Do you think CDing might possibly be Hereditary...

[Wildaboutheels]

would be a "silly" question.

Wouldn't it?

Soooooo, how about thi: ? IF you have any blood brothers or sisters, do you KNOW that they are or are NOT fellow CDers? if you think no way in he**, maybe they think the same thing about you? Anyone here have a CDing sibling that you are aware of?

[Mythic]

I don't believe in anyway that things like that are hereditary. I live with my sis. she dresses like a woman 24/7 and enjoys it. I don't think your personality is inherited through genes. It's formed through experience an perspective.

[LisaMallon]

There maybe a genetic element, but one thing seems to be hormone levels as a baby in uterus. Changes parts of the brain.
Some work on brain scanning shows different areas working in different genders with certain stimuli.

One indicator (sort of 'ish reliable) the the ring/index finger ratio, like all these things not 100% of course.

Like many things combinations of certain predispositions (possibly genetic) plus environment.

Still early days in working all this out of course.

[Paula_56]

Yes I have a TS friend who's father was, My brother is, and another CD friend had a father who was.

[Cynthia Anne]

I have no idea! But I do have a grandson that seems to be one! Hugs!

[Claire Cook]

There maybe a genetic element, but one thing seems to be hormone levels as a baby in uterus. Changes parts of the brain.
Some work on brain scanning shows different areas working in different genders with certain stimuli.

One indicator (sort of 'ish reliable) the the ring/index finger ratio, like all these things not 100% of course.



There seems to be some evidence that elevated levels of androgens (testosterone) in the womb does result in more masculine digit ratios but this isn't "inherited" in the sense that there are "TG" genes. For whatever reason, I'm glad I have a "female" ratio -- I guess the stars were aligned for me to favor my more feminine side!

[Kate Simmons]

Nope, all of mine are pretty straight laced which is about as far as any of them get in the "lace" department,:battingeyelashes::)

[Beth Mays]

I think so.. spaced apart to different degrees in different families it CAN be a common thing in some blood lines.

[Cheryl T]

I believe there is some genetic component as my 3 male cousins (I have no sibs) in my generation are all gay and well....here I am.

[Jocelyn Quivers]

As far as I know all of my male relatives are pretty straight laced 100% male, although they could be just like me and be very good at putting on a complete act.

Also maybe it skips a generation, perhaps a deceased male relative of mine was one and the "fem/trans/cross dressing gene" skipped a few generations until it picked me!! Joy!!:straightface:

[Karren H]

I think it is!! I've seen some vintage photos in one of our albums and damn if my grandmother didn't look like a man.... Wearing jeans! :D

[Beverley Sims]

Obviously it is not! Why doesn't Karen wear Jean's clothes Or does she?:)

[Karren H]

Obviously it is not! Why doesn't Karen wear Jean's clothes Or does she?:)

Only my grandmother knows the truth! Lol.

[Ressie]

It's taboo to talk about in most families, which makes it difficult to know. The hormones present during pregnancy is an interesting concept. I always thought that the desire to cross dress might be due to something that happened during infancy, or the first 3 years of life. It's psychological, but hormones and genetics are other possible factors involved.

[outhiking]

I also suspect that it is more widespread in men than commonly thought. I'd love to see some reliable studies, but I'm guessing it's hard to get a lot of men to admit to it in a survey or interview.

[PetiteDuality]

Well, I guess I got my interest from women clothing from my mother's :-)

[sterling12]

There isn't A Study out there (that I've ever seen or heard of) that can prove a hereditary link. We have some anecdotal accounts of siblings and relatives within families, but that could certainly be a "Nurture Effect," or chocked up to random possibility.

If we think about it, wouldn't it be similar to having a brother who committed murder. Would we expect a sibling to also commit murder, a great uncle? I imagine not, and probably for the same reasons. Anthing's a possibility, but I'm not so sure all behaviors have a genetic link. Always a possibility that there is a Gene that might cause a "propensity" for a given behavior, but no guarantees, and so far, no proof.

Peace and Love, Joanie

[drag n fly]

I think it is!! I've seen some vintage photos in one of our albums and damn if my grandmother didn't look like a man.... Wearing jeans! :D
Hehehe Karren..Would that be the "Jean gene"? The one you obviously didn't inherit from granny! Big smooches Jackie

[Marcia Blue]

My youngest son is a CD/TG. I found out for sure about a year ago.
Heredity? Who knows.

