This was an interesting article that I read ages ago, a similar kind of experiment to the Channel 4 'Boy Meets Girl' programme. I kept it, and finally got round to transcribing it.....

From the Daily Mail Thursday Feb 16th 1995

TRUE LIFE TRADING PLACES
They changed sex for a week and changed their attitudes for a lifetime

Robin Williams did it brilliantly in Mrs Doubtfire. Dustin Hoffman Was convincing in Tootsie. But swapping gender is easy in the movies - getting away with it in real life is another thing. To find out if it could be done, actors Sheila McDevitt and Simon Brooking, who are also married to each other, took on the ultimate role playing challenge.

They were surprised. Though they've known each other for ten years and been married for five, Sheila and Simon uncovered aspects of their lives they could only have guessed at before.

The transformation began each morning when they donned padded body suits designed by American special effects artist Richard Tautkus.
Simon endured having his eyebrows waxed, and sheilas long hair was cut short. Then came the make-up. There was a danger, of course, that they might look like drag artists. But make-up artist Jim Crawford, who gave Sheila heavier eyebrows, chin stubble and a moustache, kept the alterations subtle.

This was only the beginning, however, as diaries they both kept show.

SIMON (alias Sheila)

Monday:

Getting dressed as a woman is complicated. It takes 45 minutes to shave my legs and I butchered the left one. I came out of the bathroom complaining about the blood, and Sheila said: 'should I act like you when I cut myself?' I felt a little sheepish.
It takes three gruelling hours to complete the transformation. When I see the finished effect, I start to believe that it is possible. Maybe I can pass for a woman! I've noticed during the weeks I spent preparing for the role that women smile more - and when I don't smile, my face looks to masculine.
I find out quickly that long nails make my hands useless. Never mind how difficult it is to put on tights, digging change out of my purse to buy a paper is almost impossible.

Tuesday:

We start getting ready early. Today it's a little easier. I try on a pair of conservative trousers and a white top. I look in the mirror and think ' Oh my God! I've become my mother!'

I put on my high heels and go to a department store to buy perfume. The woman behind the counter is gracious. ' Men love this scent,' she confides as she dabs some on my wrist. Her casual acceptance of me gives me more confidence to face the day.

A street trader tries to sell me something. When I say ' No thank you ' he replies ' Ooh sexy voice!' I feel angry that a simple exchange of remarks has to be turned into something sexual.

I take the train home during rush hour and it's packed. I worry about people brushing against me or grabbing me. My padding may not feel as realistic as it looks. A man sits next to me with his legs apart, crowding me even further.

At home, I think about the day and realise that, in some ways I'm playing a stereotypical passive female. I begin to wonder how much gender is shaped by the expectations of society (and in the restrictions of womens clothing) and how much is really intrinsic to men and women. Do women take smaller steps because they naturally have a less aggressive stride or because it's impossible to do anything else in heels and a skirt?

Wednesday.

Major fashion crisis! My outfit just doesn't look right. Also I have noticed men's eyes drifting towards my breasts and I don't feel comfortable unless I'm wearing a jacket to cover them. Finally I settle on my brown wrap-around skirt and check blazer. I realise that being a woman means that I am constantly being noticed and assessed.

As I stand outside a shop, waiting for a friend, an older man looks me up and down. He walks by once, twice and eyes me in a lecherous way. I feel uncomfortable and try to avoid looking at him. How does Sheila deal with this? I swear I'll be more careful about how I look at women in the future.

Thursday.

I have a lunch date in the city with my friend Isobel. I'm feeling great, until I face groups of businessmen roaming the streets. I suddenly become very worried. I wonder how all these macho men would react if they knew who I really am.

Friday.

I have discovered there are some things I can't do. I can't bring myself to use the ladies' toilets. What if someone calls the police?
In the evening, we decide to go to a club for late dinner and dancing. The place is packed. I feel very self conscious again, worried about someone getting too close to me. I notice suddenly that I expect Sheila to do everything for me. 'He's' getting my drinks, hanging up my coat. It's incredible how easy it is to slip into this role.
And I rather like it.

