Have you ever felt misunderstood?
Sadly, there’s a lot of ignorance out there! That’s why in this blog post, I want to debunk common myths about crossdressers and transgender women.
Let’s start with one of the biggest misconceptions that’s unfortunately still hanging around:
Myth: Transgender women, crossdressers, and drag queens are all the same.
While all these are valid ways of expressing one’s gender, they represent distinct groups, and it’s important not to use these terms interchangeably.
To clarify, here’s how the GLAAD Media Reference Guide defines some common transgender terms:
- Transgender women – People who were assigned male at birth but who identify as women. Many transgender women are prescribed hormones or undergo surgery, but transgender identity is not dependent upon medical procedures.
- Crossdressers – Men, typically heterosexual men, who occasionally wear clothes, makeup, and accessories associated with women. This activity is a form of gender expression and is not done for entertainment purposes. Crossdressers do not wish to permanently change their sex or live full-time as women.
- Drag queens – Men, typically gay men, who dress like women for the purpose of entertainment.
- Gender non-conforming – A term used to describe some people whose gender expression is different from conventional expectations of masculinity and femininity. The term is not a synonym for transgender or transsexual and should only be used if someone self-identifies as gender non-conforming.
- Non-binary and/or genderqueer – Terms used by some people who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the categories of male and female. The term is not a synonym for transgender and should only be used if someone self-identifies as non-binary and/or genderqueer.
Now that the record has been set straight, let’s look at some of the most common myths about crossdressers and transgender women.
7 Myths About Transgender Women
- Being transgender is a choice.
- Transgender people are gay.
- Transgender women aren’t “real” women.
- Your sex is defined by your chromosomes and/or hormones.
- You have to have surgery to be a “real” transgender person.
- You aren’t transgender until you start hormone therapy.
- Kids and teens are too young to know if they’re really transgender.
7 Myths About Crossdressers
- Crossdressers are gay.
- Crossdressers are perverts.
- Crossdressing is a psychological problem.
- Crossdressing can be cured.
- Crossdressers want to change their sex.
- Crossdressing is a destructive addiction.
- Crossdressers can’t be good husbands or fathers.
Have you heard any of these myths before? They’re frustrating and hurtful, aren’t they? It’s time for the world to wake up and realize this truth:
Your gender is who you are on the inside. There are countless ways to express your gender, and all are completely valid!
To help spread this truth, check out these excellent resources from GLAAD below. They’re a great way to increase awareness about transgender issues.
Recommended Resources from GLAAD
Now let’s hear from you…
What’s the truth that YOU’D like to set straight? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
i do not wear i going with this but i love to wear the most femine things i can buy. i say that i do not go out in drag, but i only wear womens clothing from my shirts to my jeans are all made for females. even my socks are womens. at night i only sleep in long night gowns, the only dream i have is the time get to wear dresses and skirts all the time.
I ‘m a crossdresser enjoyFeeling sexy when I’m dressed in women’s clothes and makeup and heels I love to go out enfemI love to go shoppingi it makes me feel so sexy I love the way the guys look at meand women too they feel so jealous because I am gorgeousthanks Lucille
The main truth is I am female regardless of my shell. I love who I am, and I own it. I dont fight for labels, I dont fight for.approval, I just be myself. It’s a gift to have female energy in me, and for.people to see it. Its just me, I am woman, hear me.roar!!! 🙂
I am so glad to read this.
I am a genetic male. A few years ago I started really wondering what it would.very like to be a woman. When I would see a woman I found them active but more of me wanted to be that woman I saw.
Many of the things in my life identity more with female than male. I am a manly man… Looks wise.. Strong tall and was blessed with a good size sex organ.
But I made love like a woman (most of the females I was with would comment)
I wasn’t really attracted to men physically but I craved the attention I received from them when I was in a more feminine role.
I tried dressing only once in public… I worn female lace and panties with a partner or two. But it wasn’t till a mishap with a medication that I got to feel what it was like to have more estrogen than testosterone in my system.
Omg to feel my nipples so sensitive and my sex organ stopped working like a man.
Orgasm changed for me as well.
I liked it. It felt right.
Sense then I have made the changes I needed to stop my bodies testosterone production. I am about to start boosting my estrogen levels.
Reading this article helped me understand something about my self.
I am not a crossdresser. I don’t desire to sometimes wear female clothes but stay a man.
I am not a dragqueen, I don’t want to dress as part of entertainment.
I desire to be physically a female. Though it is going to be very small steps due to my vanilla life.
I have to stay dress as a male. Not sure for how long. But either way.
Thank you for the article.
As I’ve read you’re MTF as me. If it so it’s no way another than to to become a woman completely. This TG site of incredible Lucille Sorella is TG Wonderworld. She helped me in 2009 to start transition as a point of no return. And I ‘ve never thought that I have chosen the wrong way.
transgenders can be gay,bisexual or straight many people are misconformed by this,i am transgender and am not attracted to men as of yet but when i go on hrt it might change my perspective lol,there is a pic of me here lucille im still preparing my femme look so this is the real me until sandi the gorgeous comes out any tips will help.
Lucille, I think the condition of transgender is one of complete
mis-understanding, I think the myth part was created by complete ignorance. This applies to F2M as well as M2F.
This transgender business isn’t going to go away, it’s going
to grow, the rest of populace are going to have to learn to live
us. The rest of the populace are not going to understand in a hurry, because most of us transgender don’t understand what
makes us the we are in a hurry. But life must go on, so we transgenders must get on with living, but instead of negative thinking of the other populace why cannot we all live and work together.
Most of us probably didn’t ask to be the way we are, but it has happened, SO! -let’s Move On!
Can anyone else add to this!.
I have been told Im not the same girl I was a year ago. Many of my friends have asked what I did I dont really know what I did except. I try to show confidence I read some where just sit and watch women see how they walk carry them selves pick out the ones that really stand out and see what they do I happen to be lucky enough to be with two women that just impressed me highly and we ended up at the same event I got to observe how they inter acted with others. I also had the opportunity to chat with them my self I told them they were in my mind the perfecy example of classy, power, control, especially confident. They both told me they did the same thing I was doing they studied successful role models,
I think it’s important to note that the gender imprint is in the brain, not the body. Being in-between I tried to identify with the male gender, but could not sympathize with the cold lack of empathy, or several other (what I would consider) problems with that gender. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to transition to female rather than male. I think the intersexed condition is one thing that throws a monkey wrench into a lot of the definitions, as we have been trying to define two things without a counterpoint. Well, I AM that counterpoint. Being in between I had feminine traits, so I would go out of my way to avoid anything feminine when trying to appear male. But when appearing female, if I didn’t have the normal small amount of masculine inflection or body language that women have (believe me– THEY ARE THERE!) then some would “out” me, because I avoided the mixture, and it became obvious I was trying too hard. On the other hand, I see males with some amount of feminine vocal inflection and body language, and wonder if they’re gay! Most of the time they’re not, and just really, really comfortable and confident with who and what they are as males.
Since beginning the transition, just acting like myself (I have a higher pitch than normal males) I have NEVER been identified as other than female. I guess a B cup chest and a semi-hourglass figure helps, but if you are a woman in your head, then what they see is a woman.
It all starts there!
Best Regards,
Eliza