What's the difference????

[Lilin Penn]

OK I am so lost...Someone tried to explain to me the difference between Cross-dressing and Transvestites.

I always thought that a transvestite wanted to do away with the features that make them the gender they are and cross dressers like to play dress up.

According to him it's the other way around. But yet as I research it online, I am finding contradictions.

Can anyone explain this to me???

Thanks!
Lilin

 

[oggbashan]

My view is that the difference is between both and transsexuals.

Transsexuals want to be the other sex. Cross-dressers and transvestites don't but a transsexual may cross-dress as a stage on the way to a sex change.

Beyond that I think that Cross-dressers do it in private and Transvestites do it in public as well as in private.

The terminology changes with different groups of people. For some Cross-Dressing = Transvestitism. For others Cross-Dressing is no more than a fashion industry ploy to use traditionally feminine fabrics and designs in male fashion and vice versa.

When I was young no straight gentleman would dare to wear a pink shirt or a shirt in any other pattern but the traditional Oxford designs. A pink shirt would be 'cross-dressing'. Ladies could not wear trousers or slacks to an office. That would have been cross-dressing.

Fashion changes. Cavalier or some Regency men's fashions would be considered cross-dressing today. The Beatles' long hair was considered outrageously feminine in 1963.

The answer is 'It depends on the context'.

Og

 

[Stella_Omega]

Trans= "cross"
vesti "clothing"
trans+vestism is the exact same thing as cross+dressing, as far as the words themselves are concerned, and the two terms are interchangeable.
As to the WHYS of someone's drag desires, and how far someone wants to go, or any of the other circumstances that surround- there are a million of 'em!
I know this doesn't help much. because people insist on inventing differences between two versions of any term- but, honest, that's all there is to it.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Trans= "cross"
vesti "clothing"
trans+vestism is the exact same thing as cross+dressing, as far as the words themselves are concerned, and the two terms are interchangeable.
As to the WHYS of someone's drag desires, and how far someone wants to go, or any of the other circumstances that surround- there are a million of 'em!
I know this doesn't help much. because people insist on inventing differences between two versions of any term- but, honest, that's all there is to it.

You sick, sick drag queen.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You sick, sick drag queen.

You always have le mot juste, my darling!

 

[ABSTRUSE]

You always have le mot juste, my darling!

Somtimes I have a french dip, au jus on the side.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Somtimes I have a french dip, au jus on the side.

huh huh you said "French"

 

[ABSTRUSE]

huh huh you said "French"

Damn you Omega....damn you to hell.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

OK I am so lost...Someone tried to explain to me the difference between Cross-dressing and Transvestites.

I always thought that a transvestite wanted to do away with the features that make them the gender they are and cross dressers like to play dress up.

According to him it's the other way around. But yet as I research it online, I am finding contradictions.

Can anyone explain this to me???

Thanks!
Lilin

My understanding isThat a transvestite gets a sexual thrill from the actual clothing. It's close to a paraphillia. There is no need to look passable or even feminine, it's just the clothes give a thrill.

Cd's want to look passable. the thrill there is more about identity and gender blurring.

Transexuals want to be women. They wouldn't consider wearing a dress cross dressing. To them, wearing feminine apparel is just "normal". Ts's are likely to worry abou tpassing less, but will pass more often. Dressing for them is one step on a road to cure their gender disphoria

 

[sweetnpetite]

technically they are the same thing.

however, I think you can cross dress without being a transvestite, or I guess cross dress without being a 'cross dresser'

At least, I wouldn't consider Avril Leviene a transvestite, although there can be no arguing that she has 'cross-dressed' at times.

katherine hepburn was a cross-dresser. People may have considered her to be a transvestite as well, but I don't think that lable really fits.

 

[Stella_Omega]

technically they are the same thing.

however, I think you can cross dress without being a transvestite, or I guess cross dress without being a 'cross dresser'

At least, I wouldn't consider Avril Leviene a transvestite, although there can be no arguing that she has 'cross-dressed' at times.

katherine hepburn was a cross-dresser. People may have considered her to be a transvestite as well, but I don't think that lable really fits.

It's the difference between "I do" and "I am"

I saw a gorgeous Drag King last night, in a sushi restaurant, by the way. He looked like a Leyendecker "Arrow Shirt" illustration, very sculptured and handsome. And with his girl friend, an older Japanese woman.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

It's the difference between "I do" and "I am"

I saw a gorgeous Drag King last night, in a sushi restaurant, by the way. He looked like a Leyendecker "Arrow Shirt" illustration, very sculptured and handsome. And with his girl friend, an older Japanese woman.

I love you, you know Leyendecker's illustrations

 

[Stella_Omega]

I love you, you know Leyendecker's illustrations

As do you! You're a woman of taste and savior faire, and I always say so.

 

[sweetnpetite]

It's the difference between "I do" and "I am"

I saw a gorgeous Drag King last night, in a sushi restaurant, by the way. He looked like a Leyendecker "Arrow Shirt" illustration, very sculptured and handsome. And with his girl friend, an older Japanese woman.

I do agree, in large part. Cross dressing is something you do, transvestite is more of a word used to define who you are. All the rest though, that's as individual as the rest of us.

IN a society with ever changing norms it's sometimes very fuzzy. Little Richard, Prince, Elton John- don't they all mix high heals and boas and sequins with pants and jackets and other 'manly attire'? Sure they're not mainstream people but I think they help to get a certain look to feel more 'normal' than it might otherwise.

But I don't think that either is an indication of what you want your sexuality to be or who your sexually attracted to. Those are seperate issues.

You can be full time full on drag queen and be gay or straight, be totally satisfied with being a man or wish to be a woman. They might do it for money on stage or only for personal gratification. I imagine that there are some who enjoy aspects of both being male and female and enjoy being a bit of both. There are others who are tormented with the duplicity or feel torn between the two. I'm sure that for each transvestite or cross dresser there is a personal set of feelings, beleifs and motivations that can't be captured by either label.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

OK I am so lost...Someone tried to explain to me the difference between Cross-dressing and Transvestites.

Can anyone explain this to me???

Thanks!
Lilin

Not certain I can help you with this one. I do however, happen to know that there's a significant difference between a weirdo transvestite and an executive transvestite.

(yes, I beat the Earl to it).

Q_C

 

[ABSTRUSE]

As do you! You're a woman of taste and savior faire, and I always say so.

Where have you been all my life???

 

[yui]

Not certain I can help you with this one. I do however, happen to know that there's a significant difference between a weirdo transvestite and an executive transvestite.

(yes, I beat the Earl to it).

Q_C

Eddie Izzard, eh?

 

[gauchecritic]

Where have you been all my life???

Unborn for a lot of it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Where have you been all my life???

That depends...
Where would you like me to have been?

 

[a.j.angel]

That depends...
Where would you like me to have been?

Know what?
that av suits you!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Know what?
that av suits you!

Oh, this old thing? It's my Halloween costume fits like a glove though...