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VIRGIN VIEWS By Virginia

I'd like to make a few comments regarding guilt. feelings in relation to Transvestism.

Every male in America suffers from what I like to call "The Great American Male Neurosis." It is great because it is practically universal; American because it is much more widespread in this country than abroad; Male because it only affects men; and Neurosis because it is a potent source of fear, guilt, frustration, shame and mental disturbance. Now what is it that I have given such an unwieldy name to?

At some point early in life most little boys will play with dolls. If very young this is expected, but if it persists a little longer than Daddy, elder brother or some other adult male (who themselves suffer from this same neurosis) thinks it should, the young male will be told that "boys dont play with dolls, they are for girls". The word "girls" is often spoken in such a way that the boy gets the impression that there is something shameful about girls and that it is below him as a male to be associated with the same activities.

Later on he may have other experiences in the same vein. One little boy of 3 was taken by his mother into a department store to buy some underwear. At the child- ren's counter there were on display some white cotton pants and some pink, rayon, lace-trimmed panties. three year old has no very well organized ideas about the differences between the sexes and what is considered

Now a

appropriate to each. Here was the clothing section and 2 kinds to choose from. Which do you think he reached for? Which would almost all young males (and females) reach for under similar circumstances, The pink rayon ones of course. And why? Because color is more attrac- tive than white, because trimmings are more interesting than plainness, and because rayon is softer than rayon and nicer feeling. So what happened? His mother said something to the effect of, "Oh, no Billy, those are little girl's panties, you wouldn't want to wear girl's