“Cross-dressing is not synonymous with being transgender”

[Princess Chantal]

Everyday I enjoy reading the random page suggestions that Wikipedia offers up daily. Today it was the word “cross-dressing”. As I read it, the sentence that struck me as interesting was “Cross-dressing is not synonymous with being transgender.”
I know there are strong opinions on here of both ends of it being true or being false. Let’s hear those opinions, however let’s make it interesting with these posting rules
1) do not read any posts in this thread until you post your opinion with a good explanation of why you are of that opinion
2) Fill free to read all other posts once you did your post but please wait a day before posting again

By the way, I don’t have a strong opinion either for or against the statement. I tend to straddle the fence with my toes touching on both sides of grass!

[Laura912]

It might really help the discussion if you would define the two terms because your thread could dissolve into what each means and not address your interesting hypothesis.

[Princess Chantal]

Doesn’t matter if I define the two terms or not, the meanings will be debated upon. Hopefully the omittance of my definition of the terms would not ignite the fire as it seems to do when people do define the terms

[GretchenM]

To me, "crossdressing" is an action or activity that is not necessarily attached to a motivator but often is. The boundary between, say, "just crossdressing" and "transgender" is a fuzzy one but transgender is caused by a self concept that allows or even demands a person to identify some of the time or all of the time with the opposite sex and that establishes a basic format that guides comfortable and compatible behavior. In a social context, this may cause a reversal in the traditional and stereotypical behavioral traits of a person of the opposite sex. Thus, the boundary between pure crossdressing and transgender crossdressing is rather indistinct. OK, that's a real mouthful.

Transgender does not require crossdressing but is a condition where the person feels that they are actually a member of the opposite sex even though they obviously are not anatomically of that sex. Why does it happen? Nobody really knows, but the scientists are hot on the trail. Fact is, the why doesn't really matter in a practical sense unless one is searching for a "cure." It would be nice to know and that is what science is seeking, but it is not necessary to know because if you are allowed to simply be who you are, irrespective of your position on the spectrum of behavioral patterns that forms what we call gender, cause is irrelesvant.

However, both trans and non-trans people can and do crossdress, but their motivations may be very different. Thus a male who crossdresses and still identifies as masculine/male, or the other way around as a female, is purely crossdressing. If it makes them feel like they are now a quasi-member of the opposite sex then that is dipping a little ways into the transgender pot of soup. Thus, a crossdresser may do that so it makes them feel that way. Is it satisfying something deeper? Perhaps, but it is also possible the act of crossdressing may not have anything to do with a shift in gender identity. It might be as simple as a physical comfort with fabric feel or some other non-gender related motivations.

On the other hand, a person who crossdressed because they are identifying with the characteristics of the opposite sex would be deep into the trans pot of soup. Their motivation is different from the other person even though the result is the same.

So, in my opinion, distinguishing between crossdresser and transgender comes down to a need to find out what the motivation is to crossdress. If the motivations are different even though the consequences in action are the same, then the fundamental driver of that shift in the socially acceptable attire is a part of the cause of the behavior. Nevertheless, it is a fine line that probably can't actually be found in the real world. The line exists because we define it that way and not necessarily because it reflects reality. Thus the reality appears to be a continuum with peaks and valleys here and there, but no real boundaries present unless you cherry pick the defining characteristics of the continuum.

So, what does all this mean? We are a great deal more complex than our concepts are, that is, our concepts are based on cherry picked criteria rather than to whole package. That said, we do tend to have a need to categorize things if for no other reason than to be able to talk about them. When we think the categorization represents reality that is when we get in trouble, especially if the reality turns out to be very different from the entrenched ideological classification that associates outward appearance with sexual characteristics. Those sexual characteristics only have to do with reproduction and have very little to do with the social roles people of the two sexes are expected to play or the complexities of self concept created in the brain by perhaps some fundamental blueprint that establishes a vague foundation that we build on in the course of our lives through experience and behavioral adaptation.

