Fun Fast Facts:
Updated: 11 Aug 2015
- Cross-dressing is the act of wearing items of clothing and other accoutrements commonly associated with the opposite gender.
- Some people automatically connect cross-dressing behaviour to transgender identity or sexual, fetishist and homosexual behaviour, but the term itself does not imply any motives.
- Cross-dressing has been practised throughout much of recorded history and in many societies. There are many examples in Greek, Norse and Hindu mythology.
- Historically, some women have cross-dressed to take up male-dominated or male-exclusive professions, such as military service. Conversely, some men have cross-dressed to escape from mandatory military service or as a disguise to assist in political or social protest.
- The term underdressing is used by male cross-dressers to describe wearing female undergarments under their male clothes.
Broadcast: 11 Aug 2015
Cross-dressing in the UK… a ‘coming out’ of a different kind
W3JOY interviewed: Catie Maye, crossdresser and author of the book ‘Men Can Wear Dresses Too’
Listen to the podcast to discover:
- Catie’s first experience of crossdressing
- misunderstandings of crossdressing
- the role of labels and the desire to fit in – or not
- coming out as a crossdresser to family, friends and one’s partner
- stigma from the LGBTIQ and the wider community