Crossdressing Survey from 2001

[Emily Anderson]

I thought you all might be interested in this CD survey which I ran on the Internet in 2001 for approximately 6 months, and which received over 500 responses. I weeded out duplicate IP's to prevent (or at least limit) the same person answering multiple times.

I apologize up-front if some of the questions seem stupid, irrelevant etc. and also please be careful not to interpret the results too freely. For example, the fact that the demographics of the respondants indicates a preponderance of christian caucasian Americans does not mean that this is a representative sample of the worldwide CD community. I'm sure you would infer that anway

One of these days I'll pull together a new survey, but for now... this is it:

Date of report: Saturday, December 15, 2001

Total Survey Respondents : 513

DEMOGRAPHICS

Respondent Age (Responses: 512)

Minimum Age: 13
Average Age: 40
Maximum Age: 77

Marital Status (Responses: 513)

Single : 156 (30&#37
Married : 278 (54%)
Separated: 14 (3%)
Divorced : 48 (9%)
Other : 17 (3%)

Living Situation (Responses: 513)

Live Alone : 114 (22%)
Live With Wife/SO : 309 (60%)
Live With Parents : 49 (10%)
Live With Roomate : 25 (5%)
Other (not listed): 16 (3%)

Composition of Household (Excluding S/O)

No other members : 269 (52%)
Average under 18 male : 2
Average over 18 male : 2
Average under 18 female: 2
Average over 18 female : 1

Education (Responses: 513)

Some High School : 29 (6%)
High School Graduate or GED : 152 (30%)
College Grad. (Assoc. Deg. or Student): 114 (22%)
College Graduate : 125 (24%)
Graduate School - Masters : 40 (8%)
Graduate School - PhD : 16 (3%)
Other (not listed) : 37 (7%)

Work Location (Responses: 513)

Private Office Building : 129 (25%)
Public Services : 69 (13%)
Entertainement Business : 18 (4%)
Outside (Construction, Farming etc.) : 61 (12%)
At Home : 50 (10%)
Unemployed / Retired / Don't Work : 52 (10%)
Other (not listed) : 134 (26%)

Income (Responses: 512)

Less than $20,000 : 62 (12%)
Between $20,000 and $40,000 : 135 (26%)
Between $40,000 and $60,000 : 130 (25%)
Between $60,000 and $80,000 : 68 (13%)
Over $80,000 : 89 (17%)
Other (unspecified) : 28 (5%)

Geographic Location (Responses: 513)

United States : 375 (73%)
Africa : 1 (0%)
Asia : 10 (2%)
Canada : 34 (7%)
Europe : 69 (13%)
South America : 2 (0%)
Other (not listed): 22 (4%)

Ethnic Group (Responses: 513)

Caucasian : 460 (90%)
African American : 6 (1%)
Asian : 16 (3%)
African : 0 (0%)
Hispanic : 11 (2%)
Native American : 3 (1%)
Other (not listed): 17 (3%)

Religion (Responses: 513)

Christian : 326 (64%)
Buddhism : 6 (1%)
Hindu : 6 (1%)
Judaism : 10 (2%)
Islam : 1 (0%)
Non-religious : 114 (22%)
Other (not listed): 50 (10%)

FIRST EXPERIENCE

Age of First Crossdressing Experience (Responses: 502)

Minimum First Age: 2
Average First Age: 11
Maximum First Age: 50

Location of First Crossdressing Experience (Responses: 513)

At Home : 458 (89%)
At Family Member's Home : 20 (4%)
At Friend's Home : 25 (5%)
At Stranger's Home : 3 (1%)
In a Hotel/Motel : 0 (0%)
Other (not listed) : 7 (1%)

Who Was Present During Crossdressing Experience (Responses: 513)

Alone : 422 (82%)
With Brothers / Sisters : 24 (5%)
With Other Family Member(s): 30 (6%)
With Wife / Partner : 4 (1%)
With Friend(s) : 27 (5%)
Other (not listed) : 6 (1%)

Reason for First Crossdressing Experience (Responses: 513)

Curiosity : 354 (69%)
Game/Role Playing : 46 (9%)
Forced : 12 (2%)
Don't Know/Don't Remember : 81 (16%)
Other (not listed) : 20 (4%)

Whose Clothing Used for First Crossdressing Experience (Responses: 513)

