FAQ Question about Illness or cure

Question about Illness or cure

Is wearing women’s clothes considered AN illness?

In most cases, no treatment is necessary as cross-dressing not considered an illness. If the cross-dressing is out of control and becomes compulsive, then, anti-compulsion drugs are sometimes prescribed.

So, Cross-dressing May Be Biologically Bound--Does This Mean I CANNOT Stop?

Not according to Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychiatrist. He espoused that little boys naturally exhibit certain feminine characteristics, which are intrinsic to all people, regardless of gender. He called this feminine side our Anima. However, parents, in an attempt successfully rear their boys into manly men; discourage all displays of the feminine in their sons. These feminine behaviors may be extremely subtle, and the corresponding parental disapproval, perhaps even more so. Jung contends that children are extremely receptive to cues of approval and disapproval. So perhaps a little boy exhibits even a look or a stance, which is perceived as feminine by his parents, and he receives in response, a raised eyebrow, or even a slight frown. This exchange may occur on such a sub-conscious level, that neither the boy, nor his parent, even realizes that it has taken place. However, the young boy registers that transaction in his forming mind, and thus begins the negative association with that natural, feminine part of him, his Anima. He makes sure that he represses all feminine behaviors from that moment on. Alternatively, does he? Jung sustained that it is impossible to thwart something that is intrinsic to our nature, such as our inherent masculine and feminine traits (in Jungian thought, those being the Animus and Anima, respectively). The outward manifestation of the Anima will surface again, and often, when it does, it can be in traditionally unacceptable ways, such as cross-dressing. In Jungian psychology, however, the act of cross-dressing is a path toward embracing one's Anima, and a very pivotal part of the human experience and growth process. However, cross-dressing is but a stepping-stone toward self-actualization. The complete man, is one who may go through a period of embracing his feminine side by way of cross-dressing, but who also eventually transforms into neither masculine nor feminine, but rather becomes a new being, a very healthy embodiment of both. Jung contends that the man that allows himself to cross-dress, as a healthy vehicle toward to the ultimate acceptance and integration of his feminine self, will eventually no longer need to cross-dress, once those two facets of his being, the Anima and the Animus merge. Jung contends that the man who is stuck in the cross-dressing phase of his life experiences arrested development.

Is cross-dressing/transvestism a disorder?

Clinicians classify “transvestic fetishism” under the category of “gender identity disorder,” according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-4.  It is not considered a problem unless “the fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. When a male goes to therapy for transvestism, it is not because he wants to be “fixed,” most likely he just wants to be accepted.  The clinician may try to address depression that is often associated with the inability to fulfill satisfactorily the need to cross-dress.  Moreover, when a couple goes to a therapist, it is most likely to address how the cross-dressing has affected the relationship, but not to “cure” the individual.

Is There a Cure?

http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossdressingFAQs.htm

There is no cure for Cross-dressing for the simple reason that Cross-dressing is not an illness but a state of being. Cross-dressers are-"born and not made". Think of it this way - if you always desired to have the Tagalong type of cookie and your friend always desired the Lemonade type of cookie. However, something happened in society that suddenly made desiring the Tagalong type of cookie not "socially acceptable" by societal norms. Does that also suddenly stop making you desire the Tagalong type of cookie? Has desiring Tagalong cookies suddenly become an "illness" that someone else needs to "cure"? Of course not. When viewed with a broader perspective one can see that the desire to cross-dress is also one's personal desire.

The chief adjustment problem cross-dressers face is societal attitudes. While these have been changing since cross-dressers appeared on the Donahue Show in 1987, acceptance is far from complete. Because of possible consequences to families, jobs and friends, many cross-dressers live shrouded in secrecy. Some cross-dressers deny their feminine side and dispose of their clothing, only to return to cross-dressing later, frustrated by the amputation of so significant a part of their personality.  Some seek therapy, but as many therapists are not knowledgeable about cross-gender issues, cross dressers sometimes find themselves educating the therapist rather than getting the help they seek. Nor are psychiatric drugs of benefit. There is no “cure” for cross-dressing, and most cross-dressers do not want one!

What Type of People are Cross-dressers?

Cross-dressers come from all occupations and every stratum of society. Spouses, parents, children and friends are Cross-dressers. There are no distinctions. Cross-dressers come from all occupations, races, creeds, and economic backgrounds. The phenomenon dates back many thousands of years. In some cultures, especially some Native American tribes, they were highly respected as shamans. Most cross-dressers are well educated and come from conventional family backgrounds. The clear majority is heterosexual and most are, or have been, married. Most are happy in their masculinity, and only a small percentage opts to live as women full time. A few women are cross-dressers, but they are much less numerous than their male counterparts. Perhaps this is due to the relative latitude society grants to women in matters of dress and self-expression.

· Hua Mulan· Pope Joan · Joan of Arc · Anne Bonny and Mary Read  Bonnie Prince Charlie · Chevalier d'Eon  · George Sand (Amandine-Aurore-Lucile Dupin)  · Dorothy Lawrence  · Rrose Sélavy,· J. S. G. Boggs · Yasumasa Morimura · Grayson Perry  · Billy Tipton  · Willmer "Little Ax" Broadnax · Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon · Eddie Izzard

See List of Transgendered people at http://zagria.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

Can one make a crossdresser stop?

http://crossdressersociety.com/crossdressing-faq

This is probably the worst thing anyone can do. Forcing them to stop and purging their feminine side could have disastrous consequences. Most likely he would binge later on as the cross-dressing urge would be even stronger. Besides the pressure will still be there and could lead to violent break outs or emotional distress. There is no “cure” for cross-dressing, and most cross-dressers do not want one!

Because of possible consequences to families, jobs, and friends, many cross-dressers live shrouded in secrecy. Burdened by fear and guilt, some cross-dressers deny their feminine side and dispose of their clothing. Usually they are frustrated by this elimination of a significant part of their personalities, and eventually return to feminine self-expression. Some seek therapy, but as many therapists are not knowledgeable about cross gender issues, they sometimes find themselves educating the therapist rather than getting the help they seek. Nor are psychiatric drugs of benefit.

Can Cross-dressing Be "Cured"?

http://www.tri-ess.org/cd01.html

The chief adjustment problem cross-dressers face is societal attitudes.  While these have been changing since cross-dressers appeared on the Donahue Show in 1987, acceptance is far from complete.  Because of possible consequences to families, jobs and friends, many cross-dressers live shrouded in secrecy.  Some cross-dressers deny their feminine side and dispose of their clothing, only to return to cross-dressing later, frustrated by the amputation of so significant a part of their personality.  Some seek therapy, but as many therapists are not knowledgeable about cross gender issues, cross dressers sometimes find themselves educating the therapist rather than getting the help they seek.  Nor are psychiatric drugs of benefit. There is no “cure” for cross-dressing, and most cross-dressers do not want one!

Questions about Transsexual and transgender cross-dresser

What causes transvestism?

There are several theories but they are all inconclusive.  There are no scientifically substantiated genetic or organic causes for transvestism.  The latest research suggests that it is a psychological condition.

What is the difference between transvestites and transsexuals?

Transvestites have a need to wear clothing normally worn by women, and to look like women.  Transsexuals want to ‘be’ women.  Transvestites may use padding, silicone, and makeup to look like women but never alter their physical appearance.  Transsexuals may take hormones to reshape their bodies, grow real breasts, and some may opt to have sex reassignment surgery.  According to Vernon Coleman’s survey of 1,016 cross-dressers, most men (77%) do not have an interest in changing sex.  They are perfectly comfortable being males.

What Cross-dressers (TRANSVESTITES) Are Not

While many cross-dressers are ordinary heterosexual men with an additional feminine dimension, they are stereotyped by society based on a highly visible minority who cross-dress for entirely different reasons.

The widely accepted theory that transvestites are homosexual is absurdly persistent and it is one of the reasons why so many cross-dressers are secretive about what they do. Many transvestites are staunchly heterosexual. Eight out of ten men who cross-dress have had only heterosexual experiences. The incidence of homosexuality is much the same among transvestites as it is among the rest of the male population.

The Marjory of people believes that transvestites are men that have not gone through with the surgery to become female. Most men who cross-dress want to remain male; they have no interest in or enthusiasm for changing sex. Over 77% of cross-dressers have no interest in changing sex.

Does Cross-dressing Influence Sexuality?

A person's sexual preference or sexuality is independent of their mental gender identity. Human sexual diversity exists amongst Cross-dressers in the same basic proportions as it does in the general community. In fact, as Cross-dressers are part of the general community, your "average" Cross-dresser is likely to be heterosexual, to have married and have children.

What is it Like Being a Cross-dresser?

http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossdressingFAQs.htm

Most Cross-dressers discover their need to cross-dress during childhood. They have no idea why they feel the way they do, yet quickly find that the expression of this part of their nature results in reprimand and alienation from parents, family and friends - the people they love and value the most. This can result in the development of unreasonable feelings of unhealthy personal shame.

So most, Cross-dressers become secretive about their Cross-dressing and, doing their best to deny and suppress this essential part of their being, grow fulfilling themselves as human being in all the other ways they can. However, being a Cross-dresser does not "go away" any more than the essential self-can ever go away. Sustained denial of the expression of this essential self can result in severe emotional disturbance.

Shame, fear and loneliness find expression in thought with such questions as - "Would my best friends, workmates, family, father / mother, wife / partner and my children still want me and love me if they knew this part of me or would they reject me with scorn or fear?".

Many Cross--dressers ultimately find it impossible and intolerable to exist like this. They feel compelled to learn about themselves and to "open up" to the significant others in their lives. Rejection may occur; most often Cross-dressers are surprised at the level of acceptance they receive, which so often reflects the level of their own self-acceptance. They liberate themselves to enjoy the exhilaration of the expression of this essential part of their being through Cross-dressing.