SHEILA (alias Simon)

Monday.

I'm waiting while my bodysuit has some final adjustments made to it, but I'm impatient to try out my new look. Once I'm ready I have to wait for Simon to finish dressing. How much easier it is to be a man.

No hair curling, no mascara. As a woman I always feel that I'm not pretty enough, skinny enough or firm enough. But here I am, a barrel chested chap and I feel powerful.

At the photoshoot for this story, the photographer keeps reminding me not to smile too much. It's difficult, I try to sit like a man, with my shoulders back and legs apart. I'm taking up space and it feels great.

I go to a fashionable bar with the make-up artist for a drink I order a beer and then panic- I need to go to the toilet. At first I can only see urinals in the men's lavatory. Thank god noone is using them. I find myself an empty cubicle.

Last week I'd promised my friend Suzy I'd go to a cocktail party with her tonight. I don't know anyone there but her, but I'm careful to lower my voice and watch the other men for clues about how to behave. It seems there's no question in anyones mind that I'm a man. As we all make small talk, I realise that I'm much more animated than the men around me. I nod my head and make more facial expressions than they do. I tone it down and try to act more like them.

Tuesday.

We plan to spend the morning together running errands. We worry that our roles will be harder when we're interacting in public but no-one pays any attention to us.
At the bank, we watch carefully for strange looks. Again no reaction. Then its off to lunch. When the food arrives, Simon is demure, picking at a salad. I take a huge bite of my chicken, in what I assume to be macho fashion and nearly choke.Is this how Simon normally does it? He always eats so fast.
In the street, I feel very protective of my husband in his feminine get-up. I've always loved Simon's eyes and with the false eyelashes they really stand out. He is so brave, how many men would have even wanted to attempt this? I'm falling in love all over again. Is there something not male, not female, just human that makes us love each other?

When we kiss good-bye 'she' is not very demonstrative, just a little peck. I wonder if Simon feels strange kissing a man. I certainly feel strange kissing a woman.
I have to drop some papers at the office where I work part-time as a computer programmer. My colleagues are fascinated by my disguise. The women wan to know everything about the project. The men start punching my shoulder as a joke. Soon, though, it becomes almost their natural behaviour
Simon drops in and one of the men looks 'her' over. He's very embarrassed when he finds out she's really a man - almost angry. I'm proud that he found her so attractive.

Later I decide to walk through the back streets, an area I normally avoid because the men who unload the trucks there always chat to women who walk by. I'm feeling smug that they won't say anything tonight, when suddenly I realise that I'm a prime candidate for mugging in my smart suit. I realise women aren't the only ones to feel vulnerable.

I change course and walk to a small pub where I'm meeting my friend Rick. He's amazed when he sees me, but soon starts treating me like one of the boys. He flirts with the barmaid, something I've never seen him do before. He obviously feels its OK to flirt in front of me as a man.

Wednesday.

Waiting for Simon to get ready drives me mad. Nothing looks right 'she' says, nothing goes together. I try to help, but my opinion doesn't matter. I'm wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. No matching, no accessorising, what a relief. We go to apply and, during the interval, I stand outside alone for a while. A woman rides by on a bike, smiles and looks me over. It was nice.

Thursday

I leave work early to meet Simon. I still feel very protective. "She" tries to walk on the outside of the pavement and I keep changing places with 'her' SImon has to stay in town but I take the Tube home. I feel safe enough to sleep on the train. I've never done that before.

Friday.

After a late dinner, we go to a club. By now we're both really into our roles. I push my way through the crowds, leading the way. We're more restrained than usual - dancing is strange to us in our new roles. A petite, dark-haired woman keeps eyeing me. I can't resist winking at her.

My last day as a man. I'll miss the thrill of getting dressed and the confidence of being male. At the same time, I can't wait to wear a dress again.