Somebody is going to criticize no matter what you do so do what you want and develop a thick skin. If you conform to stereotypes the complains might be less vigorous or vocal but even conformist get criticized for having no character. Everyone is a critic. My criticism of your story is it was too long. Your point was made in the first couple paragraphs. That you went on so long about it signals to me you are being overly sensitive. Is it really that big a deal. Yes, there is a gay/trans facet to this but only because gay/trans issues are in the fore these days. Why don’t more openly gay women have long hair and wear dresses and how come transwomen don’t more often have short hair and wear jeans and tee shirts.

Everyone is so keyed up about signaling, that is where the deprograming is required. In my teens and early twenties I was signaling how cool I was. I was seeking attention, I got over it. If you don’t want attention you need to mix things up so you don’t send much of a signal.

TEK