[Michelle_CD]

I have never addmitted this but I know my older brother used to crossdress. I caught him semi dressed once and maybe that led to me getting interested in dressing. Once I had an opportunity in raided his room and found all of his cloths. And of course I 'borrowed' them. Is that just as wrong as 'borrowing' from a girl or mother? I don't know if he still dresses but I do.
I wonder if it might of been something in the water because my parents best friends have a son that transitioned MtF.

[NathalieX66]

Yep.
My dad is the most closeted person on the planet. The poor guy finds a rediculous amount of fascination in movies like Tootsie, Mrs. Doubtfire, Monty Python skits in drag, etc.
I showed a pic of me on front of Target, and he likes it, but he can't bear being honest and open with himself. He hits the silence button and acts like all is well. No dissaproval....just silence.
I think it's generational.

[Kat42]

For me, I think there is a stronger case for nurture over nature.

Dear ole' Mum, (may she burn in Hell), used to introduce her brood as "first came X, then came Y (me) and then I had my success story, Z (my Sister)"

This was a pretty strong message around the age of 5: Boys are failures, Girls equal success. Her further actions throughout life reinforced this "boys bad, girls good" attitude. (Catholics do Guilt and she was a master).

So I gotta think at least some part of my CD-ness is due to her instilled "momma will put all her fears into you" attitude towards boys.

$.02, One data point.

[christina s]

My dad is homophobic to the point where he does seem like he's hiding something . I'm thinking instead of a Mangrate , I think i'll get him a pair of 5inch pumps for Fathers day . .

[a1stephie]

I know a CD who recently found out her father was also dressing, purely by accident. However, rather than bring them closer, it has remained taboo between them. Amazing, yet I have often wondered what I would think/do in the same situation. IT's very odd. I mean I would like to think I would be cool with it, but at the same time I am not sure if I would want to see my Dad dressed. I know, this makes me a total walking hypocrisy, considering I dream of the same kind of acceptance from my wife. She and I can accept the conecpt of a family member dressing, but don't want to see them dressed. I know, I should be more open-minded.

Maybe if I had grown up with a family member doing this from day one it would not be weird...which makes me wonder a lot about 'when is it the right time (my wife might wonder 'ever') to talk with my own kids about it, rather than hide it and then it be a disturbing shock for them one day.

[Ash Leland]

a compelling possibility, even if the real answer isn't really knowable right now. I think the fact that we come to cross dress without ever being taught how says a lot. On top of getting the urge completely on our own, it's an urge that is discouraged, so it's tempting to think that there is something natural that demands recognition in spite of how we're socialized.

[Antoinette]

It being hereditary is quite silly. I do believe that's it's simply through experiences and perspective and it can't be taught either. My siblings don't crossdress (as far as I know). My brother knows that I do though, my sister on the other hand may never know (long story).

[LisaMallon]

Heredity is a tendency, not an absolute, the environment then can amplify/reduce that tendency. For example you may have a heredity tendency towards some form of cancer, but in the absence of any other environmental triggers you never get it.

The relationships are more statistical rather than causal.
Even this 'in utero' thing may itself be some genetic tendency running down the mothers line (? my pure speculation).
But without some sort of environmental effect it may never happen.

We are still in the very early days of researching this sort of stuff.

But some questions come to mind, such as" is the proportion of people that are transgendered higher now than in the past?
If it is then, as we know, there are far more female hormones (and hormone distrupters such as BPA) in the environment.
And these could be 'triggering' more people now.

But then again, as we all know, in societies who have been historically more accepting (to a point), such as India or Thailand, there have always been transgendered people in noticable numbers.
Only now in the, historically more morally constrained, western 'Christian' societies are we starting to even get an idea about the real numbers of TG people (of all types), since they have become more accepted.
Plus of course the internet, which has enabled us to link far more easily and as a result take away the 'I am alone' syndrome.

My personal ideas about this is that crossdressing is a part of the spectrum of transgenderism, at one extreme you get people who transition fully, at the other you have someone who puts on a pair of panties now and then (or thinks about it at least). But it is exactly the same syndrome. Note the level can change through your life, in either way of course.
My gut feeling is that this is far, far more common than most people think.

Nature is not perfect, sometimes it really stuffs up

[Vickie_CDTV]

It doesn't run in either side of my family. I have one (unconfirmed) lesbian cousin, otherwise there are no gay or trans people that I was ever aware of on either side of their enormous families (and they are the kinds of people that really like to gossip.)

