Interesting points raised, Christopher. I've never heard it (skirt-wearing) being regarded as a 'behaviour' issue, before, as opposed to say, cross-dressing. Some contributers here are fortunate to have the full support of family/friends - do they (the family,etc.) regard (our) Kilt/skirt-wearing as an 'addiction' or (presumed abnormal?) behaviour?
It is interesting to ponder some of these issues. I don't have them clear in my mind yet, so I am just feeling my way forward.
In respect of cross dressers, I would not characterise their skirt wearing as a "behaviour" issues or an addiction, because for cross dressers, wearing feminine clothes is an expression of WHAT they are - i.e. the clothes are used to define themselves by demonstrating the feminine aspect of their character.
Men in skirts on the other hand are not using clothes to define themselves - apart from in the sense of fashion freedom. That's my take anyway. I don't define myself as a man in a skirt. I'm simply a man - and I choose to wear a skirt sometimes.
How family or friends relate to a man who wears skirts would, I believe, have more to do with the relationship between the people concerned, rather than any issues concerning the actual wearing of skirts.
I'm also intrigued by the notion that wearing a skirt could affect one's mental ability to deal with stress in some way.
That's slightly the wrong way round, I think. Wearing a skirt does not affect our mental ability. It's more the case that wearing a skirt could be a way to release inner tension. Of course, there are loads of other ways of releasing this sort of tension - meditating, going for a walk, kicking the cat . . etc. - so wearing a skirt is just one way of chilling out.
I don't know why wearing a skirt should have this effect, but several posters here have said that skirting makes them feel calmer - and that is my own experience too.
It's probably a zen thing.
I don't identify with 'addiction' - just plain 'comfort'.
I doubt if most guys who wear skirts could relate to the addiction aspect of this. But then, most people who drink alcohol do not get addicted to it - but some people do. The key thing of any addiction, whether it is to a chemical like alcohol, cocaine or heroin - or to a behaviour like gambling, shopping, eating, exercise etc. - is that it (the chemical or behaviour) changes the way that people feel (it makes them feel good).
Now - if wearing a skirt can change the way that people feel (i.e. make them feel good or make them feel calm), then there is the potential that some people may become addicted to skirt wearing - in the sense that they come to rely upon wearing a skirt in order to get "good feelings" that are otherwise missing from their lives.
I talk too much - don't I? :rolleyes:
