Anyone have any links to Scientific studies on crossdressing

[Mistress Frillee]

Scientific studies on crossdressing...... I read somewhere that 95% of crossdressers are straight.... anyone have any links

[Marlena Dahlstrom]

There are numerous links, so I'd have to go look them up, but if you're really curious in the research there are a couple books worth reading. Richard Docter's "Transvestites and Transsexuals" (which despite the title focuses primarily on CDs) sums up much of the research from a psychological POV. Vern and Bonnie Bullough's "Cross Dressing, Sex, and Gender" takes a social historian's POV, including a look at the "medicalization" of crossdressing, and provides a good counterpoint to Docter's book because it shows how society has viewed cross-dressing of different sorts (including FTM crossdressing, female impersonators and drag queens) throughout history.

To your immediate question, yes the various studies have found crossdressers are usually hetrosexual-ish. In other words, the number of gay and bisexual crossdressers appear to be pretty similar to the population at large (even if most gay CDs tend to become drag queens, because there's an established and visible role within the gay community they can move into). And I used the "-ish" intentionally because even though some of the crossdressers' association insist CDs are 100% hetrosexual there's plenty of evidence (both research and anecdotal) that the reality is more complex.

While it's got sampling problems inherent with any study of a closeted population, the results of the 1999 Yvonne's Place survey (http://www.thedigitalvillage.com/yvonnesplace/survey/survey99/sexuality.htm) track pretty well with other studies and surveys that have been done:

Heterosexual 48.4%
Heterosexual but bi-curious 23.9%
Bisexual but prefer women 10.1%
Heterosexual with homosexual experiences 7.2%
Bisexual 6.6%
Bisexual but prefer men 1.6%
Homosexual 1.5%
Homosexual with heterosexual experiences 0.7%

While the percentage of "pure" hetrosexuals is lower than one might expect, 1) it's not out of line with the Kinsey study results about the spectrum between hetrosexual and homosexual; 2) CDs are probably more comfortable in admitting to bisexual impulses; and 3) the survey question for "bi-curious" didn't distinguish between fantasies (things people like to think about but don't plan to act out) vs. desires (i.e. something they'd like to do regardless of whether they've done it).

Incidentally, the issue of bisexuality and monogamy are really separate. If you're in a monogamous relationship, sleeping with someone on the side is cheating regardless of their sex.

[Kate Simmons]

Marlena has some good numbers based on available data. The only problem with scientific studies is that they are , well--scientific and don't take into account random human actions or emotions. Every case is unique, every case is different. We can use pie graphs, bar charts and everything else we can think of but it doesn't show what motivates us to do things which is what I'm more interested in, that and getting to know the people for who they are. Still, for those who are interested in figures, there they are. Take care, Ericka

[jjjjohanne]

I think I remember seeing a statistic that stated that 80% or 85% of CDs were married. I also believe that the occurance of homosexuality in CDs tracks the trend in the non CD population. In other words, being CD makes you no more likely to be gay than being a full time drabster.

I don't know any facts on this, so don't take my response to be true. ...So why did I answer at all... hmmm.

There is research that can be found in the sexually related studies section in large university libraries. Perhaps someone here is still in college and can find the appropriate journal and look up the true stats. Of course, schools out for summer...

Joe

[Tina Dixon]

The Tri-Ess web site has lots of stuff also, might not be what your looking for.

[MarinaTwelve200]

One must realize that unlike Homosexuals or Transexuals or hetrosexuals, what some people ARE, there is no such a thing as A "Crossdresser" per se., in this respect. Crossdressing is something people DO, NOT what they ARE.

People crossdress for various reasons that include, simple curiosity, risk taking or other such thrills, fetish reasons, identity play , identiy problems, sado masochist/humiliation, Gay related reasons, Transsexual reasons, etc.---All totally diverse and unrelated from each other---The only thing that they have in common is they employ CROSSDRESSING as a "tool" or device to satisify specific needs or desires of the underlying condition.

To call a person or ones self a Crossdresser really means very little except that they sometimes wear clothing of the opposite sex for SOME reason.

[Kate Simmons]

Kind of agree with you Marina. Most of us use the term for the sake of simplicity and reference. When everything else is boiled down, I'm just plain old Ericka.

[Teresa Amina]

I think I remember seeing a statistic that stated that 80% or 85% of CDs were married

The "married" statistic is more than a little meaningless though. One could be married as a means of trying to suppress tg/ts feelings, gay/bi orientation, or just be the old fashioned "marriage of convenience".

[Dixie Darling]

The fact of the matter is that it's not going to be possible to have any studies that are 100% accurate regarding crossdressing UNLESS it was socially acceptable to crossdress. Participation on this forum is a good example. Of all the members here, there are many who are still in the proverbial closet and would, threfore, be reluctant to participate in any surveys of a professional variety. Now, take into consideration the tens of thousands who DON'T participate in the forums and you beging to get some idea as to the number of us there really are.

