Cross dressing free essay sample

Transvestism (also called transvestitism) is the practice of dressing and acting in a style or manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex. After all the changes that took place during the 1970s, a large group was left without a word to describe themselves: heterosexual males (that is, male-bodied, male- identified, gynephilic persons) who wear traditionally feminine clothing. This group was not particularly happy with the term transvestism. Therefore, the term cross- dresser was coined. Self-identified cross-dressers generally do not have fetishistic intentions,but are instead men who wear female clothing and often both admire and imitate women. This group did†and sometimes still does†distance themselves strictly from both gay men and transsexuals, and usually also deny any fetishistic intentions. It was probably this development that led to the explicit definition of transvestic fetishism as distinctively different from transvestism. However, when this group of people achieved public attention, they were commonly referred to as ransvestites rather than cross-dressers. We will write a custom essay sample on Cross dressing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page That led, paradoxically, to yet another usage of transvestism: cross-dressing, male-bodied, male-identified, heterosexual persons. This group typically self-identifies as cross-dressers. When cross-dressing occurs for erotic purposes over a period of at least six months and when it causes significant distress or impairment, the behaviour is considered a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the psychiatric diagnosis transvestic fetishism is applied. In some cultures, transvestism is practiced for religious, traditional or ceremonial reasons. For example, in India some male devotees of the Hindu god Krishna, especially in Mathura and Vrindavan, dress in female attire to pose as his consort, the goddess Radha, as an act of devotion. ln Italy, the Neapolitan femminielli (feminine males) wear wedding dresses, called the matrimonio dei femminielli (marriage of the femminielli), a procession takes place hrough the streets, a tradition that apparently has pagan origins. Conclusion: There are many different kinds of cross-dressing and many different reasons why an individual might engage in cross-dressing behaviour. Some people cross-dress as a matter of comfort or style, out of personal preference for clothing associated with the opposite sex. In this case, a persons cross-dressing may or may not be apparent to other people. Some people cross-dress to shock others or challenge social norms. cross dressing By shivali_c