What is the difference between a cross dresser and a transvestite

[stephi]

Can anybody help me here. From what I can gather, the former doesnt sound as "bad" as the latter when explaining / coming out, etc i.e. less extreme, less of a sexual connotation / note about it. I call myself by both but wondered - does it matter anyway? Are cross dressers more straight and transvestites on the way to full re-assignment.

Perhaps a philosophical question, what do you girls call yourselves??

Intrigued Stephi XOX

:brolleyes:

[Jonelle]

I have referred to myself as both... I think cross dresser is more politically correct.

[GaleWarning]

I am a crossdresser - a man who believes that I can wear clothing tradionally considered to be women's.

I am not a transvestite. I am a male, however I am dressed. There is no gender confusion in my brain.

[SuzanneBender]

One has twelve letters and one has 11 letters in it.

In the good ole USofA Transvestite is considered pejorative slang for someone who crossdresses. It does have a sexual connotation with it because of the use of transvestite in many porn venues. However, the term in not nearly as politically incorrect on the other side of the pond.

[Emily Ann Brown]

I don't call myself either. The T word sounds so clinic...and I don't have a disease. The C word sounds like I am jumping teams or on the fence. I am transgender.

Em

[Christina Horton]

You can ask this of 100 people and you will get a lot of different answers but here's my take on it.

A crossdresser is a Heterosexual man who dresses as a women because he either Identifies with women or gender identified as a women and is not gay.

A transvestite Is a straight man who like to wear women's clothes as a sexual come on and a way to get into the mood and play, but does not want to dress or be a women.

A Transsexual is of course a man or women whom want a sex change and feels that they were born into the wrong sex.

A Drag Queen is a gay man or a straight man dressing up as a women to entertain . Or a guy man living as a women . Drag King is a women dressing as a man gay or straight.

So thats my take on it. I might be right or wrong in other peoples mind but it's my opinion but that is never Wong , it's just mine lol. Hope that helped!!!

Oh ya Transgender is all of the above. It just says I'm This and you can figger it out lol.

[RachelPortugal]

Only the spelling!

[Jennifer Marie P.]

I label myself as a Tgirl.

[cindym5_04]

This is just my opinion:

Crossdresser- wears one of more items of clothing of the opposite sex. Doesn't usually try to "pass" or anything like that.

Transvestite- Dresses up fully and wants to "pass" as a woman, yet has no desire to go through surgery or hormones, etc.

I think both cd's and tv's can both use items as a means of a sexual turn on, but is not necessarily the case. Personally, I very much hate it when it's automatically assumed that just because I dress, I have a sexual arousal association with it.

[Kelly DeWinter]

About 12 Months ?


This is just my opinion:

Crossdresser- wears one of more items of clothing of the opposite sex. Doesn't usually try to "pass" or anything like that.

LOL, You might want to rethink your definition of Crossdresser, because from the majority of the photos on here, that is simply not the case.

Transvestite- Dresses up fully and wants to "pass" as a woman, yet has no desire to go through surgery or hormones, etc.

Same with this one.

I think both cd's and tv's can both use items as a means of a sexual turn on, but is not necessarily the case. Personally, I very much hate it when it's automatically assumed that just because I dress, I have a sexual arousal association with it.

I agree 100% with you here . :)



A score of 33%, Now you have to go back to RuPaul's School ! LOL

Kelly

P.S. I call myself Kelly !

[JohnH]

About 12 Months ?

Let's see the further progression (mtf):

And then another 12 months, a transgender woman after HRT takes effect.

And yet another 12 months, a transsexual woman after SRS.

Just kidding. :)

Let's see - trans means cross

and

vestite is related to vestments, or clothing, so vestite would mean dresser.

So properly speaking, transvestite is a Latin form of crossdresser.

Johanna

[kitchenette]

Kelly! LOL!

Stephi, I think there's a lot of people here who shy away from labels. You asked an honest question, and I'm sure everyone has their own opinion. My thoughts - don't worry about it and just be whoever you want to be. I think there are so many people in a vaaaaaaast spectrum here and our little corner of the pretty universe just happens to be called cders.com out of convenience. It should be called beautifulpeople.com.

[KarenCDFL]

I figure the difference is about $85.00 dollars an hour at a therapist!

