Are Cross Dressers Transgendered

Comment by Danielle Reneta Prescott on April 25, 2011 at 1:08am

I'd say your transgendered (non-standard, non-binary gender identity/expression), and I do have compassion for all people who are forced into a box by social narrow-mindedness. But it is also to important to understand the difference between the two. The experience of a transsexual isn't quite the same as the experience of a cross-dresser, gender queer, androgynous, transvestite person. Likewise, your experience is unique from mine and thus I can't fully relate either. I have never liked 'lumping' as terminology to define one group can be insufficient to define the other. Not all cross-dressers are transsexual, not all transsexuals are cross-dressers... Does that make more sense. But considering that cross-dresser is used generally derogatorily perhaps then you would be simply a transgender, someone with non-standard gender expression. Don't mistake me, I don't dislike cross-dressers, but the word leaves a bad taste in my mouth because I know what people think of it.

I think transvestite is an acceptable word, but not cross-dresser. I also don't like being called a cross-dresser as a transsexual person as the definition fails to accurately describe me. I just don't like the misrepresentation that goes on when it comes to societal labels. But it's part of why it's important for us to be good role models. For every time someone sees one transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, transvestite, drag queen, drag king, gender queer or androgynous person doing something wrong it reflects on all of us. It's likely that less than 20% of us are responsible for more than 80% of the negative images of us portrayed in the media. Which is why it's important for us to police ourselves, because the outsiders aren't going to do it and if they do it won't be without bias and prejudice.

I personally understand my little part of the puzzle of gender, and you understand yours, but there are both things that are alike and many that aren't. Quite frankly, I don't like the titles/labels period. The labels are closely associated with very derogatory things socially and it obscures outsiders ability to perceive us as people... Society tends to morph us in to a moving political target to dehumanize us and super-humanize themselves. I don't like anyone applying to me labels that I do not accept or agree with. I have come to accept that in the larger sense the world calls me transsexual and transgender, and I accept that for the purpose of comparative language in communication and nothing more. I don't call myself a transsexual, I call myself 'female', 'woman', 'she', and 'Reneta', and those are the labels I accept. I know what the world thinks but I reject it for the dirt they use that label to smear me with.

But perhaps one day those labels won't mean something dirty one day, or sociopath, or deviant. When that day arises with out societies derived meanings, then I'll accept transsexual as I do my own name. For now, I am a woman, I am Reneta, and nothing more. Perhaps we need to endeavor to retake those words that define us and clean them up for those who don't know there is a difference between social deviance and transgenderism. For every sincere, genuine person who expresses their gender variance and is a good Samaritan there is at least one somewhere who is ingenuous and doing the same thing for devious purposes. This can apply to the world at large (For every banker who runs a bank for the benefit of their patrons there is at least one somewhere else who is runs a bank for devious purposes and personal gain.)

Comment by Monica Lorraine Beaudry on April 25, 2011 at 3:36am

Awe, don't fuss over what label you may wear, it is the clothes you wear that really matters and those who judge you .................. They don't matter. The difference between the two terms for many could be measured by using time anyways. Nobody is better than anyone else
If it feels good. Do it.

Comment by Vanessa Sheridan on April 25, 2011 at 7:18pm

Here are a few thoughts I'd like to share about this issue, for what it's worth--and I fully realize that they are only my opinions. No one has to agree with me if they don't want to, and I'm totally okay with that. I'm secure enough in my own identity to be able to handle some disagreement. I know who and what I am, and I don't need or request anyone else's permission for that. On the other hand, I certainly know that I don't have all the answers (nor does anyone else) and that I'm on a continuing journey of personal discovery just like everyone else. In any case, here's my two cents worth.

One of the great things about being human is that we get to define ourselves. No one else has the right to do that for us. As far as acceptance goes, the first one you have to get to accept you is yourself. Everyone else comes in a distant second. The ability to be self-determining is a huge part of what makes us sentient beings. We have our own will and we don't have to make that will subservient to anyone else's wishes, no matter how much they may want us to do so. Be who you are, be what you are--whoever and whatever that is--and define yourself according to your own understanding. In doing so you empower yourself and set an example for others.

Comment by Lauren Elisabeth Tancyus on April 25, 2011 at 9:40pm

Here today; gone tomorrow. Interestingly enough, many of these terms some of us find offensive are terms our big sisters came up with to describe themselves, only now to fall into disfavor. "And the Beat Goes On" What does it really matter and why are people so easily offended? Is it just being politically correct to favor one term over another? One woman's roof is another woman's ceiling.

