Transvestia

Others, however, go beyond special items to full costume, complete with make-up, jewelry, wig, --the works, Again a plateau appears. Many a TV dresses completely (others may wear complete clothing but no make-up or hair and this condition is really just an extension of the fetishistic stage) and enjoys pre- senting "herself" to the mirror to be viewed by him- self. Our psychiatric friends are wont to term tais "narcissism" though as pointed out by one of our number--Peggie val addair, this is a misnomer be- cause in the greek myth concerning Narcissus, the youth gazed into a still pond to admire HIMSELF. Here the TV looks in the mirror as himself but sees not himself but herself. Animus viewing Anima, to use Jung's terms. Since it is a woman who appears in the mirror it follows that she partakes of all those qualities which the particular "he" who is viewing ner tends to look for, enjoy and appreciate in women. Thus the "she " in the mirror becomes all the good things that women represent to the male who is look- ing at her. He never sees the slut the slob or the scullery maid side of womanhood only the good, beautiful, virtous, loving, gentle. nurturing, nelp- ful, giving, kindly aspect. In snort since ne knows that the person he is viewing is in actuality him- self he has by the device of clothing, makeup, jewelry and nairdo magically accuired these good things as a part of himself.

Since many of the cualities that a given male imputes and projects onto women are cualities that are culturally forbidden to him as inappropriate to the masculine image he is supposed to maintain, it naturally is a source of satisfaction to be able to partake and express these rualities in an appropriate way. Although he may have guilt feeling for doing this "ridiculous posturing" after it is all over, while it is going on there is no guilt about express- ing these characterístics in femmedress while there would be great guilt about acting them out while in customary masculine attire. The culturally deter- mined ideas of self respect and self image prevent