[Kelly DeWinter]

I figure the difference is about $85.00 dollars an hour at a therapist!

lol

[daphne g]

Hay all
Me being naive,the first time I heard of
Crossdressers was on the internet
Did they already exist or were we all
Just plain transvestites up till then?
Bye bye

[NicoleScott]

Hogwash to all who say there's a difference. They are the same: crossdresser is the English version of the Latin-based transvestite. Trans=cross, vest=clothing (dress, as in dressed, not as in a red dress)

[minalost]

Hogwash to all who say there's a difference. They are the same: crossdresser is the English version of the Latin-based transvestite. Trans=cross, vest=clothing (dress, as in dressed, not as in a red dress)

All good answers, but I most agree with Nicole. I think it's like the guy named Robert: he might go by Robert, Rob, Bob, or Dick; it all depends on what he wants to be called. I'd rather be called (if I must be called anything...) a crossdresser than a transvestite. It's just a matter of personal preferance because, like Nicole, I think they both mean the same thing.

[Helenchapel]

Its a very good question and one which I have seen thrashed around the transgender world on the internet and in publishing for years. In my opinion there is no exact definition which everyone seems to agree to. That's not just here on this thread but all over the world. There has always been and still seems to be a great deal of blurred lines in terms of defining a line and saying one more step and now you in this box and no longer in that box etc.

I think the main points have been well made for e.g. Transvestite, TV or tranny is less used and appreciated in the US and even here in the UK seems to be less favoured over 'crossdresser'. I prefer transgender as it does cover just about everything and seems to be seen as a more serious term when trying to educate or communicate with others about our lifestyle. Add to this I think there is an element of us who just love being rebels and the second you say your box 'A'. they will argue for their right to be box 'B' or 'C' or all the above! :)

I think it is helpful to know in your own mind, who and what you are and then explain that clearly and then it doesn't matter so much which title you adopt to describe yourself. I think this subject will go on for some years yet. It is still an on-going conversation.

Hugs
Helen xx

[MichelleP]

"Transvestite" is generally thought to be a more pejorative term than "crossdresser." As in "Transvestic fetishist" a person deriving sexual pleasure from dressing in clothing/attire generally regarded in their culture as feminine. Not all crossdressers don womens clothing for sexual pleasure.

As for me, I've been called both and a whole lot worse. People can call me what they want. However, as the symbol in my avatar suggests - I regard myself transgendered.

[sandra-leigh]

In the USA (and countries that follow their standards), "Transvestite" is a medical diagnosis of mental illness with certain characteristic, found in exactly the same chapter as the description of mental illnesses such as beastiality and even paedophillia.

"Cross-dresser" was a term invented later to say "Hold on, although we might be unusual, we are not suffering from a mental illness, and we are definitely not in the same category as beastiality and paedophillia!

The UK did not evolve under the same criteria, so "transvestite" there was more a descriptive term for actions rather than a judgement about the mental health of the actor.

[Rachel05]

Personally for me I like to be a cross dresser and I am happy with that

[Christy_M]

I agree that the two words mean the same thing. That is purely opinion, though. when I talk about it with my wife I use the term "dressed" or "dressed up" to describe the act getting or being en femme. when I describe myself I use the term Transgendered. It does sound a bit more serious than the other two words that some in society see as a choice that people make to do something different rather than a state of being that manifests itself through women's clothes or appearance. I think given the choice I would rather not have something looming over me that could wreak havoc on every facet of my life. ergo, Christy is not a choice but an alternate state of my being...or so I tell myself.

[TGMarla]

The answer is the same one to the question, "What kind of meat does a Catholic priest eat on Fridays?"

Nun.

[Suzette Muguet de Mai]

Hmm, CD yep great storage device, TV yep love it better now I got 3D TV. Both are ok at present but maybe out of date soon. I prefer to label myself as " a bloke who likes to wear different types of material that looks nice to me, and may offend others, but who cares". I don't think I am a guy who wears a dress because there are lots of other things I may wear: shorts,skirts,tops,leggings,shoes,boots,jewelry, overspray from the paint gun. I don't get any sexual arousement because I sure as hell do not turn me on when dressed, yuk, but love the way a well cut and styled dress or skirt falls and moves when I move. I guess if I was to label myself I have to go with CD but would like a different label to TV or CD. I feel that the labels CD or TV have been tainted with derogatory remarks from uninformed people. Its time for a change.

[JulieC]

Leave the labels for the cans and jars. Your own sense of self can and never will be defined by a single word.

[Jonelle]

I am nothing but a body, which just so happens to fit into all the pretty clothes I buy!! ;)

[Melody Phillips]

I feel comfortable with the term crossdresser. Transvestite seems a little dated. I'm sure there are all sorts of "offical terms" created by medical "experts" but in the end it is what we feel most comfortable with.