For most CDs it's a situation similar to any other activity that society in general disapproves of or (in most cases) doesn't understand. Few people will openly admit to enjoying or participating in ANY activity, regardless as to how innocent or harmless it might be, which they know their friends and neighbors frown upon, disapprove, or don't understand, so obtaining any ACCURATE data pertaining to that activity is going to be next to impossible.

Dixie -- http://www.geocities.com/senorita_cd

[Kimberley]

I have this one which is interesting and does address the issue of sexual orientation. However I believe I read somewhere that the sexual orientation among crossdressers is no different than the public at large.

http://www.tgcrossroads.org/news/archive.asp?aid=770

Kimberley.

[tekla west]

I agree with Marina on this. The entire range of what this behavior encompasses, the reasons, the manifestations are far to wide ranging to lump together.

Moreover. Everyone lies about sex. They lie about it even on questionnaires about sex. They lie about it to themselves. Hence: any real statistic is ???? because we can not trust in the total truth of those doing the survey. There is little to no real scientific proof behind any of these so-called scientific studies. Its all opinion with numbers tossed on like croutons on a salad.

All that gender theory stuff is more or less bunk.

[kristine239]

For many of you that may not be up on the medical/research areas, the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association is the group that sets the Standards of Care for TG folks. These are all types of medical and health care professionals.

You might get some useful information at www.hbigda.org. Or maybe by attending a conference such as www.transeventsusa.org/ifge.

[SherriePall]

Kimberly touched on an area of research my wife is keenly interested in: cause(s) of crossdressing. Any body else have any other research on this?

[Joy Carter]

Gee just a bit off topic but why have I felt this way since age three or four ? CAUSES, how Innocent can a child be about gender now ? God I was born this way doesn't anybody see this. Sorry you may resume your local program while I cry on my flowered comforter. LOL
:OT:

[tekla west]

I think you will find that all the stuff on the causes is anecdotal not scientific.

[MarinaTwelve200]

Moreover. Everyone lies about sex. They lie about it even on questionnaires about sex. They lie about it to themselves. Hence: any real statistic is ???? because we can not trust in the total truth of those doing the survey. There is little to no real scientific proof behind any of these so-called scientific studies. Its all opinion with numbers tossed on like croutons on a salad.

All that gender theory stuff is more or less bunk.

YES, we can especially LIE to ourselves----based on erronious pre assumptions and or/ denyal usually of the same or an "unpalitable truth". Its very difficult to get a handle on what our own CD motivations are.

I had to eliminate my possible motivations one by one---based upon my RL experiences when the opurtunities presented themselves--it took YEARS. Finally I decided it wasn't that bad after all----I am hetro, a discovery that was a releif, and I actually Do identify my real self as MALE----but I like to "play with my identity" from which I both get a "rush' and a dissassotiave/relaxation effect----THAT is MY motivation---it can be different for others.

My advice is not to trust what your emotions tell you,(they lie) and SEE and remember how you react in different RL CD situations--- That will tell you the truth eventually.

And as we have seen "Gender" related stuff is but ONE of many DIFFERENT possibilities in motivating CD behaviour. Anyone who lumps ALL CD to gender issues does not know what they are talking about.

[Kimberley]

Marina, I disagree with the statement we can lie to ourselves. We cant. What we can do is try to rationalize in order to give some justification for our issues or actions. But we cannot lie to ourselves; we KNOW the truth. Sometimes we dont want to acknowledge it though.

I too was born this way and the big "lie" was in my bending to conform to the acceptable standards of my birth gender. The bigger lie was suppressing Kimberley for 30+ years to live that lie. The one thing I dont have to do is convince myself of my psych. makeup. Kimberley is natural, H is forced but dominant. Today the only one who really benefits is the pdoc.

Kimberley.

[Teresa Amina]

the big "lie" was in my bending to conform to the acceptable standards of my birth gender. The bigger lie was suppressing Kimberley for 30+ years to live that lie

Amazing what good liars we are, too!

[tekla west]

Au contraire, mon fraire, I would respectively disagree. Strongly Disagree. I know people close to me who have lied to themselves for a long time. The older I get, the longer they lie. I know young people living in a world of dreams. They lie to themselves day in and day out to pretend that the world is not how they are really seeing it. There are a million lies, big and little, every day. They help us get through the day. Denial is not just a river in Egypt, its what allows us to get out of the house every day and not just sink into a wallow of self-pity and loathing.

Just because you WANT something to be a certain way does not ensure that it it WILL be that way. The universe, society, our families - whatever - is not made to be ordered that way by us, and by us alone.

You never lied to yourself? Gee, I sure have. Big Time!, as Dick Cheney would say. HUGE! I pretended to be in love with a person for years after that was no longer the case. Wow, talk about a lie. And anyone who as ever been to any single kind of 12 Step meeting knows that by the time they got around admitting "they had a problem with whatever" that they were the ONLY people in the world who were not so aware.