On a much more positive note, most Cross Dressers are more loving, sympathetic, and compassionate. They are gentle, caring and nurturing people. They are very sensitive and have a strong desire to share their feelings and respond to the needs of others.

What Should You Do If You Know a Cross-dresser?

http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossdressingFAQs.htm

Be open-minded. Be prepared to learn some sensible realities about cross-dressing.

Above all, know and remind yourself that being a Cross-dresser will not change the child, the partner, parent or friend you know and maybe love, into someone different. After all the only real difference is that, you know! Continue to see the individual person and allow yourself the gifts of an open heart and open mind!

Isn't Cross-Dressing Just a Step to Sexual Reassignment?

Again, the answer is a resounding NO. In fact, the NO cannot be made sufficiently emphatic. Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) or Sex Change Surgery" as it is sometimes called, is quite another thing. This is a sexual thing at the very core. Diagnostically, the person from the very earliest ages, many even before the onset of puberty, is aware of a feeling most commonly said to be "trapped in the wrong body" in a sexual identity dysphoric condition. Such people are diagnosed as "Transsexuals" for their fundamental feeling set has equally deep roots, which are quite apart from clothing and are directed to their anatomical structures and many times to the sexual anatomy of those to whom they are attracted sexually. This condition is recognized as a medical condition which is commonly treated by long-term psychotherapy, long-term hormonal therapy and finally by surgical alteration of the person's external genitalia. This condition is found in both those born female and those born male. The predominance is among males. A terribly distressing situation has arisen in conjunction with the proliferation in recent years of the so-called "Gender Clinics" (a terribly misnomer, as it were) and the relative ease with which many individuals have been admitted to the surgical suites. This has led to a phenomenon in which borderline individuals have sought to bolster their own decision to assume the identity and goals of the true transsexual by "recruiting" and otherwise influencing other insecure, confused, and often gullible individuals to set forth on the same course of action. This has been encouraged it seems, by some individuals in the "Gender Clinic" business for obvious reasons. SRS is not inexpensive....

 

Some theories on why men Cross-dress

Some theories on why men Cross-dress


There are a number of theories, which attempt to explain the practice of cross-dressing, none of which is even remotely conclusive despite the undoubted credentials of their respective proponents.

Even Harry Benjamin, a doyen amongst “sexologists” and founder of the Harry Benjamin International Dysphoria Association has stated in his book The Transsexual Phenomenon (1996) that:-

“...psychoanalytic theories are something like a cult, if not a religion, and are often quite incomprehensible to ordinary clinicians. To them, their explanations and analyses many times appear far-fetched, even absurd, in spite of their often intriguing and sometimes poetic quality…These psychoanalytic concepts have been accepted variously as important scientific discoveries, or as ingenious theories, but have also been criticized and rejected as merely intellectual "games," a sophisticated voodoo, if not as plain nonsense and balderdash...The prominent psychiatrists and university professors Buerger-Prinz, Giese, and Albrecht in an important German monograph [Zur Phenomenologie des Transvestismus bei Maennern.(1953)] call some psychoanalytic theories "think possibilities without evidence in clinical observation" (phenomenology).”

Nevertheless, this did not stop Benjamin from devising his own theories, which he encapsulated in his “Sexual Orientation Scale” for transvestites and transsexuals

Many theories exist for why men cross-dress but none had adequate research to be proven. A few are listed here. No attempt has been made to explain the rationale behind the theory.

Genetic Theory: Transgenderism is inherited. If you are transgendered, then your offspring are more likely to be transgendered.

Environmental Theory: Changes in the atmosphere due to pollution, global warming etc., have upset the balance and caused an inherent condition to become more common.

The decline in Moral Standards Theory: The decline in moral standards has allowed perversions and fetishes' to become more acceptable.

Modern Stress Levels Theory: Stress in today's society is at an all-time high and people need an escape.

Brain Differences: The brains of TV's and TS's are different from non-transgendered people.

Labeling Theory: The "labeling theory" suggested by Edwin Lemert in his book Social Pathology: A Systematic Approach to the Theory of Psychopathic Behavior (1951), the very fact that someone is labeled a cross-dresser results in them using the role assigned to them as a means of defense, attack, or adjustment to the problems created by the subsequent societal reaction.

Brain Theory: The brains of transsexual people are ‘wired up’ differently to ‘normal’ men. This may be connected with the theory above but is subtly different.

Female is the Natural State Theory: The male sex was a mistake by nature that it is now beginning to correct. An evolutionary step is underway which will mean that the male sex in humans will be outdated before 2200.

Unborn Twin Theory: It is now well known that many pregnancies start as twins, but that one twin survives only for a very brief time.

Abused Child Theory: As a child, the boy was abused and forced to dress in girls clothes.

The Social Symptoms Theory: In the isolated minority, the syndrome can best be explained by the theory of deviancy amplification. One type of deviance leads to other deviances. The sexual frustration, low self-esteem, social stigmatization, and isolation may often lead to substance abuse, social route, non-sexual crimes, political extremism, and suicide.

No research exists to validate the above theories. For the man that has a sexual need or the man that has a sexual fattish, it is more likely that the act of cross-dressing is a learned behavior. You just do not wake up one-morning wearing pantyhose or panties. You make a continuous decision to find woman undergarment to wear. In most men, the main reason to cross-dress is sexual. It is seldom something you do spontaneously. You planned when and where you will cross-dress because you do not want to be caught. You borrow or buy something that will turn you on. The first time you do this, it is a new experience with new sensations; heighten senses and an adrenalin rush (noticeable increase in your strength, no feelings of pain, heightened senses, sudden boost of energy and increased breathing).

It is like riding a bicycle for the first time. You are scared at first. You might fall and hurt yourself. People might laugh. Once on the bicycle gain your balance, you learn how to push the peddles and steer a straight course. You now can feel the wind in your face giving you exhilaration. Now your heart is pumping and you learn this is a good experience. Cross-dressing for the first time is the same thing. You are afraid you might be caught, and people might laugh but you strip down naked and slid on stockings for the first time. You feel how smooth they are touching your skin. That touching can be sexually stimulating your heightened senses, just like the wind in your face. The feeling exhilarates you; your heart is pumping faster you have a sudden boost of energy. You are excited sexually and you provide self-gratification. At this point, you might be satisfied to continue with wearing stockings. You think if stocking can give you a little pleasure, maybe a garter and panty will increase that pleasure. Cross-dressing for some is a learned behavior. A person tends to do those things that give him pleasure and not do the things that are not pleasurable. Once you find something that gives you pleasure you will do it repeatedly.

Cross-dressing for some can be a learned behavior. Learned behavior, "most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions, this coded information serves as a guide for action." Albert Bandura, Social Learning Theory, 1977.

According to Social Learning theory, models are an important source for learning new behaviors and for achieving behavioral change in institutionalized settings. Social learning theory is derived from the work of Albert Bandura, which proposed that observational learning could occur in relation to three models:

• Live model – in which an actual person is demonstrating the desired behavior
• Verbal instruction – in which an individual describes the desired behavior in detail, and instructs the participant in how to engage in the behavior
• Symbolic – in which modeling occurs by means of the media, including movies, television, Internet, literature, and radio. This type of modeling involves a real or fictional character demonstrating the behavior.

An important factor of Bandura’s social learning theory is the emphasis on reciprocal determinism. This notion states that an individual’s behavior is influenced by the environment and characteristics of the person. In other words, a person’s behavior, environment, and personal qualities all reciprocally influence each other. Bandura proposed that the modeling process involves several steps:

1. Attention – in order for an individual to learn something, they must pay attention to the features of the modeled behavior.
2. Retention – humans need to be able to remember details of the behavior in order to learn and later reproduce the behavior.
3. Reproduction – in reproducing a behavior, an individual must organize his or her responses in accordance with the model behavior. This ability can improve with practice.
4. Motivation – there must be an incentive or motivation driving the individual’s reproduction of the behavior. Even if all of the above factors are present, the person will not engage in the behavior without motivation.

Briefly, you learn by observing a model (live, verbal or symbolic). The learning process includes attention to the model, retention of the model, reproduction of the model and motivation. A boy may observe his mother, sister, aunt or other female dressing or observe their clothing. A boy may try to act like a female role figure by wearing their clothes or acting with feminism mannerism. This behavior is remembered, may not be acted on for many years. The man will try to reproduce his past memories based on motivation and incentives. One incentive is the feeling when dressed. One motivation can be the reactions he derives when dressed, positive reinforcement.

FAQ Cross-dressing

FAQ means "frequently answer questions". User groups would be asked the same question over and over again. The moderator would post a list of frequently asked questions on there board and referred the members to red the FAQ.
FAQ were copied from the following web sites
http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossdressingFAQs.htm
http://www.gendercentre.org.au/cross_dressing_information.htm
http://lvtgw.jadephoenix.org/Info_htm/General/cdfaq02.htm

Copyright © 2001 by Diane Wilson. All rights reserved.
http://seahorsesoc.org/questions.html
http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossDressingFAQs.htm
http://crossdressersociety.com/crossdressing-faq
http://www.tri-ess.org/cd01.html
http://www.geocities.ws/karenspecial/faq001.html

Questions about Men Cross-dressing
http://lvtgw.jadephoenix.org/Info_htm/General/cdfaq02.htm Copyright © 2001 by Diane Wilson. All rights reserved.

As the word implies, cross-dressing is wearing clothes (dressing: the act of donning clothing and wearing it.) The "cross" comes in when a person goes against the prevailing socially defined stereotype, dons, and wears clothing society says is exclusively for members of the sex opposite to the sex of the person involved. Virtually all people cross dress on occasion. Many people cross-dress with regularity. Both sexes cross-dress. Females cross dress with relative impunity. No one seems to be particularly upset and many think it is “sexy" or just plain "cute" for a female to wear "men's" clothing. Conversely, unless the cross-dressing individual is sufficiently talented to look convincing, a male who cross dresses is in for social disapproval, which can vary from minor to massive. People cross dress for a wide variety of reasons.