[Kate Lynn]

Since I gave up wearing makeup 18 years ago after a car accident,except mascara now and then,I no longer see any point in trying to look like a woman,or emmulate women,I'm more the androgynous dresser type,prefer womens clothing without trying to look like a woman.

If I'm wrong,I'm sure someone will point that out and correct me,but I sure do love the way these Bandolino loafer pumps fit.

[DebsUK]

As someone earlier said they mean literally the same thing. Transvestite is not really a bad term over here, but I think it's a bit formal. As TV it does seem to be used in small ads for hook-ups and in porn which does lend it a bit of a seedy connotation. Crossdresser is a bit more cuddly

[ninapuella]

For me transvestite and crossdresser are the same. No difference. But maybe the term transvestite is more psychologically i dont know...It really doesnt matter...
I categorize myself as transgendered. It feels more right in some way.

[Stephanie Anne]

Nothing but a spelling. One was and older term and the other has replaced it.

I guess if you want to make some sh&^ up you could say a transvestite is a combination of Frankenfurter and Marv Albert where a cross dresser is between Eddie Izzard and RuPaul

[Breanne]

Hogwash to all who say there's a difference. They are the same: crossdresser is the English version of the Latin-based transvestite. Trans=cross, vest=clothing (dress, as in dressed, not as in a red dress)

Right on!


All good answers, but I most agree with Nicole. I think it's like the guy named Robert: he might go by Robert, Rob, Bob, or Dick; it all depends on what he wants to be called. I'd rather be called (if I must be called anything...) a crossdresser than a transvestite. It's just a matter of personal preferance because, like Nicole, I think they both mean the same thing.

Let's see, which do you prefer, six of one or half dozen of another?

[lmildcd]

I consider myself a mild crossdresser. I don't do it everyday and when I do, I don't pretend to be female. It's just a way of cherring myself up when I feel low.

[Lorileah]

Hmmm transvestite...crossdresser.....I am the walrus....you know I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together. Words are like little cubbys, boxes that confine and limit movement. You are you and nothing else.

[NicoleScott]

The answer is the same one to the question, "What kind of meat does a Catholic priest eat on Fridays?"

Nun.

Did you hear about the cannibal who was converted to Catholicism? He ate fishermen on Fridays.

[msginaadoll]

Transgender, transvestitie, crossdresser, tranny, t-girl, bi-closet-al, they are all good to me. I prefer Gina, or Miss Jackson if your Nasty!

[sissystephanie]

Most of you have made fair attempts to detirmine the difference between Crossdresser and Transvestite. But nobody has really given the actual difference! That is probably because nobody else has taken the time that I have to study these things. Keep in mind that I have been a CD for over 60 years and during that time have learned a lot!

A Crossdresser is one who wears the clothing of the opposite sex. There doesn't have to be any given reason, the wearing of the clothes denotes the name!

A Transvestite wears the clothing of the opposite sex for sexual reasons! Most often it is young men who wear feminine clothing to have sex with men!! Some women do it also, but nowhere near as often. The word Transvestite is Latin for Crossdresser, but the meaning is totally different according to medical people who know!

I am a Crossdresser, but I am NOT a Transvestite, and will clobber anyone who calls me that!! I dress simply because I like the look, feel, and fit of feminine clothes! I did dress feminine while having sex with my late wife, because she thought it was fun!! But that is another story! I have no desire to be a woman, merely to dress like one!

But, as Lorileah said a little differently, I am me and that is all!!

[Jill Devine]

Transvestite is the psychological clinical term for a heterosexual male who dresses as a female but still identifies as being male.

Crossdresser is the layman's term for transvestite. They are one and the same. The sexual arousal is measured on a continuum, but is not absolute to the diagnosis. A complete abscense of arousal is one of the key areas between a transvestite and a transgendered person.

It's not about our opinion on the matter: transvestite has a clear medical definition.

PS: I have a degree in clinical psychology.

[Kate Lynn]

did you hear about the cannibal who was converted to catholicism? He ate fishermen on fridays.



muahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.........:roflm ao:

[fluffy]

I treat them as synonyms too. Transvestite just seems a little more 'official'. If you take the word 'transvestite' apart, then you'll find it has the same meaning in it's roots.

[Melissa Rose]

There is so much overlap in the definitions, regardless of which one you embrace, I consider the meanings to be almost the same. They are both labels and labels are not one size fits all. I'm too complex to be described by simple labels. We are all too unique to be described by the same, simple labels. I'm just me. However, I prefer crossdresser; transvestite sounds and feels too clinical for me.