[LisaMallon]

As I said statistical ... that is a 'fuzzy' relationship. There may be something in your genetic line (which is far longer than your immediate family), there may not be.

There are TG and gay and geniuses and (eg) psychopaths from every genetic line, so there is a lot of randomness.
Sometimes, as we say in Australia, "shit happens".

[Megan_Renee]

So the thing with genetics is that there are not enough identical twins in the world. (Oh great, what's she talking about now?)

Geneticists absolutely love identical twins. These are individuals who share just about all of the same genes, but the differences help to identify controlling genes and gene pairs.

The other problem with saying that it is or is not hereditary is that we're assuming it's a dominant gene. If it's not, then both parents could have a latent part that just randomly came together to make us!

Is there a genetic aspect to it? I'm sure there is. Is there a nurture aspect to it? Probably! We are far too complex to rule out either without extensive studies, and those won't happen until we're more readily accepted in society.

~~Megan~~

[Tina B.]

I would doubt that any of my male relations cross dress, the beards, and bad teeth, would make it hard to pull off, but then on the other hand I doubt that they would believe I do either. I have my doubts about it being hereditary, If it's true that around 5% of the male population, are TG, then there will be times that it will occur in the same family, but that does not make it hereditary.
I've always believed more in the hormone theory, it just sounds like it fits the variations we find in cross dressers, more hormones, more feminine, less hormone, less feminine.
Tina B.

[sissystephanie]

Antoinette is quite right. Crossdressing is not hereditary, since it is all in a persons mind!! I know a lot of you think differently, but enough research will show you that I am right. Unless someone made you a prisoner of sorts and forced you to dress enfemme, you did it on your own!! That came from YOUR MIND, and nowhere else!!

[Leila Be]

I don't think so but it's hard to tell because so many father's can so have many secrets and CDing is something the majority of us keep a secret.

[Launa]

Now I'm wondering if anybody or who in the family might be. A halloween party might be one way to find out.

[RADER]

I think it is!! I've seen some vintage photos in one of our albums and damn if my grandmother didn't look like a man.... Wearing jeans! :D

See; Jeans are in your blood, so what is keeping you from wearing them. After all if it was good
enough for Grand-Ma, then why not you.


My Brother transformed about 20 years ago. Had the surgery and now lives with his/her wife.
They had 3 kids, 1 boy and 2 girls.
Rader

[Ressie]

I've seen some evidence that some family members of mine may have dabbled in gender issues. But does that mean it's hereditary? No. Back to my premise of getting scripts during child development: One day in the '70s, I was wearing panties under my jeans and my very young nephew could tell by the panty lines that I was wearing panties. Ain't kids something? Fast forward to 2003, I discovered lingerie in his bedroom that he wasn't really trying to hide. My sister also told me that he had undergarments in his bed.

Next, going back in time again, I was looking through one of my brother's soft porn mags and found that he bookmarked the ******* pictorial in that issue. Makes one wonder about what no one will talk about.

Going further back, two of my grandfather's brothers were life long bachelors. That may not mean anything, but it makes me wonder why? I'm pretty sure that none of these family members are full blown crossdressers, but there's evidence that something is going on.

[JamieQ]

I have a half older brother who is a CDer, but I know the nurture part (upbringing) was totally different for him and I. But I do think vastly different nurture can still bring out the CD tendencies. I had always suspected genetics, but then who really knows. I also suspect that the next younger half brother is a CDer also. Amanda

[CuteT]

At 6 years old, I put a skirt on. I pranced around the bedroom, very happy.

[Courtney_Glenn]

I Just learned that my great Uncle...that I never knew about until I came out to my mom 8 months ago.....was trans. He committed suicide in 1983....I wasn't born until '91. I wish I had the opportunity to know him.

[danielletorresani]

I definitely didn't get it from my father. Honestly, if I ever have a son I hope I don't pass this on to him. I like having girl time, but overall it's more trouble than what it's worth to me. I'll have this compulsion for the rest of my life, most likely, but if I had an option to have it excised from my brain, I'd probably do it.

[natacsha]

Antoinette is quite right. Crossdressing is not hereditary, since it is all in a persons mind!! I know a lot of you think differently, but enough research will show you that I am right. Unless someone made you a prisoner of sorts and forced you to dress enfemme, you did it on your own!! That came from YOUR MIND, and nowhere else!!

