read through the women posting on this thread it is a common concern. It doesn't really matter what the stats say, what matters is what you feel. Very few women feel safe walking alone at night. It isn't that all of them have first hand experience with being attacked (although you might be surprised at how many have been date raped) rather it a trepedatious mind set that women have to live with...

Is it going to be this guy passing me? Is it going to be this guy following me? You have to be constantly on guard.

This doesn't even begin to adress the fact that many men are pigs and feel it is their right to ogle and comment on women's breasts, ass, etc. "Hey baby, I have something for you here!!! HarHarHar.

"...the fact that many men are pigs and feel it is their right to ogle and comment on women's breasts, ass, etc. "Hey baby, I have something for you here!!! HarHarHar."

It is my understanding that things are not as bad here in the US as it is abroad.
My sister-in-law traveled through europe last summer, and some of it was by her self. All of of it was with no man around.
She said in Italy and Spain, the men were constantly coming up to her on the street, yelling stuff, some of them started groping her and just being immature ass-hats. She also said that she never felt THREATENED.
This is as close to actual experience as i can get, and i realize it is anecdotal, but it is all i have to go on.
Any other experiences, ladies? How common/severe is this?