[Jilmac]

Stephi, From the information I've been able to glean the word transvestite was a description for anybody of the male persuasion wearing the clothes of the opposite sex. I'm not sure who coined the word or when, but it was widely used by therapists for many years, but in many cases now has been replaced by transgender which is more of an umbrella term used for the entire alternate gender spectrum.

In my edition of Webster's New College Dictionary, cross dress is defined as: To dress in the clothing characteristic of the opposite sex. Transvestism is defined as: The practice of adopting the dress and often the manners or behavior, of the other sex. I think the accepted term now is crossdresser, that's what I describe myself as. I view transvestite as a more derogatory expression and frown on it's general usage.

Both definitions seem to say the same thing so I guess it's a matter of how a person views herself, which term to use. I hope I could be of help.

[Debglam]

I don't think that there is a clear cut difference. Personally, I don't care for "transvestite" because it brings back bad memories of looking the word up in a medical book as a child and finding out I was "sick."

[docrobbysherry]

Never mind! I really shouldn't post after my evening glass of wine!:drink:


All good answers, but I most agree with Nicole. I think it's like the guy named Robert: he might go by Robert, Rob, Bob, or Dick; it all depends on what he wants to be called. I'd rather be called (if I must be called anything...) a crossdresser than a transvestite. It's just a matter of personal preferance because, like Nicole, I think they both mean the same thing.

Uh, Mina, why r u picking on ME? What have I ever said about U!?:sad:


The answer is the same one to the question, "What kind of meat does a Catholic priest eat on Fridays?"

Nun.

I find parables like this , to be VERY FISHY, Marla!:brolleyes:

[Lena Teegal]

Whatever you want it to mean, everyone has a different definition. Don't get hung up on the words and just be you.

[Edyta_C]

Well I think that the tranvestite label carry the connotation of sexual fetish as part of the rationale for dressing as a woman. Either to play with some one or with himself. Most crossdressers may have had some component (autogynephilia sexual fetish) at some point so the difference is small between crossdresser and tranvestite. Many crosdressers have gender identity issues and therefore can be considered to also be in the transsexual camp. I think was the gist of the post that said something about cd for xx, then ts, then on hrt and then transistioning via SRS. In truth most of us differ alot at where we are in relation to others. If I was healthy, single, and younger; I would be on the road to being a woman. As it is, I need to be content with as much time as I can "playing" at being a woman.
Many of us do not discover ourselves until its is late in my case too late.

Hugs Edy

[Michael]

Yeah the words are synonyms, "trans" means "across", and "vest" refers to clothing, so the words actually mean the same basic thing. But as others here have indicated, even synonyms can have very different connotations to them.
I much prefer calling myself a crossdresser than a transvestite just because it has historical more negative associations to it, and I think the word itself has a harsher sound to it.

I mean it is kind of funny because it makes me think of Dr. Frankenfurter, but then though he was comical he was also kind of a psychopath.

But all that aside, looking at the bigger picture, I have long found the very idea of me being termed a crossdresser a little weird and arbitrary.
Why am I abnormal if I put on some tights, or some eyeliner? Why is this the unassailable domain of women?

For centuries, men in the middle east used eyeliner.
For hundreds of years, men wore makeup in Europe.
They wore colorful tights, silk stockings, lacy ruffly sleeves and collars, heeled pumps with bows or puff balls on the toes.
Brocaded and velvety jerkins and doublets (dresses and blouses basically) that were at least as pretty, delicate, or eyecatching as womens' dresses today.

http://www.longago.com/mediev4.jpg

http://www.florentine-persona.com/Images/gozzoli_tagaste_1460_men.jpg

A large part of what attracts me to "womens'" clothing is that "mens'" clothing has been so damn boring for about 200 years now; the mens' suit has been about the same, we can't even go with a somewhat eye-catching color unless we want people to think we are a pimp.

Oh but we can just go crazy with the silly tie, can't we?*rolls eyes*

[Avana]

check this out:

"The following terminology is taken from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as well as various Gender Identity Project materials. The original GLAAD text may be found on GLAAD's website."

http://www.gaycenter.org/gip/transbasics/glossary

[suit]

crossdresser +debate+tansvestite + panties+ stockings +satin +++? = square root of fearfactor X a satisfied smile/who cares )squared ?

[NoraTV]

I was asked that recently: Which was I. My answer was "Whatever."

I really don't care.