Own Clothes : 12 (2%)
Sister's Clothes : 133 (26%)
Mother's Clothes : 288 (56%)
Friend's Clothes : 37 (7%)
Wife's/Partner's Clothes: 13 (3%)
Stranger's Clothes : 10 (2%)
Other (not listed) : 20 (4%)

Items of Clothing Used for First Crossdressing Experience (Responses: 512)
(Note: Percentage does not add up to 100 due to possible multiple choices)

Panties : 311 (61%)
Bra : 243 (47%)
Pantyhose : 250 (49%)
Dress : 190 (37%)
Skirt : 113 (22%)
Shoes : 129 (25%)
Makeup : 88 (17%)
Wig : 32 (6%)
Jewelry : 43 (8%)
Other : 95 (19%)

Where I First Obtained My Clothing (Responses: 513)

Bought My Own : 134 (26%)
Borrowed Wife's / Partner's : 78 (15%)
Borrowed Other Person's : 232 (45%)
Other (not listed) : 69 (22%)

Primary Feeling During First Crossdressing Experience (Responses: 513)

Sexual Excitement : 291 (57%)
Non-Sexual Excitement : 88 (17%)
Fear of Being Caught : 80 (16%)
Embarassment / Guilt / Shame: 29 (6%)
Other (not listed) : 25 (5%)

EXPERIMENTATION

Initial Cross-dressing Periodicity (Responses: 513)

Daily : 66 (13%)
Weekly : 159 (31%)
Monthly : 37 (7%)
Occasionally : 169 (33%)
Rarely : 37 (7%)
Don't Know / Don't Remember: 41 (8%)
Other (not listed) : 4 (1%)

Where I Initially Cross-dressed (Responses: 513)

At Home : 468 (91%)
At Friend's / Partner's Place : 19 (4%)
At Family Member's Home : 14 (3%)
At a Hotel/Motel : 3 (1%)
Other (not listed) : 9 (2%)

Who Was Present When I Initially Cross-dressed (Responses: 513)

Alone : 444 (87%)
Brothers / Sisters : 11 (2%)
Other Family Members : 17 (3%)
Wife / Partner : 15 (3%)
Other (not listed) : 5 (1%)

Items of Clothing Used During Cross-Dressing Experimentation Phase (Responses: 499)
(Note: Percentage does not add up to 100 due to possible multiple choices)

Panties : 388 (78%)
Bra : 363 (73%)
Pantyhose : 368 (74%)
Dress : 277 (56%)
Skirt : 216 (43%)
Shoes : 222 (44%)
Makeup : 148 (30%)
Wig : 93 (19%)
Jewelry : 92 (18%)
Other : 0 (0%)

Why I continued to Cross-dress (Responses: 513)

Sexual Excitement : 215 (42%)
Non-Sexual Excitement: 33 (6%)
I Felt Compelled : 197 (38%)
I Don't Know : 44 (9%)
Other (not listed) : 24 (5%)

CURRENT CROSS-DRESSING HABITS

Current Cross-dressing Periodicity (Responses: 513)

Daily : 217 (42%)
Weekly : 164 (32%)
Monthly : 36 (7%)
Occasionally : 73 (14%)
Rarely : 18 (4%)
Other (not listed) : 5 (1%)

Where I Currently Cross-dress (Responses: 513)

At Home : 450 (88%)
At Friend's / Partner's Place : 13 (3%)
At Family Member's Home : 4 (1%)
At a Hotel/Motel : 13 (3%)
Other (not listed) : 33 (6%)

Who is Usually Present When I Cross-dress (Responses: 513)

Alone : 311 (61%)
Brothers / Sisters : 2 (0%)
Other Family Members : 12 (2%)
Wife / Partner : 138 (27%)
Other (not listed) : 20 (4%)

Items of Clothing Used Currently (Responses: 511)
(Note: Percentage does not add up to 100 due to possible multiple choices)

Panties : 466 (91%)
Bra : 442 (87%)
Pantyhose : 441 (86%)
Dress : 360 (70%)
Skirt : 365 (71%)
Shoes : 374 (73%)
Makeup : 322 (63%)
Wig : 254 (50%)
Jewelry : 270 (53%)
Other : 92 (18%)

Where I Currently Obtain My Clothing (Responses: 513)

