[Jessica Leigh]

Hello all,

I came upon this tidbit in the Sunday paper.

"Does the Mask Govern the Mind?: Effects of Arbitary Gender Representationnon Quantitative Task Performance in Avatar Represented Virtual Group, Lee, J.E. et al.

In summary, participants in the study who were arbitrarily represented as a male avatar in a computer based experiment showed stronger arithmetic performance against female avatars regardless of actual gender.

The experiment is based on previous psych studies that show negative stereotypes (girls are bad at math and science) can be self-fulfilling. The phenomenon is called "stereotype threat." In competition people can gain an advantage or boost in performance simply by being aware of any negative stereotypes attached to the rival, which is called "stereotype lift."

Since many of us have chosen female avatars I wonder how that fits in with our group?

I read many of the positive effects of PM brain rewiring are also stereotypes associated with women. And could that be part of the phenomenon called "stereotype lift"?

[GoneGirl]

No question about it. Yes!

Clara

[GoneGirl]

I've noticed that my own behaviors have changed not just because of the so called "brain rewiring" that PM causes, but also because having acknowledged the female component of my gender identity, I have a tendency to want to validate it. It's not enough just to accept my feminine leanings with a shrug, and let it be. I want to project that side of me, and seek a certain amount of positive feedback. To do that, I will often behave in ways that I think exemplify that aspect of my psyche, both behaviorally (cross dressing, using feminine verbalisms), and psychologically (listening, feeling, caring).

I know that PM has had a physical effect on me -- breast growth, loss of male sex drive, reduced anxiety, and modest feminizing effects on my appearance, but the behavioral changes are in many ways much more significant. If I stopped taking PM for good, would these behavioral changes reverse course? Would it mean rejecting my feminine side and shunning feminine mannerisms? Would I then want to validate my return to the masculine?

I'm not about to do the experiment. I wonder if anyone has.

Clara

[Marina Kits]

So, if I understand what you and this article are saying Jessica, we may be doing and "experiencing" things BECAUSE, in our minds, we want to do and experience all things feminine, correct? This might rub some people here the wrong way but I think I've seen hundreds of examples of this in the year I've been frequenting this forum. A classic example that makes me roll my eyes every time is, "I've been taking PM for 3 DAYS and... and... and... and my FINGERNAILS are now stronger" Really? Last time I looked, my fingernails took months to grow out from their point of making to the clipping edge. Furthermore, do women really have stronger fingernails? Mine are pretty tough, I even use them as screwdrivers in a pinch. Perhaps many more of us are guilty of trying a little too hard to portray feminine attributes, vocabulary and emotional responses. I'm not going to name specifics because I will surely offend some if not most by doing so.

I myself find the suggestions of this article quite confusing along with the discussions about brain rewiring. I am a little fearful that I might be doing things and "seeing" things in myself because I WANT them to be there but for that reason, I am very guarded against expressing those subjective antics. Like Clara, I have no doubt that I have indeed suppressed my male sex drive and am no long compelled to look at porn or masturbate any more (3 months free with virtually no effort to prove it). I have certainly witnessed SOME reshaping of my chest and I find myself much less irritable than before NBE. Aside from that, any changes I think I see like being more emotional, softer skin, weaker muscles, facial changes, willingness to hug, words I use, political persuasion, responses to situations or other behaviors ...or stronger nails, remain in the "I'm not so sure" category and therefore, I try to keep pretty close wraps on all of them for fear of doing what the article Jessica mentioned suggests.

In light of this topic, I must say, I'm a little bit proud of myself for using a selfie as my avatar (not implying anything negative for those of you who use a feminine avatar). I am who I am. I don't feel or try to act feminine but I don't feel or try to act masculine either. It would actually be nice to feel one way or the other but such is my plight.

[Samantha Rogers]

Wise and thoughtful words, Kari Leigh. And there is a lot to think about in this concept. The self fulfilling prophesy?

- "Perhaps many more of us are guilty of trying a little too hard to portray feminine attributes, vocabulary and emotional responses. I'm not going to name specifics because I will surely offend some if not most by doing so."-

-- Ooooh, ouch! Yes, most likely ... mea culpa... not going to worry about it though.