Hey stephanie, don't take this personally but I had a couple drinks tonight and then I read this...bear with me please as it may get a little bumpy.

are you saying that I conjured this up from birth and made the conscious decision as child to begin acting out? My mind may be powerful to some sorts but I don't think that I made the choice of being/looking/feeling feminine. And when I finally did make the choice to try and stop (because I know how seriously bad I felt knowing that this behavior wouldn't be accepted) I succeeded. For about 3-4 years. then like a howl in the night when all light ceases to exist, I rise to the occasion and become her. Seems kinda dark but that is the opposite of light and I am both. Sory...but it just bothers me that you are convinced that all of us have that choice. If it was a choice, then it wouldn't be so hard to stop. And I have stopped some of the hardest things known to man. People aren't born with addiction to drugs. It's developed as a result from the drug itself.

This can and has turned peoples lives upside down. People lose their lives and families to gambling, drugs, affairs, drinking, abuse, etc etc. Some people lose their lives and families to CDing. Do you really think that CDing even pales in comparison to aforementioned? But it has the same affect on peoples lives. If it was only in the mind, I think they would stop Or Shut it off if it came down to losing everything. Unlike the addictions that are man made

Sorry for the rant. But I'd take it as a compliment cause not too many things actually bother me...but this did!! TAKE IT BACK!! lol I'll have another mojito now. thanx.

[janedresser]

Pretty sure it is imprinted. Genetics may affect timeframe of when it happens. If the brain is is the formulation phase of determining gender and pleasurable results come about, the gender will be imprinted to a certain degree. Then it is a question of reinforcement.

So under the right circumstances it can happen to anyone, but once it happens, it's there.

[DMichele]

Yes I believe it can be hereditary.

I learned that my great-grandfather, who committed suicide, was 'promicuous' - which i suspect was TG related. The male generations (specifically my grandfather, father and an uncle), that came after him always had their alcohol. I can't help but wonder if the alcohol became a cover-up to an underlying urge to crossdress or wear feminine attire for sexual pleasure.

Processing this family history, I choose to let my feminine side into my everyday living. I have become a happier person with this approach, but I too enjoy a drink or two every now and then - albeit socially.

[NicoleScott]

Crossdressing is not hereditary, since it is all in a persons mind!!

Since when is a person's mind exempt from hereditary influences?

[Krista1985]

Neural pathways. They play a role I believe. We all have a feminine side of our brain, and some of us develop a strong neural connection to it. So I agree with Janedresser's statement, "So under the right circumstances it can happen to anyone, but once it happens, it's there." I also believe some of us are more likely due to develop this connection because of our biological make-up/inherited traits. Intelligence can be inherited, why not a propensity for cross-gendered behavior? Check out this article...

http://www.brains.org/path.htm

[Sophia Claire]

Growing up in a religious household, and being firmly religious myself, I had a lot of trouble coming to grips with being TG. Then, of all things, Austin Powers got me thinking (I know, I know). "... while experimenting with mind expanding drugs in a consequence free environment..." Uh... That's my dad's generation, alright. So I wonder if perhaps something went horribly wrong in the development of my genes due to my father's past sins to make me the way I am. Sins of the father visited on the son and all that. I mean, nothing happens in a vacuum, right? There are always consequences for any action. So maybe me being a crossdressing TG due to a genetic mix-up instead of a manly man or a woman with woman parts is the consequence of rampant drug use. Just a thought I had.

[Sophia Claire]

I definitely didn't get it from my father. Honestly, if I ever have a son I hope I don't pass this on to him. I like having girl time, but overall it's more trouble than what it's worth to me. I'll have this compulsion for the rest of my life, most likely, but if I had an option to have it excised from my brain, I'd probably do it.
I sympathize with you. It is a hard life, as I'm coming to realize. I wouldn't want to pass this on to my children either. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a curse, but it's definitely made finding a place in a normal social construct a great deal more complicated. At least, it has for me. I am very much a pack animal. I want to be accepted in a group, but if you behave in a way that's not acceptable, you have to make a choice there.

[JamieQ]

I also wanted to add that to our knowledge "ALL" of my cousins and 2nd-3rd cousins and so on are known alcoholics. I read that this is supposedly linked to genetics, but myself and my younger brother are not and we barely even drink. We say that we made a choice not to. ??? We are double cousins to some, my dad's cousin married my mother's sister. My dad barely drank but his sister is an alcoholic. For most of them it appears to be more lifestyle related....so....then...is CDing genetically linked or do we choose, or a combination of both? I think for 99% of us that we don't "choose" to be a CDer, we just are....we may be able to repress it for extended periods of time, but it will come back again and again... Amanda

[Wildaboutheels]

I honestly beieve that like practically everything Human behavior related, the REAL question is not Nature versus Nurture but Nature & Nurture. That everything about us is some COMBINATION of both.