Is Cross-dressing New?
http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossdressingFAQs.htm

Throughout recorded history, and in every human culture, there have always been Cross-dressers. In many societies, Cross-dressers have been accepted for the reality they represent and their uniqueness has been utilized by such societies for the common good. It is a culture's attitude to Cross-dressing that determines whether Cross-dressing is or is not a "problem" to that culture. See Wikipedia History of cross-dressing at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cross-dressing

Why do people cross dress?
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_people_cross_dress

Even psychiatrists have a difficult time with this one. They feel that it starts around puberty, but, some male children will experiment dressing up in say their sister's clothing and race around the house and turn out to be full-fledged heterosexual males in years to come. Psychiatrists don't seem to know when it starts or really why and what I am typing out is basically a guesstimate on why men choose to dress up as women: Cross-dressing is another term for transvestism, and this and trans-sexuality and the association of both with homosexuality are often confused, even by some practicing cross-dressers. A typical transvestite would be a man who appears quite normal at all times when he is not cross-dressing. He is not likely to be homosexual, will prefer women as his sex partners and will most certainly not want to lose his penis. In contrast, a typical male transsexual will not identify in any way with his physically normal male body. He believes that he is a woman and is trapped in the body of a man. To him, his penis is a mistake of nature and he will want to get rid of it.

Some men use cross-dressing for the purpose of sexual excitement. It seems that the majority of transvestites are no more likely to go on to trans-sexuality than a social drinker is to alcoholism or an occasional cannabis user to injecting hard drugs. Of course everyone has to start somewhere and there is some evidence to suggest that the longer you cross-dress, the further along the continuum may find yourself moving. After his initial experiences, the transvestite will progress to one of 3 main groups:

He will stay with the type of garments he first used and have a fetish-like attachment to them. His initial preferences will expand and he will slowly move on to other clothes and finally into the wish to be dressed completely as a woman and to pretend for periods of time that he is a woman, but he will not want to go beyond pretending and will wish to retain his male personality. The third group will fringe on trans-sexuality in that they will live and pass as women for extended periods of time. The only real difference between these so-called "secondary" transsexuals and the full transsexual is that, again, like all the less extreme transvestites, they have no wish to actually be women.

WHY DO MEN CROSS-DRESS?

One argument is that transvestism of cross-dressing is a way of offering a challenge to society's preconceptions about gender. Some men cross-dress because they are unhappy at being men. Others didn't mind the male state, but also like to put on women's clothes occasionally. Some men cross-dress simply to make a passing social or fashion statement, and some because they have emotional needs that can only be met by the comfort that wearing women's clothes gives them.

For many transvestites, cross-dressing is an intensely sexual activity. Most transvestites have their first cross-dressing experience around puberty or in adolescence. The first experience is likely to be sexually exciting and the young person will carry on with the practice. However, transvestism is not just a sexual variation. There have always been plenty of men who get a sexual thrill from cross-dressing, but the accepted view of most experts in this field now is that these are not the majority. Sex, particularly with other people is not the main reason why most men cross-dress and will masturbate because they, themselves, are the ideal woman, and the man no longer has to fear rejection, criticism or disappointment which might come with attempts of intercourse with a woman.

Cross-dressers usually will do this in secret and enjoy when the wife and kids leave the home. They have their day planned! They will even go so far as to shave off body hair, take a hot, perfumed, bubble bath, and dress in something silky. Many males will masturbate (why not ... they are male, yet feel like they are a female at the same time.) However, many cross-dressers just enjoy the feel of certain materials against their bodies and go no further than to dress as a woman. More and more cross-dressers are "coming out of the closet" and if lucky, their wives will accept the way they are as long as they keep it private and away from friends and family. Most cross-dressers are private about it and THEY ARE NOT USUALLY GAY.

Why Do People Cross-Dress?

http://lvtgw.jadephoenix.org/Info_htm/General/cdfaq02.htm Copyright © 2001 by Diane Wilson. All rights reserved.


Many "reasons" are given for cross-dressing. Some are simplistic. Some are superficial. Some are simply wrong. In general, the most valid reasons seen have to do with the expression of a personal preference on the part of the cross dresser. Some cross dress for employment reasons, costumes, etc. Some cross dress as a part of their sexual activity (either just for fun or for money) and others cross dress literally to make fun of members of the opposite sex. Those who cross dress and with whom we are interested in Helping Cross-Dresser Anonymous (CHAD) are almost all male, and most are married or have been married. Many have families. These cross dressers dress also for a variety of reasons. The reasons they give vary with the depth of insight and understanding held by the individual concerned. For the most part, at the core of the motivation for most heterosexual cross dressers is an outward expressive manifestation of an inward feeling set. Something innate, natural to the person concerned seeks to find overt expression in the external behavior of the individual. This inner feeling set/external manifestation takes the form of cross-dressing. Such individuals feel a natural preference for feminine clothing in the same manner the typical female feels the need to express her femininity in the choices of clothing she makes. At the core, then, is the fundamental element of the who, what, and how the person is by their nature and the resulting attraction to things feminine. This is an innate attraction, a natural reaching out of the inner person to find visible means of self expression compatible with how, who, and what the person feels self to be inside. It is not generally a sexual thing, or all such individuals would be same sex attracted. Since a majority of cross dressers are not same sex attracted, then it is evident the innate attraction to external symbols of femininity are not sexual in nature, rather they rise from the most basic centers of who, what, and how the person really is by virtue of nature.

Why do men cross-dress?
http://www.crossdressingfreedom.com/crossdressing-opinions/why-do-men-crossdress/

If you want to know, why men cross-dress then read the answers at http://www.crossdressingfreedom.com/crossdressing-opinions/why-do-men-crossdress/ these answers have been taken from a survey that was completed on over 400 men who cross-dress. As you read the list, you may be surprised at some of the reasons but nonetheless it goes to show the complexity of the reasons behind why men choose to wear clothes of the opposite sex.

Another survey by Vernon Coleman listed these interesting results. Coleman made a survey of cross-dressers. The European Medical Journal Special Monograph On Transvestism/Cross-dressing was based on questionnaires which were completed by 414 British males during July and August 1995 and on written communications from over 600 other British males during the same period.
a) Because I like the feeling of women’s clothes: 321 (77%)
b) Because it gives me a sexual kick: 244 (59%)
c) Because it helps me relax and deal with stress: 202 (48%)
d) Because I want to be like a woman: 262 (63%)."

It is very naturally to think that men who cross-dress are Gay or do not enjoy being a man. These assumptions are NOT true for most male cross-dresser.


At Cross-dressing Freedom website a survey was completed by over 400 men who cross-dress. They were asked to complete this statement,


"I Like To Cross-Dress Because?"
http://www.crossdressingfreedom.com/crossdressing-opinions/why-do-men-crossdress/

The results of the survey are interesting. It appears for each cross-dresser there is a different reason why. The results of the survey can be grouped into the following justifications

They impersonate woman for entertainment, Drag Queen
A man with a sexual fetish for feminine clothing.
A man who like to emulate a woman
Dress full time as a woman but does not interested in having an operation
A man who feels he is a woman trapped in a man's body and desires to change by an operation

In another survey of over one thousand cross-dresser, the following associations were reported.

Demographic, Childhood, and Family Variables: 1992 and 1972 data Sexual and Cross-dressing variables
http://www.crossdreamers.com/2010/02/survey-of-crossdressers.html

The fact that most identify as heterosexual, should not come as a surprise. That as many as 29 percent some kind of homosexual experiences probably points to a desire to have sex as a woman.

72 percent report that cross-dressing brings sexual excitement and orgasm occasionally to nearly always. It is fair to say that these probably are autogynephiliacs.

66 percent began cross-dressing before the age of 10. If most of these cross-dressers truly are autogynephiliacs, this means that autogynephilia appears before puberty and is not the result of increased testosterone production in puberty.

A large majority of them believe that they express a different part of themselves when cross-dressing, i.e. they believe they have an innate feminine side.

71 percent have cross-dressed in public, although they do not necessarily do this often. Note that most of the respondents are members of cross-dresser clubs. This may influence their tendency towards going out dressed as women.

Their wives are normally aware of their habit. Only a minority of the wives were told about it before marriage though, even if the number of cross-dressers revealing their condition at an early stage is increasing. Their wives have mixed views about their men's cross-dressing.

Wikipedia states, "Both men and women may cross-dress to disguise their physical sex. Historically, some women have cross-dressed to take up male-dominated or male-exclusive professions, such as military service. Conversely, some men have cross-dressed to escape from mandatory military service or as a disguise to assist in political or social protest, as men did in the Rebecca Riots."

Vanessa Law at Cross-dresser Heaven, http://www.crossdresserheaven.com/ asked the question


"Why do you like to cross-dress" She received the following answers.

· I cross dress because it feels natural, “right”. When I cross-dress, I am less cranky and feel stress relief. I feel complete, liberated, and content.

· I cross dress because I enjoy wearing woman’s clothes, with no particular desire to look or present myself as a woman. It is fun.

· Woman’s clothes are more exciting, prettier, and more colorful.

· I cross dress because I enjoy feeling feminine – presenting me as a woman, behaving likes a woman.

· When I cross dress it’s sexually exciting – I get a thrill out of wearing woman’s clothes

· When I cross dress I’m sexually excited by what I look like wearing woman’s clothes

· I dress because I feel I really am a woman inside, and I am just dressing in the clothes appropriate to my gender.

Wanda Wilson is a psychologist with expertise in cross-dressing and transvestism, who promotes acceptance and understanding of the transgendered community.