Buy My Own : 417 (81%)
Borrow Wife's / Partner's : 46 (9%)
Borrow Other Person's : 31 (6%)
Other (not listed) : 19 (4%)

Primary Reason I continue to Cross-dress (Responses: 513)

Sexual Excitement : 174 (34%)
Non-Sexual Excitement: 46 (9%)
I Feel Compelled : 217 (42%)
I Don't Know : 30 (6%)
Other (not listed) : 46 (9%)

INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS

My Wife/SO Knows About My Crossdressing (Responses: 379)

Yes: 278 (73%)
No : 101 (27%)

Wife/SO's Acceptance Level (Responses: 293)

Non-Accepting : 45 (15%)
Accepting Without Involvement : 63 (22%)
Accepting and Limited Involvement: 90 (31%)
Total Acceptance and Involvement : 87 (30%)
Other (not specified) : 8 (3%)

Wife/SO's First Reaction (Responses: 275)

Shock / Disgust : 87 (32%)
Interest : 94 (34%)
Greatly Interested: 40 (15%)
Happiness : 15 (5%)
Other (not listed): 39 (14%)

Wife/SO's Views Have Changed (Responses: 286)

No (Same as First Reaction) : 112 (39%)
Yes, For Better : 152 (53%)
Yes, For Worse : 22 (8%)

FAMILY SITUATION

Family Members Who Know About My Cross-dressing (Detailed breakdown to follow)

At least one Family Member Knows :170
Parents Know :97
Brother(s) Know :50
Sister(s) Know :72
Children Know :55
Extended Family Knows :59

Family's Reaction to My Cross-dressing (if they know) (Responses: 266)

Non-Acceptance : 43 (16%)
Tolerance : 48 (18%)
Supportive : 28 (11%)
Mixed : 40 (15%)
N/A (Not Applicable): 107 (40%)

Family's Views Have Changed Since They Know (Responses: 266)

Yes, for better : 29 (11%)
Yes, for worse : 1 (0%)
No : 81 (30%)
It Varies : 36 (14%)
N/A (Not Applicable): 119 (45%)

I Know Other Family Member's Who Cross-Dress (Responses: 293)

Yes : 21 (7%)
No : 224 (76%)
N/A (Not Applicable): 48 (16%)

EXTENDED RELATIONSHIPS

My Friends Know About My Cross-Dressing (Responses: 513)

None: 332 (65%)
One : 60 (12%)
Some: 90 (18%)
Most: 14 (3%)
All : 17 (3%)

I Have Gained Friends Because of My Cross-dressing (Responses: 513)

Yes: 114 (22%)
No : 399 (78%)

I Have Lost Close Friends Because of My Cross-dressing (Responses: 513)

Yes: 43 (8%)
No : 470 (92%)

My Employer Knows About My Cross-Dressing (Responses: 513)

Yes : 27 (5%)
No : 390 (76%)
N/A (Not Applicable): 96 (19%)

My Employer Has Policies/Principles to Protect My Privacy (Responses: 99)

Yes : 18 (18%)
No : 33 (33%)
I Don't Know : 48 (48%)

My Work Colleagues Know About My Cross-Dressing (Responses: 438)

None: 368 (84%)
One : 23 (5%)
Some: 31 (7%)
Most: 5 (1%)
All : 11 (3%)

My Colleaugues are Committed to Protecting My Right to Privacy (Responses: 103)

Yes : 44 (43%)
No : 20 (19%)
I Don't Know : 39 (38%)

SUPPORT GROUPS

I Attend / Have Attended Support Group Meetings (Responses: 483)

Yes : 78 (16%)
No : 405 (84%)

Frequency of Support Group Meetings (Responses: 77)

Weekly : 11 (14%)
Every Two Weeks: 7 (9%)
Monthly : 35 (45%)
It varies : 24 (31%)

Frequency I Attend The Support Group Meetings (Responses: 72)

Every Time : 9 (13%)
Most Times : 15 (21%)
Occasionally : 22 (31%)
Rarely : 26 (36%)

Support Group Meetings Have Helped Me (Responses: 73)

Yes : 56 (77%)
No : 17 (23%)

I Have Attended Counseling (Responses: 467)

Yes : 111 (24%)
No : 356 (76%)

Counseling Has Helped Me (Responses: 104)

Yes : 55 (53%)
No : 49 (47%)