I can say, over the last 3-4 years I have noticed far more than some physical reshaping due to all the herbs. But nothing drastic beyond larger breasts and some redefining of my waist. Even then, diet alone could have produced some of that. And I certainly agree to also cringing slightly when newer members report startlingly fast results.
But on the emotional side it is without question to me that my hide has softened. I cry from emotional stimulation now so easily. I almost embarrass myself. I admit I was always somewhat of a soft touch, but this is way beyond that.
I think I am more empathetic toward others now, but still... even that could be projection quite easily.
Sigh...
In the end, I am left wondering if the question is of more than academic interest.
In the end, if we are moving toward where we want to be, and as a result, making progress toward what brings us peace and happiness, does it matter whether the engine of that movement is real or imaginary? In this particular journey, does the means matter? or only the end?
So, there is an academic question to answer an academic question.
And you, know... I have almost posted a selfie as my avatar a gazillion times. And I would... What holds me back is simple prudence. Though my wife now knows, the rest of my family and friends do not. Should someone I know stumble across this site and recognize... well, it would cause problems. I could deal with that for myself, but I would not want, say my teenaged daughter to go through that. Sigh...
If its not one thing its your mother...

[SarahSchilling]

In the end, I am left wondering if the question is of more than academic interest.
In the end, if we are moving toward where we want to be, and as a result, making progress toward what brings us peace and happiness, does it matter whether the engine of that movement is real or imaginary? In this particular journey, does the means matter? or only the end?

It's not. Lately, I find myself disinterested in many of the threads I previously would find fascinating. Now, I just miss the fashion show lmao.

Is it just me subconsciously trying to be "feminine"(which is really just an accepted sterotype, a caricature of what women are supposed to be)? I don't think so, because the psychological "means" of why people act the way they do legitimately bore me now. Even if my preference to less abstract topics was driven by my own subconscious desires, does it really become any less valid?

I think not. Now go post some more cute outfits, you buncha eggheads!

lol

[Samantha Rogers]

In the end, I am left wondering if the question is of more than academic interest.
In the end, if we are moving toward where we want to be, and as a result, making progress toward what brings us peace and happiness, does it matter whether the engine of that movement is real or imaginary? In this particular journey, does the means matter? or only the end?

It's not. Lately, I find myself disinterested in many of the threads I previously would find fascinating. Now, I just miss the fashion show lmao.

Is it just me subconsciously trying to be feminine? I really don't think so, because the psychological "means" of why people act the way they do legitimately bore me now. Even if my preference to less abstract topics was driven by my own subconscious desires, does it really become any less valid?

I think not. Now go post some more cute outfits, you buncha eggheads!

lol

Love you, Sis! Always have and always will.
Leave it you to bring us back to Earth...tee hee. I missed your wit lately.
I think I might have a couple of pics left ... I will post something in the fashion page later...

[SarahSchilling]

Love you, Sis! Always have and always will.
Leave it you to bring us back to Earth...tee hee. I missed your wit lately.
I think I might have a couple of pics left ... I will post something in the fashion page later...

Good. I don't post as much basically because I'd just be deflating what most probably find interesting threads. You may like me doing so....but I doubt anyone else does.

[Samantha Rogers]

You are always good with me, sweetheart. You ought to know by now that you are my favorite friend here.
(no offense to everyone else...love all of you! But Sarah is my kid sister, you know)

[GoneGirl]

I want to expand on parts of what Sammie and Sarah wrote. And I'm sorry, Sarah, for being a little abstract in my comments. I guess I do tend to be an egghead.

I find it very hard to attribute motives to why people act the way they do. Certainly, people think and act according to what they value. Everyone tends to find role models that they try to emulate. A stereotype is nothing more than a template for how to think, behave, and judge others according to some set of standards, good or bad. In the end, unless coerced, we all act the way we act because we are the way we are.

Very few men come here to learn how to grow breasts if they are comfortable in their male skin. Those of us who are not, but have suppressed our feminine nature all our lives are really at a loss to know how to look and act more feminine from instinct. I dare say even girls have to learn how to be girls according to the template that the culture has established.

We look for models of feminine behavior to emulate. Our perceptions of femininity are surely distorted looking through the eyes of a male, but we do the best we can. At the outset, we miss the mark badly, focusing on the most visible attributes of our stereotypical ideal woman. In time, we come to see what is real and permanent. It's a gradual process.

I have to laugh at myself with all the attention I'm giving to forcing my testosterone sculpted face and body into an image of femininity that is impossible for me to achieve. Yet my very feminine wife will say things like, "Wow! You look better than I have for years." She's just being kind, right? Probably. But, for me, at this moment, a great figure, beautiful clothes, and a total makeover is my template for being a woman. That's my model of femininity despite finding few woman that measure up to that stereotype in daily life. So am I a misguided fool? Am I just a horny male with a boob fetish?

Many will enroll in BreastNexus college with dreams that are based on a distorted view of what being feminine is about. Many will become disillusioned and drop out when the fog clears. Those that continue on will do so because whatever their concept of femininity is, they found value in its realization -- its expression -- in their lives. Who can judge whether one person's stereotype is better or worse than another's.

Everyone here should be given an equal measure of respect as to their motives, acceptance of their methods, and all the encouragement they need to achieve whatever goal they set for themselves.

Hugs to all,

Clara