Many truly great people have overcome simply horrendous childhoods, to go on to become great leaders so obviously, Nurture is not the Holy Grail. Just as clearly, quite a few here had unhappy childhoods and teen years which left them scarred to this day.

I am not implying that there is anything wrong or horrendous about CDing no matter when we started. There are many "bad parents" out there today. JMO of course.

[PretzelGirl]

You have to remember, just because something is passed on through genetics doesn't mean it is a primary characteristic of all members of that family. A person may not get that gene or it may be recessive. So you can't necessarily say that because some members of the family don't exhibit something that it proves it isn't genetic.

[sometimes_miss]

Paula56 wrote:

Yes I have a TS friend who's father was, My brother is, and another CD friend had a father who was.
However, those fathers could have subconsciously somehow altered their children's life experience or environment in some way which may have steered the kids oh so slightly in the direction they wound up going in.
Mythic wrote:

I don't think your personality is inherited through genes. It's formed through experience an perspective.
It's a combination of both; and our experiences can alter our emotional state, altering our hormonal balance, which can effect how much our genetic predispositions are expressed.
LIsaMallon wrote:

One indicator (sort of 'ish reliable) the the ring/index finger ratio, like all these things not 100% of course.
That one's most likely just a lot of baloney. If it's not 100%, then it's not likely a factor, otherwise how would you explain the ones who do not fit the description?
Marcia Blue wrote:

My youngest son is a CD/TG. I found out for sure about a year ago. Heredity? Who knows.
Or did he just pick up on certain things about you and either consciously or subconsciously that steered him in the direction he wound up going in?
Natacsha wrote:

are you saying that I conjured this up from birth and made the conscious decision as child to begin acting out? My mind may be powerful to some sorts but I don't think that I made the choice of being/looking/feeling feminine
Perhaps not a conscious decision at the time. My own case demonstrates that when you put together a string of enough events that can support a conclusion, you can confirm that conclusion even though it is false because at the time, you don't have enough information to counter the incorrect conclusions you have come to. By the time you're old enough to understand, the damage has been done, because as you grew up, you shaped your own personality by your beliefs and actions, and at least some of that is not repairable. I believe that during development, some things become permanent parts of our personalities, and outside events can influence those changes.

[CarolineM]

I have a Brother who is a .....

geneticist.

Pretty sure that's not hereditary. Then again, my other brother is a Biochemist, which is a related field so you never know. Me, I did physics, which is obviously completely different, but then, I always was... different.

Neither of them are Crossdressers. As far a I know that is.

Anyone got a DNA sequencer? Pretty much the best way to check. I'll let everyone know where to go to get samples taken :)

xxx

Caroline

[SallyS]

I do have a nephew who's pretty effeminate. He always wanted to be the 'mum' or 'princess', when he played with my kids.

At 17 he's still has a high voice and walks in 'that' certain way!

He's a good kid and stays out of trouble, so whatever he is or isn't, then good luck to him.

My brother, his father, is most certainly NOT like me:D

[Janet Miller]

I don't really know, but I'm the only one in my extended family who is a cross dresser. In many ways I really think of myself as a transsexual.

[vivian fair]

All of my sisters are crossdressers. No brothers so no way to say other than no. All ways suspected my father, and was sure of paternal grandfather. And there my knowing who's who stops. But as no one seems to know about me,other than parents and sisters,what says all of my male kin are not practisioners also. I have 9 birth uncles,and 6 by marriage plus many male cousins. Numbers alone seem to say there could be several in my family. And it appears one nephew is not only gay but also a tranny. vivian

[Diane Douglas]

While I don't think this is hereditary, I have often wondered if my Maternal Grandfather was a crossdresser. I saw him dressed once for a benefit show back in the 70's and he looked very comfortable.

[Joann Smith]

I do not know if this count ...My Daughter is and has been a fan of drag queens since she was little kid...she is still the only person that knows all the lines in the Too Wong Foo movie...Big heels, Big hair, Big lashes....thats her all the way ...she even told me if she had been born a dude she would drag queen...cause regular dudes are too boring...

Joann