Thus when someone behaves differently than expected, with regard to appearance, we tend to launch ourselves into an Us/Them dichotomy and conclude the person is a bit "messed up" with regard to identity. They may be, but more likely they are not. It is the expectations and the Us/Them conflicts that are messed up. Thus crossdressers (no gender reversal in self concept) and transgender (some degree of gender reversal in self concept) are just part of a continuum that is not reflected in the way society classifies people with regard to socially established expectations. Shift the expectations and forget about Us/Them stuff and all is well.

[Samm]

I believe cd's can just be cd's.
I also believe cd's can be, or at least have some percentage of tg (no matter how small).
I also, also believe that one doesn't have to be connected to the other.

I hope that makes sense

[Jodie_Lynn]

Based on the numbers of members here who simply enjoy crossdressing, I agree that it is NOT synonymous with transgenderism.
Some folk enjoy wearing the whole regalia. Some fixate on certain types of apparel and others on certain brands of certain apparel.
And still others are somewhere on the path of transition.

Just because someone finds pantyhose comfy, or gets an erotic thrill from them, does not mean they want to be (or are) women.

[Macey]

Like so many other things in life, it's a spectrum. I think. Most of us eschew labels, yet we wear so many, father mother, friend, employee, and possibly many more. Words and language has it's limitations yet it is the tool we use to convey something about ourselves, the world around, and our place in it. "Crossdresser" is about as accurate a label for me as any other in the context of this group. "Transgender"? For myself, I doubt it … but that doesn't mean there isn't a strong feminine side within me. The full tale would be long in the telling, so for the convenience of friendly conversation you could say of me "Crossdresser" with enough confidence to render it in a 'thou art that' fashion.

Sure, there's so much more, and there's so much more for every person.

Are they synonymous? In our 'common' understanding of the words that is not so 'common', no … they are not synonymous. But neither are they always mutually exclusive.

[Rachael Leigh]

I would say off hand no someone who just enjoys wearing ladies clothing for just pure enjoyment of getting dressed up is
not TG, by that it does not effect their lives in such ways where if they don’t do it for months their good and life goes on.
Me being non binary I’ve been accused of just being a CD and not on the TG spectrum. However for me I don’t just go to
work or out in the world wearing my ladies items and makeup because it makes me feel good nor do I think I could just stop for months and be ok. It’s just me it’s a part of me and at this point I don’t believe it’s going away

[JenniferMBlack]

I believe the statement is true because there are some cross dressers who don't feel they are female and have no desire to be female or pass as such. As well there are some people out there who will wear the other fenders clothes and don't identify as even a CD just like the what they have.

[Richelle423]

Well in my case I wear women’s clothes 24/7.when I was on vacation a month ago my 14 yr old non binary neighbor wanted to dress me in drag since “ they” had the day off from school. I was all dressed up and the conversation came up if I was trans. My SO was there too.that really put me on the spot. I just said that I was a lesbian born in a male body. And if I had a vagina I would have been a lesbian. She “ they” out me saying the I’m trans in front of my SO and wanted to know if I identify as a part of the lgbt community. I replied I don’t but I support it. My SO always suspected I was different. I just came short of saying “ yes I’m trans so what”.btw it wasn’t really drag but it turned out to be light make up and a cos play wig which I strutted around the house. It was a good experience though

[KimberlyJean]

I am with Roberta, I dressed for 35 years before I realized that I really do identify as a woman. This recent movement for strong women, the if you can see her you be her, my mother was the strongest person I have ever known. I thought for years I am too tough to be a girl, then it hit me that there are women who do what I do and women who are just as tough as me. My wife took to calling me a sissy until I made the comment "what women can't be tough" she hasn't called me a sissy since. I will say though since I accepted that I am a woman things have become more complicated.

[JeanTG]

I think crossdressing can progress to being TG. Although that could also be it was TG all the time but one was trying to fool one's self about being just a "simple crossdresser".

I read on another thread a sister describing herself as a non-transitioning TG who is crossdressing when she presents as male! It neatly turned the world up on its end, I thought it was a cool statement.

Being CD/TG makes one an expert liar. And the first person we lie to... is ourselves.

