there is much beauty to admire in the mirror. (While there are those who cross dress in the course of other pleasures of a masochistic nature, this type of motivat- ion is out of the field of our consideration.) So all the usual explanations fail to hold up as I have pointed out in other editorials. So what is involved?
Well, it seems to me that the TV doesn't so much seek femininity as he strives to temporarily "get lost" from masculinity. I was walking through one of the big hotels the other day and observed all the shops display- ing all the variety of women's clothing, jewelry and accessories. Wild designs, wierd shapes, infinite var- ieties of style, color, purpose, etc., and the thought occured to me, "I wonder if one of the things that app- eals to us in our TVism is the opportunity to share for in the almost infinite variety of self expression avail- able to women. Perhaps the words capriciousness, var- iety and non-conformity best express what I mean. They are in such contrast to what society expects of the male-- he is supposed to be constant, enduring, steadfast, con- servative in personal expression and plain. So his clothing is heavy, rough, course, simple and plain to be consistant with these traits.
If a woman wishes she can wear this type of cloth- ing too, but when it befits her to be seductive and soft, she wears silks, satins, jersey and bright colors. If she just wants to be different or careless, or to attract attention she puts on some outlandish hat or some new kind of garb and in effect says, "the heck with you, world, thus partially escaping from her cares and prob- lems.
The male, on the other hand, goes on from day to day, year to year and almost generation to generation without recourse to this subtle way of getting away from himself. I wonder if we TVs don't subconsciously resent this masculine straightjacket we are in and find release in the ability to enter a world of so much great- er freedom of personal expression. When a TV says he finds relaxation in dressing I don't think this is quite the right word. A man relaxes in the proper sense of the word when he reads a good book, plays golf or lies
85.