Psychology of Cross-dressing - Why Men Wear Dresses?
http://ezinearticles.com/?Psychology-of-Crossdressing---Why-Men-Wear-Dresses&id=3774706

By Wanda Wilson

Thousands of men worldwide are, at this very moment, putting on their pantyhose, dresses, makeup, and high heels, trying to look as pretty and as feminine as they can. The sight of a grown man wearing a dress, in many societies is considered odd, or unusual, and may even be a cause for ridicule. This phenomenon is often misunderstood, and often yields the question, "Why would men want to wear clothing of the opposite sex?" "Are these men perverted, or crazy?" "Are they gay?"

First, let me assure you that this phenomenon occurs in all the countries of the world, and is often referred to as transvestism, or cross-dressing. Transvestism is defined as "the practice of dressing and behaving like the opposite sex." Men, who choose to dress as females, come from all ethnic groups, and from all occupations.

Furthermore, they are neither perverted, nor crazy. These individuals could be your next-door neighbor, your boss, or even your brother. The man sitting next to you at church could be wearing panties and a garter belt under his clothes for all you know. Cross-dressing is actually quite common, but it is most often done in private or as a secret that is hidden from others. Although, more and more men are "coming out" and dressing "en femme." In fact, there are conventions where males of different ages and backgrounds, get together to enjoy the freedom of dressing and socializing as females. These conventions may draw hundreds of cross-dressings.

Why would men do this, you might ask? Well, the fact of the matter is that they choose to cross-dress for many reasons. The reasons vary according to the individual.

One common reason that men choose to cross-dress, is for sexual gratification. They may be sexually exited with the feel of the feminine fabrics and clothing on their body. They may enjoy the sexual excitement that they experience from wearing feminine clothing, and in seeing their feminine image.

Another reason for cross-dressing, is that men want to feel free to express the feminine side of their personality. Boys are commonly socialized to believe that they cannot portray feminine traits. They cannot cry, appear weak, or be soft. Males who dress in female clothing often feel liberated to express their emotions that perhaps, they are not able freely to express as themselves. For at least a few moments, they can shed the burdens and responsibilities of being a "man." Often, this results in feelings of comfort, and reduced stress. Men wear dresses because it feels good.

Perhaps a reason for cross-dressing is one that is not often expressed, but is one that I believe is common. The reason that men wear dresses, is to feel and experience the "power of a woman." What power is this? It is the power of a beautiful woman to be able to turn the heads of all the men as she enters the room. It is the power that lingerie models have when they appear on television, and spontaneously create a sensation in the groins of thousands of the men who are watching. It is the power to choose who will get their attention, and perhaps who will mate with them. It is a power that is biologically linked and has allowed the human race to propagate.

One reason that men cross-dress is to feel this power, and to experience what it is to have the attributes that create this power. This may be similar to the man who puts on the power suit and expensive shoes, sits behind a big desk in the office on the twentieth floor overlooking the city, pretending he is the chief executive officer of a multi-million dollar corporation. He pretends for a day to be the top man, the millionaire corporate mogul who makes the choices. People open doors for him, bring him coffee, and open their wallets for him. This is "power" and it is very stimulating and intoxicating.

Women are also very powerful. Women are very powerful, sexually. They know this, and men know this. It is equally stimulating and intoxicating to experience this type of power for a day. Even if it is only for a moment, and within the man's head, it is a beautiful feeling to feel "sexy" and "feminine." Power as we all know, is an aphrodisiac. This is why men wear dresses, and why this practice has occurred for centuries.

Unfortunately, in many societies cross-dressing, especially male to female, is often still a taboo. A man wearing a dress or other feminine attire in public is often the subject of ridicule. It is the purpose of this article to create acceptance, and to portray cross-dressing as a normal practice that occurs throughout the world and in many cultures.

When Do Men Usually Start Dressing Up?

Cross-dressers usually start dressing up as a child or in their teens. In very few cases, it can start later on in life.

From a survey of cross-dresser, this question was asked. "How old were you when you first started wearing women's clothes?"

Answers, Votes, Percent
1. 5-8 Years Old, 2984 34%
2. 9-12 Years Old, 2962 34%
3. 13-15 Years Old, 1491 17%
4. 16-20 Years Old, 375 4%
5. In My 20's, 334 4%
6. In My 30's, 211 2%
7. Over 40, 429 5%
Total Votes: 8786, Clearly over 75% by the age of 15

What Does A Man Get From Cross-Dressing?
If you ask a hundred men the prime reason for their cross-dressing, the vast majority would say that it enables them to relax and get away from the stresses of modern life. A number would say that they get sexual satisfaction from cross-dressing, and for some it is a combination of the two. The problem with the use of cross-dressing to obtain sexual satisfaction is that it causes further problems. Why? As a man climaxes, whether self-induced by masturbation or in a gay or male-female relationship, the male hormones take over the mind. This produces a strong ‘maleness’, which in turn produces a huge feeling of guilt and distaste to the transsexual about the female clothes that he is now wearing. This destroys all the gains that have been made from the relaxation gained by the initial dressing. The feeling of 'wrongness' can be extreme to say the least. In the right circumstances, cross-dressing can be a remarkable stress reliever.

How many men does it affect?

There are some 6,000 postoperative transsexual people in the UK of which around 4,500 are T2F (Trans to Female) and some 1,500 T2M (Trans to Male). If you add to that the estimated 10,000 transsexual people who have not yet completed transition and the probable 15,000 to 17,000 who are still fighting and denying their true status then the figures become more realistic, 1 in 1250 for T2F and 1 in 3750 for T2M. Most transsexual people consider themselves; quite correctly; to have been born transgendered and therefore the more commonly used terms of M2F and F2M are perhaps nowadays a little ‘politically incorrect’.

Another resource estimates it is now commonly believed that as many as one in fifteen men have transvestite tendencies.

A Guide to Gender Dysphasia
– © Emma Michelle Martin and Elevated Therapy - Oct '99 (updated Feb '00)

Caroline Devilries a geriatric cross-dresser or transvestite has written the following:

Admittedly, I have read a report which claimed that as many as 50% of men have, at some time or another, dressed partly or completely in women’s clothes, but insufficient information was given to enable one to check the veracity of the claim. Other estimates I have seen put the number of occasional or regular cross-dressers at around 10% of the male population in most developed countries, but again there was insufficient information on how this figure was arrived at. However, some of the literature puts the number as low as 1-2%, though even in those reports there was no indication how these figures were calculated.
© Caroline Devilries 2008

Is Cross-dressing Illegal or Immoral?

According to Oakland's Code of Ordinances, your style is illegal. Immoral Dress Code 9.08.080 has been in place since 1879: “It is unlawful for any person in the city to appear in any public place nude or in the attire of a person of the opposite sex, or in any indecent or lewd attire.”

At wiki answers web site:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_crossdressing_illegal Is cross-dressing in the UK illegal was posted. The answer was no. It is illegal to wear a costume or disguise to elude legal pursuit by police or to hide your identity as to avoid legal prosecution. It may be illegal to use the bathroom of the opposite sex (even if you are dressed) and even if it is not specifically illegal.

Most of the Christian religions believe cross-dressing is a sin. Almost every cross dresser that is also a Christian knows in their heart that God made them the way they are. Yet when actions run contrary to beliefs, there is internal conflict, which manifests as guilt or shame. So, a cross dresser that has been told that God is against cross-dressing because it says so in the Bible gets confused. Those who say this do not realize that the Bible actually says nothing about cross-dressing except in one passage of scripture in Deuteronomy.

If you would like to explore a more positive interruption of the Christian beliefs go to http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossDressing_And_The_Bible.htm. This site looks at the Bible from an objective analysis and the detail supplied here is based upon a great deal of research from some of the top Biblical scholars and Biblical translations that exist.

Ok Then, Do Men Who Cross-dress Actually Want To Be Women?

Not necessarily. Wearing women's clothing is not always an indication of a man's sexuality. Some men just like the feel of the clothing on their skin. They feel somehow comforted when the slip on a nice pair of pantyhose or a satin bra. It could be that they are missing something from their childhood and these items bring back a sense of security or comfort. Perhaps they have high stress jobs with a lot of responsibility, and the feel of a silky slip reminds them of being comforted by their mother when they were young and had no responsibility. Alternatively, it could just be that they like pantyhose! Many men are perfectly happy with their male bodies and their male sexuality. The clothing they put on over that body has no effect on their sexual preference or the desire to change their gender.

On the other hand, some males who cross-dress do so because they truly do want to become women. They may feel that although they were born with male bodies, that their personality is female, and they may have had these instincts and desires for as long as they can remember... including the earliest memories of their childhood. These men should most often be referred to as 'transgendered' and not just 'cross-dressers', although many times they are grouped together by the general public due to lack of knowledge and understanding. Which is unfortunate, because one of the main things a transgender or cross-dresser needs is a little understanding from those around him?

So What Kind Of A Guy Would Wear a Dress?

All kinds. There are cross-dressers in every occupation... I have had the privilege of speaking to cross-dressing men of all types throughout the years, and in every profession, including doctors, lawyers, bankers, politicians, professional sports players, CEO's of big corporations, fast-food restaurant managers, garbage collectors, schoolteachers, you name it! In addition, they are always comforted when I let them know that they are not alone in their secrets. You may be shocked if you were given x-ray glasses for just one day and discovered how many men in your daily life are wearing panties and/or bras underneath those business suits.

Why do they do it? Why do men wear women’s clothes?

Typically, a man will have their first cross-dressing experience as a child, adolescent or a teenager. They might sneak into their mother’s closet and try on her bra or her panties. They might get into their sister’s closet and try on one of her dresses. For some reason these boys have a strong curiosity about females and their clothing. They discover that it feels good.

As these boys become men, they may not cross-dress for years, and then suddenly their urge arises. At this time, they may suppress these urges due to relationships and circumstances at the time, or they may indulge them. They might dress in secret, or openly, passing as a woman.

There is no one reason as to “why they do it?” Men cross-dress for various reasons. Some wear women’s clothes because it “feels good.” They like looking and feeling pretty. They like the feel of the satin or lace against their body. They like the feeling of their hairless body.

