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
Cross-dressing is not only not a sin but even necessary for many men to feel healthy and sometimes for women as well. This is a historical fact. With women, however, who have traditionally been denied equal status in the workplace throughout time cross-dressing usually if not always is career-related. There is the famous Amandine Lucile Aurore Dupin better known by the history books as George Sand. But of course there is Joan of Arc too.
Men typically in our times are not able to express their feelings as well as women. Most cross-dressers feel guilty about their dressing and are not able to handle their feelings well as to why they want to wear clothes designed for women so it is easy for someone to blame them for this dressing when they already share a certain amount of quilt for this dressing.
There is a conspicuous lack of good and meaningful information as to why one is transgender or has the desire to cross-dress and yet transgender operations become more and more sophisticated without the psycho-emotional knowledge which should be available to professionals as a prerequisite for it.
I have consulted one of the best and most expensive psychologists around yet he really knows substantially nothing about the transgender/cross-dressing phenomenon so I just feel that I have to fill in the blanks about my own gender identity on my own and unfortunately I do not get along well with other trans persons as I do not think like they do. If anything I feel that I am a extratemporal original dandy who wears women’s clothes but since the dandy concept is dead in our world as far as I am concerned I just have to go on and keep exploring with the life given to me in the present state.
I wish I could be an inspiration to modern men insofar as how I dress and present myself but if anything just for some women or GGs if you prefer.
I’m in my mid-thirties. I knew that I was internally female when I was 4. That has not changed this whole time.
I am Heterosexual, married, children, military and even devoted roman catholic. This does not change the fact that each and every day I struggle because the world does not see me or treat me the way that I feel. I made a choice when I married my wife to leave behind the option of surgery, and I’d make the choice again. This does not change the fact that a part of me hurts every day.
I love you all and commend anyone who continues to live their life sharing what we have (Both Pre-op and post-op alike). One day the world will understand.
We are the women only we can see!
Crossdressers are human being as well. Croosdressing is fantasy. Yes it is definitely psychological phenomenan but thats why we are considering them as Crossdresser. Thats not true that cross-dressers are can’t be good fathers…In society every human being has chance to live with their own freedom. But its very wrong that its SIN. No…but is all good…
Crossdressers are gay. Nope not gay, but have fantasized about a relationship with another crossdresser. Maybe not as straight as I think?
Crossdressers are perverts. Only in the minds of those who are missing the wonderful feeling of being able to live in the worlds of both sexes.
Crossdressing is a psychological problem. I dunno, the shrinks have never been able to figure it out. I started at 10 or 12 and have been doing it for 60 years. I had no role model just started wearing moms underwear, why who knows. To me it just felt right.
Crossdressing can be cured. Biggest myth of all. How many of us have decided to stop how many times? A diet is easier. I’ve had some long stretches but the older I get who cares just wish I could dress openly.
Crossdressers want to change their sex. Again nope, I like my male roll in life. But if there were a magic pill where you could change for a 24 hour period I would be the first to try it.
Crossdressing is a destructive addiction. Not sure it can be called an addiction.
Crossdressers can’t be good husbands or fathers. My wife loves me and my kids think I am the best father. The wife knows I have crossdressed but it must stay in the closet, unfortunately.
Kath you really hit it on the head. 77 and still dressing probably started around 10 or 12.
Very good article.
Oh here’s one, last summer I was sitting a patio with girlfriends drinking and their boyfriends an husbands showed up to join us, one of the guys said to me, ” I’m not gay but why are you damn pretty” I replied ” well I’m not gay either I’m a transsexual” I smiled and he was very confused but over time I filled him on the TS an TG’s and we are now friends and drinking pal’s, so many think a Ts/Tg is gay, so im very happy to educate them at any opportunity.
Transgenders get off sexually from dressing glamour and being called lady boy or sissy….not.
My wife thinks that all 7 crossdressing myths are true. She would add one more. It is a sin.
Heather
Indeed, ‘being a sin’ is an additional myth in religious circles too…
So sorry to hear that 🙁
Is this supposed to be funny or have you actually set a new record for irony?