How many of us are JUST crossdressers?

[Tess]

I normally avoid these esoteric debates on the words crossdresser and transgender. Just this once I let myself be sucked in and decided to look at how these words were defined by several on line dictionaries. Its no wonder that we are confused or have different views of their meaning when the dictionaries can't even agree. Quote the dictionary that has the definition that fits your personal view. What I did learn was that most defined transgender more narrowly and not inclusive of those who do not want to be a different gender in whole or in part. That certainly fits my view that I'm just a crossdresser and not transgender. It also seems to fit, in my opinion, the world view of what these terms mean. Its understandable that any relatively small group in a large population, like the transgendered, would want to feel they are less different by widening the definition of their situation. My take away from all this is that transgendered is wanting to BE a different gender in whole or in part while crossdressers want to occasionally dress like a different gender and have a jolly good time.

[ReineD]

A desire to crossdress may or may not include a desire to express one's own sense of femininity, but that does not have to translate into "gender identification".

Veronica, I don't mean to ignore your post. Thank you for stating it so well, I will take some time to digest everything you've said.