Another reason that men cross-dress is that it reduces stress. When they are in women’s clothes, it is as if a huge weight has been lifted off their shoulders. They feel “peaceful.” Moreover, it liberates them from the masculine role. They can express feelings, giggle, and even cry freely.

Some men also experience a sexual thrill when they are dressed and looking like a sexy woman. As soon as they put on their panties, silicone breasts, makeup and wig, they will experience a raging erection. They may culminate the experience with masturbation to orgasm. However, not all cross-dressers do it to get a sexual thrill.

Finally, some men will cross-dress simply because it feels right. It satisfies their need to express their feminine side. The visual personification of a woman is congruent with how they feel inside. If they are not allowed to, dress they may experience what is called “gender dysphoria”, which is basic discomfort with the socially prescribed gender role. Dressing as a woman reduces that discomfort.

Who are cross-dressers?

Helen Boyd writes in her book, ‘My Husband Betty,’ “those cross-dressers come from all walks of life, are all ages and races. There are cross-dressers in finance, government, engineering, and other high status jobs. Cross-dressers drive trucks, make deliveries, and fix faucets. They act and write. They belong to the Republican and Democratic parties, or vote Independent. They are heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual. Some are single, while others enjoy long-term marriages or suffer multiple divorces. Many raise children. Some have substance abuse problems, and others have never taken a drink.” I highly recommend this book for “significant others.”

What Types of People Cross-dress?
http://ladiesknightout.com/CrossdressingFAQs.htm

Cross-dressers come from all occupations, races, creeds, and economic backgrounds. The phenomenon dates back many thousands of years. In some cultures, especially some Native American tribes, they were highly respected as shamans. Most cross-dressers are well educated and come from conventional family backgrounds. The vast majority is heterosexual and most are, or have been, married. Most are happy in their masculinity, and only a small percentage opts to live as women full time. A few women are cross-dressers, but they are much less frequent than males. No doubt, this is due to the Freedom Our Society Grants to Women in Matters of Dressing and Self-Expression.

How often do cross-dressers need to dress up?

Some men will need to dress every day and may even go out in public fully dressed as a female. Some men will dress regularly but only in private. Other men will not dress for years, then suddenly they feel the urge arise and will begin to dress. Still others, never completely dress up en femme, they may only wear panties under their male clothing and will be satisfied.

What causes men to cross-dress?

This is not a simple question to answer. Men cross-dress for many reasons resulting from inside factor and outside factors. A inside factor would be that they were born the wrong sex. Another inside factor is they do not wish to be identified by the opposite sex. Outside factors would be the conditioning to enjoy the pleasure of wearing woman cloths, or a need for sexual gratification.

Some men start cross-dressing when they are young. Some boys are forced to cross-dress as a form of punishment (reported as influence but not proven), other boys who have older sisters or the house has a lack of a male figure will identify with the Marjory of the house and will secretly try what he sees others do. Stockings were washed, dried within eyesight, and touching. Bra and panties were mixed with his clothing allowing a boy to touch and feel feminine items of clothing. About the age of puberty he may not started to cross-dress. He does look for fantasies that heighten his sexual desire. It might be and accident or something he saw or was told but he uses an article of female clothing to masturbate. He experiences a climax associating the woman cloths touch him. A favored article of clothing may become erotic and may be used habitually, first in masturbation, and later in intercourse. Abnormal preference of sexual “objects” is fetishism, reliance on inanimate objects, e.g. clothing or shoes, for arousal and gratification. It becomes Fetishistic Transvestism when wearing of clothes of the opposite sex to obtain sexual excitement.

In 1995, the author and cross-dressing Vernon Coleman made a survey of cross-dressers.

It was based on questions from 1,000 British males Coleman belong to the cross-dressers who think there is no connection between cross-dressing and transsexualism. I think there is such a connection, although I understand his point about there being a big difference between the cross-dressing who has no wish to become a woman for real, and the transsexuals who are driven by a gender identity dysphoria.

WHAT CROSS-DRESSERS ARE NOT ?
http://www.tri-ess.org/cd01.html

While the vast majority of cross-dressers are ordinary heterosexual men with an additional feminine dimension, they are stereotyped by society based on a highly visible minority who cross-dress for entirely different reasons. Drag queens are usually gay or bisexual males who don women’s clothes either to mock femininity and society’s stereotypes of gays, or to find sex partners. Female impersonators dress to entertain. Transsexuals believe they are entrapped in the body of the opposite sex, and seek sexual reassignment surgery.

Do cross-dressers take female hormones and want to change their sex?
http://crossdressersociety.com/crossdressing-faq

In almost all cases no. In very few instances do cross-dressing men progress to a sex change unless they are latent Transsexuals.

Why do they start dressing up at a young age?
http://crossdressersociety.com/crossdressing-faq

Probably out of a sense of childlike curiosity. With some, their sisters or a baby sitter may have dressed them up as girls either for fun or punishment. With some it is purely a fantasy. Dressing can relieve the stress involved in living up to the perceived male role model as a tough, problem solver. Pretending to be a girl may provide him with a release from male peer pressures. Many times cross-dressers will start dressing up in lingerie or silky clothing, like pantyhose or stockings purely for the feeling of the fabrics on their body.

Cross-dressing in many cases, will progress as time goes by to include complete dressing up, applying makeup and wigs, even mimicking female walking and talking.

Why did his dressing come back after a long time?
http://crossdressersociety.com/crossdressing-faq

In the mid-twenties and later social and economic pressures start to surface. Children, a mortgage, car payments, and education worries can play a role. Undoubtedly the biggest factor though is his job. Career matters at work intensify as peers are promoted even including him. Pressures of family life and losing the newness of a relationship all can contribute to his cross-dressing. As the stress builds up, the deep memories of his cross-dressing resurfaces as it relieved stress and the daily pressures in the past.

Are there different types of crossdressers?
http://www.geocities.ws/karenspecial/faq001.html

While with the exception of the transsexual, all men who don feminine clothes can be termed as cross-dressers in the general sense, a number of other terms are used today to more closely define cross-dressers by their reason for cross-dressing.

Female Impersonator
The female impersonator is a person whose prime reason for cross-dressing is employment. They have perfected their cross-dressing into a performing art. It is interesting to note that the late James Cagney got his start in show business as a female impersonator.

Fetish
The fetish is a person who is sexually aroused by the wearing of certain articles of feminine clothing. Unlike the average crossdresser, the fetish will not dress completely, and will only dress when they wish sexual arousal. In some cases the true fetish may not even become aroused unless wearing the article of feminine clothes that gives him pleasure.

Femmiphile
This is the most common form of crossdresser. In it’s simplicity, the femmiphile is a person who has a love for what our society considers to be feminine and a very strong desire to associate themselves with the feminine. Femmiphiles have high admiration for the female and wish to emulate them as much as possible.

Transgenderist
Unlike the average crossdresser who will spend most of his time in the masculine role, a transgenderist is a person who lives and works in the cross-gendered role full-time. Unlike the transsexual, he is content with his male organs and does not plan surgery to remove them.

Transsexual
While often confused with the crossdresser, transsexuals are NOT considered to be cross-dressers. Unlike cross-dressers who recognize themselves as males with a feminine part to them, the transsexual is a person who is psychologically a member of one sex, and physiologically a member of the opposite sex. Unlike the crossdresser, the transsexual cannot be content unless the physiological body is surgically altered to be congruent with the psychological person who occupies that body. While cross-dressing for personality expression is far more common in masculine to feminine form, transsexualism is about equally common in female to male as it is in male to female.

UNDERSTANDING THE "WOMAN WITHIN"
http://www.tri-ess.org/cd01.html

There is within each man a set of personality potentials that are part of his birthright, but that society labels as “feminine” and says he should suppress. Cross-dressers have made contact with these potentials and found their expression fulfilling. Integrating these into their whole personalities, cross-dressers are able to smooth off some of the macho rough edges programmed by their upbringing. The result is a happier, healthier whole person.

http://www.vernoncoleman.com/andwhydosome.htm
Vernon Colman comments
Few activities seem to attract more venom and contempt than cross-dressing.

One newspaper writer who found out that her ex-husband was a cross-dressing described him as a `pervert' and dumped a pile of her own old clothes on his mother's doorstep to make her point.

What inspires this level of anger among so many women? Fear, I suppose. However, fear of what? Fear of the competition for the underwear drawer? Fear that he might be gay? Fear that he will stretch everything and ruin her tights? Fear that the neighbors will find out?

Dressing up in the sort of clothes usually worn by women is one of the most harmless activities imaginable and yet it is one of the most socially misunderstood.

Lots of men dress up - as freemasons, soldiers or special constables - and transvestism is just a fun variation on the dressing up theme but our society has developed in such a way that what we choose to wear does, to a very large extent, define what we are, who we are and what others think of us.

The judge wears a gown and a wig. The priest wears a gown. The bishop wears a particularly fine gown. Kings wear robes and crowns. Hotel porters, car park attendants, railway staff, airline flight attendants and people in a thousand other different types of employment wear clothes that help identify them. Plumbers wear overalls. Doctors wear white coats. Nurses wear uniforms.

As our society becomes more and more complex, so the uniforms become increasingly important. We define people by whether they have `white collar' or `blue collar' jobs.

Men who cross-dress are throwing an enormous spanner into the works of this finely balanced piece of social machinery. It is, perhaps, hardly surprising that cross-dressing produces so much confusion, bewilderment and resentment and so many pejorative remarks.

Despite the popularity of transvestism, hardly anything is known about this `hobby' - other than the fact that many men do it. (Many women cross-dress too but transvestism among women is socially accepted. Millions of women regularly wear trousers and suits.).

The idea of men in clothes usually worn by women may sound like a joke. However, it is not. Putting on female clothes is, for thousands of men, the best way to deal with stress and escape from the responsibilities of being a man. `If I did not cross-dress,' one man told me, `I'd be dead. I had high blood pressure, which pills could not control. Wearing feminine clothing brought my blood pressure under control.'

