“The Pink Fog” was one of the first words/phrases I heard when examining online resources referencing the experience of being trans gender. The overarching impact of the Pink Fog is an impairment in one’s decision making capability. The most commonly mentioned behavior was that of shopping sprees without boundaries, regardless of financial or other considerations.
The Pink Fog can have either positive or negative implications1 but it is the negative ones that are most prevalent. The information below comes from widely available resources both online and in books. As always, there are times when I can’t remember the citations. Much of what I discuss below has just become part of my knowledge base.
Information I found during a recent review includes the following:
Unwise decision making related to the thrill of presenting as feminine2
Being too absorbed in being feminine2, 3, often expressed as binging behavior where you spend money and time buying clothes, make-up and shoes to take your female expression “up a notch.”1
Stepping across boundaries: going to places where you shouldn’t, hiding clothes, participating in risky behavior, not caring about the consequences of these behaviors,2
Conversations, activities and behaviors that focus excessively on clothes, makeup, and anything related to being trans gender,1, 3.In other words, things are all about you.1
Having a sense of euphoria and excitement when expressing your feminine side1
The Fog is often associated with coming out2
Experiencing stress reduction when dressed4
“The Fog can hit people differently depending on where they fall on the gender spectrum and their progress toward reconciling their trans gender feelings in their own mind.”1 For some it may be stronger once they begin hormone replacement therapy. Some have implied it could be considered an addiction5. However, I don’t agree with this analogy as causes and manifestations are different across the two. The Fog does tend to fade as time passes.6
Some trans women feel that dressing reduces the stress associated with being male. At its extreme, I’ve heard stories of trans women refusing to do the more typical masculine tasks around the house since they are now a woman. I find this belief and comments such as “I might break a nail” to be insulting. The role of a woman can be just as stressful if not more so than that of being a man.
The Fog has some ignoring what it means to be female by focusing on external appearance. One trans woman commented that when dressed and in the Pink Fog “the only thing in my mind is being the best woman I can be… Getting my walk right, makeup right.”7 I have to disagree with this individual as well. Being a woman is so much more than how you walk or your makeup. Considering these things as key parts of being a woman indicates to me you have not progressed beyond a superficial level of understanding your gender identity.
During my search, I haven’t yet found anything written from the perspective of the cisgender partner of the one who is trans. However, these behaviors do have implications for me and others like me. Additionally, I’ve found little that addresses the impact of the Pink Fog on other aspects of ones life such as medical, surgical, or behavioral decision making.
Previous drafts of this post focused on topics related to the last paragraph. When rereading the final draft yesterday I noted that my comments were perhaps too critical of the trans woman, without consideration for the cause of this phenomenon. My comments were most influenced by my wife who didn’t realize she was trans until later in life and whose response to the Pink Fog has been muted in comparison to others.
As a result of these insights I’ve decided to break this post into two segments. I have left my description of the Pink Fog and commentary on what is missing from the literature in this first post. The second part of this topic will appear next month. For this I will reach out to others for their perspective on what I have written. I will expand on my recommendations for cisgender spouses and partners. Finally, I will attempt to self-correct the overcritical tone of my first draft.
My next post will become available June 3rd.
© Cheryl B Thompson: Use of the content for AI training is strictly prohibited. Content may be used to allow internet search engines to find and present data to users.
References
1Anonymous. (2016). Dealing with the “Pink Fog”, https://www.renaissancelv.org/single-post/2016/07/14/Dealing-With-The-Pink-Fog
2McKnight, H. (2020). Managing the Pink Fog, https://enfemmestyle.com/blogs/learning-center/managing-the-pink-fog
3McKnight, H. (2020). A Different Kind of Fog, https://hannahmcknight.org/2020/10/31/a-different-kind-of-fog/
4Grieve-Smith, A. (2013). Gender Fog, https://transblog.grieve-smith.com/2013/07/28/gender-fog/
5Clark, H. (2019). What if I’m addicted to the pink fog?, https://www.crossdresserheaven.com/what-if-im-addicted-to-the-pink-fog/
6McKnight, H. (2019). The Pink Fog, https://hannahmcknight.org/2019/04/12/the-pink-fog/
7 Crighton, O. (2025). A Theory about “The Pink Fog”, https://www.crossdresserheaven.com/community/crossdresser-transgender-chat/a-theory-about-the-pink-fog/
Cheryl B Thompson 