CROSS-DRESSING STYLES

My Favorite Clothing When I Dress Privately (Responses: 513)

Panties : 20 (4%)
Panties and Bra : 120 (23%)
Pantyhose / Hosiery / Garters: 86 (17%)
Teddy : 11 (2%)
Corsetry : 21 (4%)
Nightdress : 20 (4%)
Skirt and Blouse : 104 (20%)
Dress : 89 (17%)
Kinky Uniforms : 13 (3%)
Other (not listed) : 29 (6%)

My Favorite Look When I Go Out In Public (Responses: 368)

Fashionable : 58 (16%)
Classy : 39 (11%)
Risque / ****ty : 61 (17%)
"Regular" Woman : 150 (41%)
It Varies : 60 (16%)

[KayR]

What a fascinating piece of historical evidence!!

If conducted today, I dont think that there would be much difference in responses to the personal questions, but perhaps the greater general public tolerance for TV/CD people would reflect more on the social responses.

I think its also fascinating that we - for I include myself in this - first got involved in womens underwear. The fact that most of us "borrowed" our mums undies says little about Oedipus, and more about opportunity. It suggests that we were seeking a more tactile experience than encountered in male mode. This is certainly true of me.

I'm no psychiatrist, but I'd bet that the "compelled to" responses were as a result of the intense physical/erotic feeling obtained from the first "experiment" rather than the "inner girl" calling. But there again, what do I know?

[Emily Anderson]

KayR,

I'm not sure why Mum's undies got such a big rating, but suspect it is because Mum is a female and there aren't always sisters in the household. That's one of the issues with surveys... We get results but they aren't necessarily meaningful unless we also know the "why".

My first recollection was trying on my sister's "bloomers" (these were knee length red knickers with black frilly edges) at age four. I can still vaguely remember the look and feel of them today... Basically, my attraction to CD'ing has always been about the "girliness" of the clothing, and the fact that I find men's clothing a bore in comparison. So, I concur that the physical/erotic element definitely played a big part for me... And the fact that my Mum caught me in the act!

[KayR]

Exactly! There are lies, damned lies, statistics, and then theres the reason why I'm wearing the panties you've just caught me wearing......

[Deanna2]

Very interesting. It would be useful to run it again.

[Princess29]

very informative

[Nadia-Maria]

It's very informative and extremely interesting.
I am very fond of such studies.

Congratulations and kisses

Nadia

[Melanie R]

Emily,

The survey you completed in 2001 shows many of the same results and responses my wife found when she completed a survey in 1988 with 986 responding. The results were the basis for her second book, Crossdressing With Dignity.

[Emily Anderson]

Melanie,

Indeed, there were a few web-based surveys around at that time, all showing similar results. I know that Yvonne (alias YMS on here) also ran a survey on her site around that time. If Yvonne is around, maybe she could comment?

My survey was supposedly used by Helen Boyd for her book "My Husband Betty", because I gave her permission to print it, though I never read the book so I don't know if the survey was ever published or not.

I did read one of your wife's books, called "My Husband Wears My Clothes", just so you know

[Melanie R]

Emily,

I do not believe that Helen referenced your survey in her first book. We will reference your survey in the new edition of My Husband Wears My Clothes and Crossdressing With Dignity.

Melanie,

Indeed, there were a few web-based surveys around at that time, all showing similar results. I know that Yvonne (alias YMS on here) also ran a survey on her site around that time. If Yvonne is around, maybe she could comment?

My survey was supposedly used by Helen Boyd for her book "My Husband Betty", because I gave her permission to print it, though I never read the book so I don't know if the survey was ever published or not.

I did read one of your wife's books, called "My Husband Wears My Clothes", just so you know

[Emily Anderson]

Thanks Melanie, I really appreciate that.

[Sallee]

Interesting poll most results were I expected but some took me by surprise

[Sylviatg]

Run it again and compare over time.

[linnea]

Very interesting information. Thank you.

[Ellen Ross]

Reading this made me feel very "normal". I look forward to participating in the next survey. I would add response choices for an outside dressing business. I store my clothes at a local business, Over the Rainbow Transformations, and use their make-up/changing area to dress and then later un-dress. Once dressed I can hang out there or go out. It is a great service and has been an amazing resource for me.

[serinalynn]

I did not participate in the 2001 survey. I will when the 2008 survey is out.