Precise figures are difficult to obtain but my research shows that in an average week 100,000 in every 1,000,000 men dress - for some of the time - in something soft, silky or frilly. Often they just wear a camisole and panties underneath their male clothes.

Most cross-dressers live in constant fear of being found out. Around a quarter of male transvestites have never dared share their secret with their wives. That means that around the world millions of women are married to transvestites - and do not know it. In every million women, there will be around 25,000 who are unknowingly married to (or living with) transvestites.

Transvestism crosses all social and professional barriers. Your best friend, your golf partner, your doctor, your boss or your husband could be a secret transvestite. The chances are high that someone you know well is a cross-dressing.

Here are some facts I uncovered in a survey of 1014 British transvestites: (It is, I think, the biggest ever survey of cross-dressers.)

* Well over three-quarters of all transvestites regularly wear the sort of underwear worn by women under their male clothing. Many of the rest would do so if they were not frightened of being found out by wives.

* Less than half of all transvestites go out of their homes fully dressed as women and most of these are honest enough to admit that they do not fool anyone. However, for most this is not important. They want to dress in the sort of clothes worn by women - not become women.

* Transvestism must be one of the most harmless hobbies. Yet nearly three-quarters of male transvestites admit that they live in constant fear of being found out by prejudiced relatives, neighbors or employers. One man who wrote to me to help with my survey drove to a nearby town to post his anonymous letter. Many say they do not understand why women can wear male clothing - but men cannot wear female clothes.

* Some wives are scornful and dismissive. Others are patronizing and refuse to try to understand. Repeatedly I have read pitiful letters from transvestites whose wives `allow' them to dress for one hour a week - as long as they do it in secret.

* Three-quarters of all transvestites' partners know that the man in their lives dresses in women's clothing. However, a quarter of partners do not know.

* There is a good reason for the secrecy since most wives or girlfriends who know about their partner's cross-dressing disapprove. They miss a lot of fun by being so selfish, narrow-minded and disapproving.

* Happily, just over a third of wives and girlfriends actively help their men dress as women by helping with makeup and clothes. Many women admit they get a sexual turn on from seeing their male partner in silky, feminine clothes. It is common for transvestites whose partners do approve to have sex while dressed as a woman.

* The vast majority of transvestites are heterosexual.

* The average transvestite spends 12 hours a week dressed as a woman - but would like to spend 70 hours a week (rather more than half the `waking' week) dressed in feminine clothes.

* A growing number of men have discovered that putting on stockings and a frock is the quickest way to escape from the stressful responsibilities of being a man. I have little doubt that more men would live longer if transvestism were more widely accepted.

I believe that transvestism is one of the least harmful of all hobbies and one that no man should feel ashamed of. It is, I believe, a perfectly acceptable way for any man to escape from the day to day stresses of being a man in a stressful world. It is fun and clearly gives many men a great deal of pleasure and it is difficult to think of any activity, which is less likely to do harm to anyone.

Men who dress in women's' clothes bring out a normal, healthy part of their own femininity, broaden their outlook on life and enjoy a temporary respite from the responsibilities and demands of being male.

I am always sad to read of the number of women who do not accept their husband is cross-dressing. Time after time, I have opened letters from men whose wives have treated them horrendously badly.

I think it is appalling that any woman should have the nerve to say to her partner: `Oh, well if you must then I suppose you must - but you can only do it for an hour a week and you must make sure that the curtains are drawn and that I'm well out of the house and by the way I don't want to see any sign of your silly women's clothing and so on when I get back.'

No woman would, I hope, dare say anything like this to a man who took up golf or model making.

I think it is sad that transvestism should be regarded as so much more horrendous than anything else - though I believe that deep-seated and false prejudices are probably at the root of it all.

Many women probably assume that most transvestites are either homosexual or else candidates for sex change surgery.

However, overall, there is a huge difference between transvestites and transsexuals. Transsexuals are like golfers - they lose their balls. Transvestites are keen to keep theirs.

My survey has made it clear that the vast majority of transvestites are heterosexual and happy to be men. (Curiously, cross-dressing is so misunderstood and commonly reviled that some women would doubtless prefer it if they found out that their husband was gay or wanted to change sex.)

The full results of my survey into cross-dressing appear in my book `Men in Dresses', which appears in full on this website.

The previous paragraphs Copyright Vernon Coleman 2004

Cross-Dressing General Definition

Cross-Dressing General Definition

Wikipedia defines cross-dressing as a noun; cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothing another accouterment commonly associated with the opposite sex within a society.  The Free Dictionary defines cross-dressing as a noun, the practice of adopting the clothes or the manner or the sexual role of the opposite sex. Learners Dictionary defines cross-dressing as a noun, the act or practice of wearing clothes made for the opposite sex. 

The general dictionary term denotes an action or a behavior without attributing or proposing causes for that behavior. Some people automatically connect cross-dressing behavior to transgender identity or sexual, fetishist, and homosexual behavior, but the term cross-dressing itself does not imply any motives.

About 2-25% of normal, healthy, heterosexual male population may enjoy the feel of wearing women's clothing. For the most part, these men lead normal, productive lives and keep their cross-dressing limited and private. To cross-dress is a personal chose and private activity subject to no one's disapproval.  Psychologists in the past tried to associate cross-dressing as a problem but in general, in today's time, Psychologists do not even regard cross-dressing as a problem - unless the cross-dresser considers it a problem.

All this seems simple enough but people will bring up what the bible says about a man or woman in the clothes of the other.

Cross-dressing &A religious reference

A cross-dressing, "A man's item shall not be a woman, and a man shall not wear a woman's garment; whoever does such a thing is an abhorrence unto Adonai." Deuteronomy 22:5  http://www.beki.org/crossdress.html.  Many men feel guilt after they cross-dress and it is mainly that the Christian Religions has associated cross-dressing with sin. The basic or the Christian Religion is all men are sinners but only he without sin shall cast the first stone. So, if cross-dressing is a sin, it must be a minor one for it did not even get put on the big list of the Ten Commandment.  Maybe cross-dressing is not a sin at all but is it not up to God to decide and not a man?  From a more understanding and forgiving God, we are told that some men have given a challenge by God to explore oneself to the fullest and to discover their true self.

While except for the transsexual, all men who don feminine clothes can be termed as cross-dressers in the general sense.  Many other terms are used today specifically to define cross-dressers by their reason for cross-dressing.

The group of people who cross-dress can be broken into three distant groups, Transvestite, Transgendered, and Transsexual.

Transvectors

A transvestite (TV or cross-dresser) is someone who gets enjoyment from dressing in the clothes normally associated with the opposite sex. It may be merely underwear, full clothing, or include makeup, wigs, jewelry, and perfume. Cross-dressing is primary a male activity.  The general convention is to label all cross-dressers as the transvestite.

There is arguably more debate about whether transvectors can be classed as a disorder and/or sexually deviant than any other paraphilia. Transvectors has traditionally been defined as the cross-dressing in clothes worn by the opposite sex for sexual pleasure. However, there are many groups of people who may dress in the clothes of the opposite sex but may experience absolutely no sexual arousal whatsoever. Therefore, those who study paraphilic behavior are more likely to use the term ‘transvestic fetishism’ to describe the small group of people (typically male but there are some documented female cases in the literature) who derive their sexual pleasure from cross-dressing. Therefore, transvestite groups (where the word simply refers to cross-dressing) may comprise Femmiphile, Female Impersonator, Transvestic fetishism, Periodic transvestites, Marginal transvestites.

Cross-Dressing Femmiphile

This is the most common form of a crossdresser. Virginia Prince, a Transgender Pioneer coined the terms “feminiphilia” and “feminiphile” in Transvestia #7 (January 1977). The spelling of these terms would change over the years to femmephobia and femmiphile, sometimes capitalized, sometimes not. To signal an association with the dual personality or ‘girl within’ mode of identity, writers sometimes utilized Prince’s lexicon of “true transvestite,” “femmiphile,” or “femme percolator,” often abbreviated as “FP.” In its simplicity, the femmiphile is a person who has a love for what our society considers being feminine and a very strong desire to associate them with the feminine. Femmiphiles have high admiration for the female and wish to emulate them as much as possible. FEMMIPHILE (FP)"Lover of the feminine." A term used to describe crossdressers by those that find the terms crossdresser and transvestite offensive.

Female impersonators who cross-dress to entertain,

Cross-dressing Female Impersonator

A female impersonator is a person whose prime reason for cross-dressing is employment. They have perfected their cross-dressing act into a performing art. It is interesting to note that the late James Cagney got his start in show business as a female impersonator.

An extreme act of cross-dressing is the Drag queens as related to the performance art:

Wikipedia defines a "drag queen as usually a male-bodied person who performs as an exaggeratedly feminine character, in heightened costuming sometimes consisting of a showy dress, high-heeled shoes, obvious makeup, and wig. A drag queen may imitate famous female film or pop-music stars. "

Drag involves wearing highly exaggerated and outrageous costumes or imitating movie and music stars of the opposite sex. It is a form of performing art practiced by a drag queen and drag kings. Drag is often found in a gay or lesbian context. The term "drag king" can also apply to people from the female-to-male side of the transgender spectrum that do not see themselves as exclusively male identified, therefore covering a much wider ground than a "drag queen". Although many drag queens, they are drag artists of all genders and sexualities who do drag for various reasons or purposes.