[Stephanie47]

On the surface I'd say cross dressing is just the act of wearing the clothing of the opposite sex. It does not explain any motivation of why somebody would wear the clothes of the opposite sex. Transgender implies inner feeling. I've always taken the position a person should speak in sentences and paragraphs to describe oneself. If my interest was strictly to wear a woman's nylon panty I would not characterize myself as a cross dresser. I'd say I had a panty fetish. If I was playing a female role in an all boy school and attired as a girl I would not classify myself as a cross dresser. That is a noun. I may be cross dressing which is a verb, an action. Heck, when I found this site I thought it was exclusively for guys who wore women's clothing. Boy, was I wrong. Or, is it, girl, was I wrong. I'll read the responses when they hit more than twenty.

[Tracii G]

Can't wait to see how this thread turns out.

[AllieSF]

We members are on this forum and we represent a very similar cross section of humanity as I know here in the USA and from my travels and acquaintances from other countries and places. Therefore, we are similar in some aspects and very different in others as we compare each other. With all these differences in opinions, personalities and beliefs, we have some hot topics where we really discuss and argue our points of views. One perennial favorite to discuss and argue about is labels. Labels are short descriptors about something or someone that someone to quickly understand the topic of conversation.

The current definitions used on this site follow pretty much the WARPATH/medical definitions that "transgender" is the umbrella descriptor and all other definitions being subset to that. The reasons for definitions is to give a reasonable and logical starting place for those new to the terminology and for those that work with these definitions in the medical, legal and business world. Therefore, until better definitions come along I favor and use the term "transgender" as the umbrella definition. However, when out in the real world every day as myself, Allie - a trans woman, I use the term "trans" or "transgender" as my identifier because I believe that most of those real world people do not fully understand any of the terminology and assume that "trans" refers to a transsexual who is or has transitioned from one gender to another, and it works just fine. If someone has a more detailed question about those identifiers I go into as much detail as I think that they can take to get to the current medical definition, i.e. that I am a MtF "transsexual". The current common use of "transgender" by the general public is based on, in my opinion, the recent past few years where famous transgenders, Caitlyn Jenner, Laverne Fox and others, have been in the news so much that for the general public that describes everyone even if they are not "transsexual".

That was about the general public. Now, between us members here and with my trans friends I usually use the more detailed sub-definitions from occasional "crossdressers" to full time post-op "transsexuals". I do that because I like the definitions (I also know that they may change over time) and I believe that by using the site's definitions it can help over the long term to bring more cohesives threads and less bickering over definitions, which is usually the case when somehow labels get into a thread. When I use "transgender" I usually use "umbrella term" after it in my posts here. I do not do not argue that everyone should follow these definitions, because I know that we are a mixed bunch of people and we will discuss and argue those definitions.

These are the definitions I use and the why I use them. I hope that provides good input to what you want out of this thread.

[Gillian Gigs]

On the surface I'd say cross dressing is just the act of wearing the clothing of the opposite sex. It does not explain any motivation of why somebody would wear the clothes of the opposite sex. Transgender implies inner feeling. I've always taken the position a person should speak in sentences and paragraphs to describe oneself. If my interest was strictly to wear a woman's nylon panty I would not characterize myself as a cross dresser. I'd say I had a panty fetish. If I was playing a female role in an all boy school and attired as a girl I would not classify myself as a cross dresser. That is a noun. I may be cross dressing which is a verb, an action. Heck, when I found this site I thought it was exclusively for guys who wore women's clothing. Boy, was I wrong. Or, is it, girl, was I wrong. I'll read the responses when they hit more than twenty.

Well said, Stephanie47. Through all that I have read on this site, I would say that there is an evolution from one phase to another with many. Someone with a panty, or lingerie fetish could evolve to another phase through the years, as seen in the stories that show up. Just because some of us have a feminine side, or traits, doesn't mean we are TG. It might mean that we act on some of the feelings, rather than the implied inner feelings of wanting to become female. The spectrum is so wide that I don't see how anyone could not consider themselves being within the spectrum, just because they don't fit into that particular tint, or colour. The question may be,"where will the person end up when all is said and done".