Who i am is the opposite of labels, categories, and diagnoses. I defy definition.

[Mollyanne]

Hiya Stephi, It seems that the "proverbial can of worms " has been opened. It appears that either term applies to each individual as he or she sees fit. I personally don't care what you call me, just don't call me late for dinner!!!!!!

Mollyanne

[SallyS]

Cross-Dresser always seems a less 'clinical' term than transvestite, which sounds like some sort of 'negative' label when other non-cross dressers or the media use the term?

I am a male cross-dresser, its as simple as that for me:)

[Alisa]

Let's see - trans means cross

and

vestite is related to vestments, or clothing, so vestite would mean dresser.

So properly speaking, transvestite is a Latin form of crossdresser.

Johanna


The T word sounds so clinic...and I don't have a disease.

Em

I think they have the same meaning but one is more clinical.

[Kate Simmons]

Not much. When I was a kid, there were only TV's. Now there are CD's and a plethora of others.:battingeyelashes::)

[lauraabdl]

Don't like labels, people just don't have the same deffenitions.
I'm just Laura a crossdresser if you must.

[ThiHi]

Labels. I don't like them either. But I love language. What am I? Great question. Lol. I do look great in stockings.

[t-girlxsophie]

Sod it im a transvestite,crossdresser and t-girl,and proud to be known by any of those descriptions,gone well by the stage that I feel I need to define what I do.just dont call me a Glasgow Rangers fan (scots girls will get that comment lol)

:hugs:Sophie

[susan54]

Labels are for other people. If you have to use them - I agree that in literal terms crossdresser = transvestite, but for many of us the latter suggests a sexual connection.

I am just me in different clothes and with added boobs. I am acting, that's all. The only term I use is gender tourist. I compare myself with someone who loves going to France with passion, and can't wait for the next trip. I love walking, talking, eating and even smelling like the French, and would love it if the French assumed I really was French. But never, not for a moment, do I imagine I really am French or want to live there or become a citizen.

Some ignorant people referred to the first women to wear trousers as "inverts" (though the term was used more widely). If women can get passionate about a dress and how it looks on them without anyone suggesting their passion is sexual, why can't we? Lose the labels. Be yourself. For yourself.

[Derp]

First of all as everyone has said, labels are labels.

I do think though that crossdresser has a lighter connotation than transvestite. It's all just a semantics game, but I for one am just a closet crossdresser at heart ;D

[juno]

IMHO, transvestite is just a technical term for crossdresser. However, the full meaning of a word is more than just the definition. Some people take the meaning of a word to be how society views that word. I prefer the technical definition and view the societal baggage as corruption rather than evolution. However, I realize that many interpret transvestism as transvestic fetishism, so I'll just use the term crossdresser because more people are comfortable with it.

Actually, it is a bit like dieting. Many people say dieting is a bad way to lose weight, but that is because they interpret dieting as fasting rather than just carefully managing what you eat.

[vetobob9]

It seems that when most people use the word transvestite, it is usually in a negative manner. It's the same as using the N word when referring to black people.
People are more positive and accepting when "cross dresser" is used instead. But some people use both words negatively because they've had a bad experience with a cross dresser.

[sometimes_miss]

Because of the wide range of what causes us to dress, the number of terms used to describe us is probably inadequate, especially since people seem to have a need to put everyone into some type of category, as if every man who wears articles of female clothing does it for the same reason. When you say 'transgender' to someone who's in the vanilla world, they automatically think 'transsexual'. At this point, when I discuss it with anyone, I tell them that in the U.S. at least, a transvestite wears female clothing for the sexual enjoyment attached to his doing so, and a crossdresser wears female clothes because it simply feels good, but usually has no sexual connection. It gets kind of fuzzy, because of course there are times when I get sexually excited while wearing girl clothes, but the clothes aren't what does it, it's usually an odd combination of seeing a beautiful, sexy woman, and wanting to be intimate with her and/or while at the same time wanting to look like her; or even be envious enough of who I imagine her life is like, to want to be her.

[zoe m]

The reality is there isn't a single definition of either of these terms. If you look at people on this thread trying to define them, they don't come to any agreement. We're all TVs or CDs depending on who's defining, except those on this forum who are TS. In England they say more TV, in the U.S. more CD. My first language is Spanish anyway and the only word is "travesti" which is closer to transvestite anyway, some people try to import "crossdresser" without translation but I think that's kind of silly. But both of the words have negative connotations in the wider society, in any case, so in either case we have to reclaim them ourselves.