Some of us, whether we are able to or not for what ever reason truly desire to become women, not a third gender or a hybrid of both using some descriptor that is currently en vogue. Others like to play with the role of gender and some just enjoy not fitting in with any commonly recognized gender; that is what is right for them. There would appear to be no consensus on what the relation of each is to each other, except it has to do with some sort of difference in gender identity or gender expression. We hang together only for political gain, but that seems to be about it in many situations. I respect the right of anyone to identify as they see themselves and all are due the same rights and privileges we are given in our Consitution. I know how I identify myself and have no problems with how others identify themselves.

Comment by samantha joy cornell on April 26, 2011 at 7:35pm

Crossfressers are transgender at least as far as the umbrella term goes, it is simply another way of being.
whether you simply love the clothes or have a feminine side that you want to express. it is not the same as those of us who change our bodies through hormones and/ or surgery (transsexuals), or those who see it as a fetish (transvestites), but it's all good here.

Comment by Cheryl Jacob on April 27, 2011 at 2:40pm

Interesting food for thought. Thanks for posting.

Comment by Jessica Lynn Brooks on April 27, 2011 at 5:16pm

Cross dressers are transgendered by deefinition in the DSM IV, however I feel they are not really women otherwise they would do more than just cross dress only. Sorry if this offends cd's, but on another site I joined there are a lot of cd's calling thermselves transsexuals, NOT!

Comment by Katherine MacKenzie Bradford on April 27, 2011 at 8:39pm

I feel that the labels are just that... labels, and really it's up to each of us to figure out which ones apply and which ones don't. I mean, who really knows what goes on in your head besides you? Who knows that motivates you to do what you do? If you wear womens clothes for whatever reason and you want to identify as crossdresser, or transgendered, or baloney sandwich, then go right ahead. It's your life, do what you want.

As for support... I think that if you are respectful to the people around you, and understand that how you act and appear in public will directly affect the way others see our community, then you have my support without question. Go ahead and dress to the nines, just keep it reasonable for the setting you are in. There's a guy I used to work with who very obviously wore a mix of mens and womens clothes every day, yet he never wore anything you won't see in a work environment so nobody said anything. On the other hand, if you insist on making a fool of yourself (and by extension, the rest of us) by wearing clothes appropriate for someone half your age, or wearing ridiculous amounts of makeup, or clothing that looks torn, or dirty, or right out of a strip club, or not bothering to at least try to remove the facial hair.. well then don't expect too much from me because I'd rather be anywhere but by your side.

At present, I only have two friends who identify as crossdressers but it isn't because I have something against them. Over a decade ago, I joined a rather large trans group (that currently has a 20/80 ratio of transsexuals to crossdressers) and used to spend a great deal of time socializing with them, talking about our lives and trials. But as time went on, the things that the crossdressers in the group found interesting and talked most often about did less and less for me. And eventually, I grew bored with them. I apologize if I am stereotyping here, but honestly.. I can only handle so much talk about shoes, and underwear, and makeup... as I imagine our endless talks about SRS and transition probably elicit similar reactions among the crossdressers.

It's not that I don't enjoy the company of crossdressers. I've just found that at this point in my life, I require support of a different sort than they can provide me. And that should be ok.. ^_^

Comment by Rhonda Lee on May 3, 2011 at 12:55pm

Jodie,
I appreciate your post, as it is on target with my own questions and issues and comes from someone with similar orientation to mine. My April 19 blog describing my story, as told in an NPR interview, has attracted a firestorm, causing me to think more deeply about the division to which you refer and to the importance of labels (something I personally have not deemed important but realize I need to consider more carefully if I hope to relate effectively to or support others, to the extent they have importance to others). Especially from comments generated from my blog, evidencing the divide to which you refer, I began to wonder if I belonged in this group and perhaps joined the wrong site and would be kicked out. And as this was my first ever attempt at a blog, I certainly had to wonder whether it is worth venturing into such minefields. But like stepping out of the closet, it seems a risk worth taking, as the increased knowledge of self is pretty valuable stuff!

It does now appear to me that, as a cross-dresser, I am considered trans-gender by most. At least I feel there is a place for me in the TG community, as we all have many common issues and can benefit from supporting each other. So that is my own focus, even if I remain a bit uncertain about the answer to your query and a bit discouraged by the division in our ranks. I hope you will conclude, like me, that the journey is worth the risk and cost.

Comment by Jaime Melisa Roth on May 6, 2011 at 6:57pm

Some are and some aren't is my response. Perhaps it's my legal background influencing me, but as good lawyers often say "I need more facts". Generalities are often misleading.

Comment

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page