[MarinaTwelve200]

Cross Dressing Is something SHARED by many different Psychological motivations. TG is simply ONE of them. Just as a Cough is a symptom shared by many different illnesses. We here have different psychological motivations and impulses, often not related---in which we share Crossdressing in common.--for difference reasons. So one "Explanation" does not fit all

[carhill2mn]

I tend to agree with the statement. The word "synonymous" would be too strong when comparing cross-dressing to being transgendered. There are many aspects to being transgendered other than cross-dressing. Cross-dressing is sometimes put under the umbrella term of transgendered.

[ReneeTD]

Semantically speaking, I'd say it's true. Crossdressing is done for a number of reasons, not all being related to inner gender expression. That said, I suspect that most crossdressing that occurs, is done for precisely that reason.

[MarinaTwelve200]

Don't forget a LOT of us do NOT Identify with women. Nor are we Homosexual or transsexual. For many it is a sexual fetish, and others, Like myself, it helps me ESCAPE my male self. Some use it for masochistic humiliation, and others just like the texture of the fabric (so they say) and ALSO, it's just plain FUN! Folks tend to read too much into the (often disturbing) CLOTHING aspect of those who cross dress, while it is what they are using the clothing for or trying to accomplish is the real matter(s) to consider.

[sometimes_miss]

Okay. Going by the rules set, I will simply explain that it all depends upon why you're crossdressing. If it's for a thrill with sexual excitement perhaps that's not 'transgender'. But if you have no idea why you want to dress as a female, then it probably IS transgender, as something subconsciously is pulling you towards dressing up as a woman. Thing is, it might be something else entirely. You might simply wish to avoid something that you associate with being male, and dress up as a female to avoid thinking about or acting on that. You'll see a lot of folks referring to that as the 'failed man' or 'failed woman' hypothesis, and automatically assigning that to all of us who crossdress, as each is simply using the temporary self assignment as the opposite sex to escape the role they don't want. While women can get away with this, men cannot, and both men and women tend to chastise us for doing so, assuming that we are just trying to escape our responsibilities. Why it seems that few ever say anything to girls who are tomboys, is that we just don't see it going on, as it's usually only during woman to woman discussions.

[Crissy 107]

I agree cross dressing is not synonymous with being transgender but they are both on the same spectrum just different locations. How many times do we hear one of us that considers himself a cross dresser but it evolves into being transgender. I don’t think it is a big leap from one to the other.

[Sara Jessica]

Cross dressing is something one does.

Transgender is something one is.

[oh to be rachel]

Cross dressing is something one does.

Transgender is something one is.

I agree with this.

But I think the confusion is because (IMO) most present day transgender persons, start out dressing in the opposite sex's clothing. Just to try it out to get their brains around the concept. I can't image anyone showing up at their doctors asking for hormones that hasn't tried on the opposite sex's clothing.

A person that's crossdressing, is not necessarily going to ever be transgender. There's no guarantee that a crossdresser will go "all the way" to surgeries and hormones.

[GretchenM]

Lana Mae makes a good point regarding the influence of dysphoria. The discomfort (dysphoria) of having a poor match between internal feelings, outward expression, and return sensory input can be a strong motivator to make adjustments to create more comfort.

So, those who experience this need to express their inner feelings are seeking a feedback from senses that validates the internal feeling. We do that all the time with most everything we do - the brain creates a behavior that seems appropriate and the senses provide signals to the brain that what is being done is consistent with its expectations. It completes the circle.

Not completing the circle creates discomfort (dysphoria) that continues to demand validation. That discomfort can become stronger and stronger. It is somewhat similar to a child demanding a piece of candy - they may throw a temper tantrum. But in an adult that demand is met in very different and more controlled ways than it is in a child. Seeking that comfort through validating feedback, in the case of gender, drives us to find a comfort zone in being, in one way or another, like the gender identity that needs validation. Keep in mind though, you are not always consciously aware of what is going on in the subconscious brain. The conscious brain implements what the subconscious brain calculates is the proper course of action and it can rationalize it in many different ways. So, we are all so very different and yet so much alike.