Cross-Dressing Transvestic fetishism

The term "fetishism" originated from the Portuguese word feitico, which means "obsessive fascination". (Psychology Today, 2005) Fetishism was introduced as a psychological scientific term in 1887 by Alfred Binet. (Grachev, 2006) The term "fetish" comes from "fetishism" and was used to describe religious relics found in tribal cultures by the Old World Portuguese explorers. Fetishism in anthropologic contexts refers to the ancient belief that godly powers can inhere in inanimate things. (Felluga, 2011) In its original anthropological context, a fetish was any religious artifact which tribal peoples believed had magical powers. (Brame, 2006) Fetishism is the idea of an object having supernatural powers or powers over another human being. Sigmund Freud was the first to describe the concept and activities of Sexual Fetishism. In 1927, Freud suggested that fetishism was the result of a psychological trauma, the trauma of a female lacking a penis; according to Freud, "fetishes are unconscious elements and are concrete forms of unconscious fantasies" (Lowenstein, 2002) and occurs "almost exclusively" among men; theorists in the late 20th century began to challenge this notion.

Transvestic fetishists cross-dress for their sexual pleasure and included men who divine in some cases may involve sexual arousal from a very specific piece of clothing.

Transvestic fetishism is a term used in the medical community to refer to one who has a fetish for wearing the clothing of the opposite gender. This is considered a derogatory term by some, as it implies a hierarchy of value in which the sexual element of behavior is of low social value. Many reject the term "transvestite" for this reason, preferring cross-dresser instead. It is often difficult to distinguish between fetishism that happens to have female clothing as an object other reasons for men to cross-dress for sexual play. Some people feel that transvestic fetishism does not count as true cross-dressing.

Men with a cross-dressing fetish associate an article of woman clothing such as woman's shoes, panties, stockings or other garments with sexual arousal.  The man does not know why but female garments hold a special visual or tactile sensation attraction. This fetish is imprinted upon his mind.  When his body comes in contact with the female garments his brain is hard-wired to release neurotransmitters (dopamine, oxytocin and a host other neurotransmitters). These neurotransmitters produce sensations of well-being, pleasure, sexual gratification and self-identity. It is as if the cross-dressing has fooled his brain into thinking that he has achieved contact with a female. His body responds to sexual gratification, stimulation, etc. resulting his hormones to be elevated. Contact with female garments simulates a natural reaction to be sexually excited.  At this point self-stimulation to climax may be the only release available.  The neurotransmitters affect the reward centers of the brain with the instant gratification and mimicking an addiction response. Contact with woman garments is an autoerotic response which cannot stop his brain from releasing the neurotransmitters. The act of cross-dressing provides a pleasurable experience. Each time the act repeats, it becomes entrenched in his id, he feels as if he cannot stop cross-dressing.

For many men, women's clothing becomes associated with sex. Items like bras and panties can be a visual cue for sexual arousal.  An example would be the normal response to Victor Secrets CBS Fashion Show or Sports Illustrated Swim Suite Addition. Woman undergarments can become fetish objects by a simple process of association with the arousal when they see them on desirable women.  While it might not be a logical step some men will try on such inherently arousing garments. Under the influence of a sexual needs, the touch and feel of the garments are enough to climax. 

Dressing now can stimulate both visual and touching and this to a man that is in the mood, the man is primed in some way to be sexually aroused by the dressing actions. Thus, the sight of a stocking covered foot in a high-heeled shoe or of a satin dress pulled taught across a soft belly, even though these things on your own body still evoke the usual arousal response. His own physical intimacy and touching also lead his sexual arousal. One's own body is about as physically intimate as it is possible to be when dressing. In the already sexually charged atmosphere of a cross-dressing session, the touch of sensual fabrics against the body, the feel of the smooth lines and surfaces imprints a pleasurable response, which in the action is addicting.

For over a hundred years, the American Psychological Association has tried to associate cross-dressing as unhealthy, and illness, a dysfunction or a disorder.  The "Transvestic Fetishism" in the DSM-III-R (APA, 1987) was an attempt to make all cross-dressing a perversion. The very name equates cross-dressing with sexual fetishism and social stereotypes of perversion. It serves to sexualize a diagnosis that does not clearly require a sexual context. Cross-dressing by males very often represents a social expression of an inner sense of identity. In fact, the clinical literature cites many cases, considered diagnosable under transvestic fetishism, which present no sexual motivation for cross-dressing and by no means represent fetishism (Wise & Meyer, 1980).

When a person who is sexually aroused by the wearing of certain articles of feminine clothing, it is said he has a fetish. Unlike the average crossdresser, the fetish will not dress completely, and will only dress when they wish sexual arousal. In some cases, the true fetish may not even become aroused unless wearing the article of feminine clothes that give him pleasure.

Effeminate Homosexual

Effeminate homosexuals (who may occasionally cross-dress for fun), Effeminacy describes traits in a human male, that are more often associated with traditional feminine nature, behavior, mannerisms, style or gender roles rather than masculine nature, behavior, mannerisms, style or roles.

It is a term frequently applied to womanly behavior, demeanor, style, and appearance displayed by a male, typically used implying criticism or ridicule of this behavior (as opposed to, for example, merely describing a male as feminine, which is non-judgmental). The term effeminate is most often used by people who subscribe to the conventional view that males should conform to traditional masculine traits and behaviors. Generally, the description is applied to individuals but may be used to describe entire societies as an inflammatory allegation.  In the Western tradition, as described below, effeminacy has often been considered a vice, indicative of other negative character traits and often involving a pejorative insinuation of homosexual tendencies. In other societies, feminine males may be considered a distinct human gender (third gender) and may have a special social function, as is the case of Two-Spirits in some Native American groups. Furthermore, in contemporary culture, effeminacy has come to be seen by some to be simply one characteristic or trait which might be a part of a particular person's "gender role", and in this sense, would not be considered a vice or indicative of any other characteristics. An effeminate male is like a fop or a dandy, though these tend to be archaic identities that are taken on by the individual rather than insulting labels.

There have been a couple of relatively large-scale studies of transvestism including that of Dr. Richard Doctor and Dr. Virginia Prince (California State University, USA) who surveyed 1,032 transvestites, and Dr. Niklas Långström (Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden) and Dr. Kenneth Zucker (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) who examined transvestic in a Swedish community survey of 2,540 adults. This and other research has suggested there appear to be at least two distinct sub-groups of transvestic fetishists (‘periodic transvestites’ and ‘marginal transvestites’).

Periodic Transvestites

Periodic transvestites: These transvestites are said to have psychological satisfaction with both their male gender and sexual identity, and with the activity of cross-dressing activity. Furthermore, they have no desire to pursue any other form of feminization.

Marginal Transvestites

Marginal transvestites: These transvestites experience psychological dissatisfaction with their male gender and sexual identity. The sexual arousal experienced from cross-dressing is typically lower than that of periodic transvestites. They may also engage in other feminization activities including hormone treatment, bodily hair removal, and (in extreme cases) surgical reconstruction. Some marginal transvestites may, therefore, include transsexuals who cross-dress not only for sexual pleasure but also for gender synchrony.

Virginia Prince is oftentimes given credit for coining the term “transgenderist” and “transgenderism” in 1978. In 1977, Prince writes of three types of different types of Trans experiences: class one, “regular transvestite or femmiphile”; class two—those males who live as women openly and in society (transgendered); and class three—those who undergo or who “seriously plan” sex change surgery (transsexual).

Transsexualism

Transsexualism describes the condition in which an individual identifies with a gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with their assigned sex, i.e. in which a person's assigned sex at birth conflicts with their psychological gender. A medical diagnosis can be made if a person experiences discomfort because of a desire to be a member of the opposite sex, or if a person experiences impaired functioning or distress because of that gender identification. Transsexualism is stigmatized in many parts of the world but has become more widely known in Western culture in the mid to late 20th century, concurrently with the sexual revolution and the development of sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Discrimination or negative attitudes towards transsexualism often accompany certain religious beliefs or cultural values. There are cultures that have no difficulty integrating people who change gender roles, often holding them with high regards, such as the traditional role for 'two-spirit' people found among certain native American tribes.

Transgenderist

Unlike the average crossdresser who will spend most of his time in the masculine role, a transgenderist is a person who lives and works in the cross-gendered role full-time. Unlike the transsexual, he is content with his male organs and does not plan surgery to remove them.

Transgender, "in between"

Transgender is an umbrella term used to describe anyone whose gender identity or expression situates them differently than the traditional gender role they were assigned at birth. Some of the countless categories incorrectly lumped together under this term include cross-dressing, drag, androgyny, and many shadings between these larger groupings.

"Transgender" is also used to describe behavior or feelings that cannot be categorized into these older sub-categories. For example, people living in a gender role that is different from the one they were assigned at birth, but who do not wish to undergo any or all of the available medical options.  Or people who do not wish to identify themselves as "transsexuals", "men" or "women", and consider that they fall between genders, or transcend gender.

Some people who present as female, but with male genitalia may have been born intersexual but may also be transsexual or transgender, who do the transition (taking estrogens and/or other methods) to achieve some desired secondary sex characteristics, but not sexual reassignment surgery. Sometimes these individuals are referred to as ladyboy or she male (compare there), but these terms are considered derogatory by many, including most transgender or transsexual people not working in the sex industry.

Persons with a gender identity disorder have had strong feelings since childhood that they were born in the wrong body. They want to belong to the opposite sex, e.g. they want to be a woman instead of a man and vice versa. This can be seen in children when they keep on indicating that they want to belong to the opposite sex, want to wear clothes of the opposite sex and have a strong and continuous preference for playing the role of the other sex or pretending to belong to this sex. They also want to play games and have pastimes of the other sex and preferably play with pals of the other sex.

In 1982, Kurt Freund reported evidence that there exist two types of cross-gender identity in male-to-female transsexuals, coined the term "homosexual transsexual" and hypothesized that gender dysphoria in "homosexual males" (male-to-female transsexuals attracted to men) is different from gender dysphoria in heterosexual males. His protégé, Ray Blanchard notes that "Freund, perhaps for the first time of any author, employed a term other than transvestism to denote erotic arousal in association with cross-gender fantasy."

Blanchard's observations at the Clarke Institute began with four types of male transsexuals based on their sexual orientation relative to their sex assigned at birth: homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, and asexual (i.e., transsexuals attracted to men, women, both, or neither, respectively.) Blanchard conducted a series of studies of biological males with gender dysphoria, including male-to-female transsexuals, concluding that there exist two distinct types. One type of gender dysphoria/transsexualism manifests itself in individuals who are exclusively attracted to men, whom Blanchard referred to as homosexual transsexuals, adopting Freund's terminology. The other type includes those who are attracted to females (gynophilic), attracted to both males and females (bisexual), and attracted to neither males nor females (analloerotic or asexual); Blanchard referred to this latter set collectively as the non-homosexual transsexuals. Blanchard claims that the non-homosexual transsexuals (but not the homosexual transsexuals) exhibit autogynephilic, which he defined as a paraphilic interest in having female anatomy.

Transsexual, "woman trapped in a man's body"

While often confused with the crossdresser, transsexuals are NOT considered cross-dressers. Unlike cross-dressers who recognize themselves as males with a feminine part to them, the transsexual is a person who is psychologically a member of one sex, and physiologically a member of the opposite sex. Unlike the crossdresser, the transsexual cannot be content unless the physiological body is surgically altered to be congruent with the psychological person who occupies that body. While cross-dressing for personality expression is far more common in masculine to feminine form, transsexualism is about equally common in female to male as it is in male to female.

There is usually a great sense of discomfort with one's own anatomic sex, often with distaste or disgust with their genitalia. The person seeks to alter the body appears to be of the preferred sex.  Many transsexuals will undergo and sex reassignment surgery (SRS) to become the other sex.  They are said to be pre-op when taking hormones to enlarge their breasts and reduce body hair prior to surgery.  Post-op after the surgery.

Autogynephilic

Autogynephilic is the "mental illness" described by the pseudoscientific theory that male assigned-at-birth sexual transsexuals who have any sexual interest except exclusively to men, have a fetish with viewing themselves as females. This covers lesbian, bisexual, and asexual transsexuals. The term roughly translates from Greek to "Self Poon Lovin'." The theory was originated by Ray Blanchard and Kurt Fruend in the 1980s, and endorsed by onetime celebrity psychologist J.Michael Bailey (who was later forced to resign as psychology chair at Northwestern University).

The theory is often accompanied by the notion that transsexuals attracted exclusively to men take an identical developmental route as homosexuals, but are so overtly effeminate that they find it difficult to operate in life as even a homosexual man. And since these transsexuals are developmentally identical to homosexual men, they are labeled "homosexual transsexuals."

From the Science of Relationships website, www.scienceofrelationships.com, Copyright © 2012, the article Cross-Dressing and Gender-Bending: Separating Science Fact from Fiction by Dr. Justin Lehmille.

http://www.scienceofrelationships.com/home/2011/10/31/cross-dressing-and-gender-bending-separating-science-fact-fr.html

Dr. Justin Lehmille writes,

First and foremost, transvestites and transsexuals could not be more different. A transvestite is someone who engages in cross-dressing for purposes of sexual arousal but does not truly wish to change his or her gender.1 In other words, transvestites dress as members of the opposite sex simply because it turns them on. Some dress up entirely as the opposite gender, while others were only a single piece of the other sex’s clothing (e.g., a male transvestite might wear just panties or a bra). You can think of transvestism as a type of fetish where a certain object or action is necessary to “give yourself over to absolute pleasure” (if I may borrow a line from Rocky Horror).

Dr. Justin Lehmille continues, in comparison, transsexuals do not cross-dress because they get a kick out of it—rather; they do so because they genuinely want to change their gender identity. Transsexuals experience what is known as gender dysphoria, which means they feel as though they are trapped in the body of the wrong sex.2 It is for this reason that transsexuals sometimes undergo sexual reassignment surgery to change their body’s appearance to be consistent with their desired gender (case in point: Dancing with the Stars contestant Chaz Bono). If I may borrow one more line from Rocky Horror, Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s advice to a transsexual would probably be: “Don’t dream it, be it.”

 Transgender and transsexualism are only regarded as a disorder if they make a person unhappy and unsatisfied, or cause problems in relation to other people. If they are happy with it, and it causes no problem, it is a personality trait, but not a disorder.

Note that transgender need not include a wish to have sex playing another sex role than born with. Note also that some people normally use their normal gender role, but sometimes wish to try out the reverse gender role.

Cross-Dressing A physiological definition

© Emma Michelle Martin and Elevated Therapy - Oct '99 title "A Guide to Gender Dysphasia" provides a definition including Transvestism, can find cross-dressing in an article. "A transvestite (TV or cross-dresser) is someone who gets enjoyment from dressing in the clothes normally associated with the opposite sex. It may be merely underwear, full clothing, or include makeup, wigs, jewelry and perfume."

The reader might ask if you do not get enjoyment from dressing are you a transvestite.  The answer is very confusing.   At the American Psychological Association (APA),

http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.aspx

The APA has grouped cross-dresser in with the term "transgender" and an identity disorder.  Transgender was coined by Dr. Virginia Prince in the mid-1970's to differentiate those individuals who wanted to live in the opposite gender role without surgery from those that wanted surgery. 

The DSM-IV-TR (1994) does not acknowledge the existence of healthy, well-adjusted male-identified heterosexual cross-dressers.  DSM-IV-TR (1994) does not attempt to differentiate between the ego-syntonic, not distressed heterosexual cross-dressers and those who are ego-dystonic or distressed by guilt other significant distress that disrupts their daily life.

The APA further labels cross-dresser with a disorder, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-Text Revised (2000) of the American Psychiatric Association, which refers to cross-dressing as “transvestic fetishism”, though it does make it clear that the diagnosis applies to:

“Heterosexual males who have sexually arousing fantasies urges, or behaviors involving cross-dressing (wearing female clothing). To be considered diagnosable, the fantasies urges, or behaviors must cause significant distress in the individual or be disruptive to his or her everyday functioning.”

The male-to-female cross-dresser who is not diagnosed with “significant distress” by his dressing, nor has his “everyday functioning” disrupted by it, is not considered to have “Transvestic fetishism”, or paraphilia unless the dressing interferes with his “satisfactory sexual relations” or the “recognize the symptoms as negatively impacting life but feel as if he is unable to control them.”

Other countries have a different approach to the subject, the International Classification of Diseases-10 (1994) of the World Health Organization since the latter refers to cross-dressing as “dual-role transvestism” and lists it under “Gender identity disorders”. The ICD-10 then defines it as:

“The wearing of clothes of the opposite sex for part of the individual’s existence to enjoy the temporary experience of membership of the opposite sex, but without any desire for a more permanent sex change or associated surgical reassignment, and without sexual excitement accompanying the cross-dressing.”

The ICD-10 does not refer to the sexual nature of cross-dressing, as does DSM-IV-TR. This is particularly relevant to those many cross-dressers who maintain that they are not sexually aroused by cross-dressing; they are not distressed by it, and it does not negatively affect their lives in any way.

Separately from historical precedent and social constructs, there is no valid reason why strong sexual interests, unusual or otherwise, be diagnosed as mental disorders, nor that cross-dressing is categorized as a ‘sexual disorder’. Also, cross dress is primary a heterosexual activity with only less than a third having tried a homosexual act.

Cross-Dressing Sexual Web Site

Defines cross-dressing "someone who enjoys wearing clothing and accessories intended for a different gender role." Cross-dressing men will dress for both sexual and non-sexual reasons.

There can be as many definitions for cross-dressing as there are experts.  For the book, cross-dressing is the act or practice of wearing clothing associated with the opposite sex.  A cross-dresser is a person who derives enjoyment from dressing in the clothes associated with the opposite sex.

There are many different categories of men that of cross-dress and they dress for many different reasons.  The term underdressing describes male cross-dressers wearing female undergarments under their male clothes. Underdressing can be as simple as wearing just nylon stockings, or pantyhose or just woman panties.  There are a large group of men on the Internet, "Men in panties" or Men in Stocking" that will cross-dress occasionally wearing woman undergarments under their guy clothes.  These men are mostly straight; some are bisexual, rarely gay.  They live normal lives with their wives, family co-workers not knowing their secret.  The famous low-budget filmmaker Edward D. Wood, Jr. reported he often wore women's underwear under his military uniform during World War II. Underdressed my dress this way as a matter of comfort or style while other Underdress or dress to shock others or challenge social norms.

Some men who cross-dress have facial hair, beards and or mustaches enjoy dressing in woman's undergarments and woman's outer garments.  Their appearance from the neck down is feminine.  Sometimes they wear a wig.  This type of cross-dressing is called gender-bending. No attempt by the man is made to act as a female, nor does he pretend to be a female.

Many men who cross-dress enjoy and desire they are forced to dress and they take on a role of a submissive.  They dress as maids, schoolgirls, streetwalker or other degrading female types. This activity usually involves a partner male or female who assists in the dressing fantasy. These men are called sissy, and the actions on them by other is called sissification.

She-male is a man who has his breast enlarged.  They can be pre-op or have no desire to fully change to be a woman.  They enjoy being half man half woman and adapt the mannerism of woman. A she-male is in high sexual demand and many she-males charges for their time.

In summary if, you wear an article of clothing of a female you are a cross-dresser. If you are distress about cross-dress and it is affecting your life and relationships then you are diagnosed as a transvestite.  If you cross-dress to be treated like a woman, you can be considered transgendered. If you dress in female’s clothes because you think you are a female trapped in a man's body you are said to be a transwoman.  If you desire to change your sex to a female, you are said to be transsexual.  Some cross-dresser may have a disorder called Transvestic Fetishism if they have recurrent, intense, sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies, of at least six months' duration, involving cross-dressing. However, most cross-dressers are likely a heterosexual with no desire to be a woman and not having sex with a man.

If all this is confusing then you can understand why society has a misunderstanding for men who dress in woman clothing.