Why is cross dressing treated as such a taboo?

Question

It hurts nobody, it is a wonderful way of sharing things most couples do not get to share, it can be very fun and thrilling for both the person who dresses and their partner, so why do many people see it as a bad, scary thing?

Okay Okay funny people, crossdressing, not cross dressing! LOL!!!!

Answer 1

Well, I studied this, and I'd say;

1) Women fought to wear pants, guys hide inside with skirts. That's brief and a little insensitive, but women weren't first received well going out, but they kept going out. There's no unified crossdresser movement. Some feminists think that's because men want the best of both worlds; male privledge in their daily lives, their predilections in their home lives. There are more crossdressers than any other subcategory covered under the umbrella of TG, yet advocacy groups are comprised of very few crossdressers, for example. The stakes might be a little higher for advocacy is it were their daily lives. Calling society intolerant and doing nothing to change the norm is bogus to me, it's disingenuous. If someone's an advocate in any way, or goes out dressed and presents a positive example of what he believes, or contributes in any way to the progress of his own rights, he's earned the right to complain about how little progress there's been.

2) Crossdressing as a term is derived from transvestitism, a term that includes a sexual context. Our culture doesn't talk about sex, much, and people have dismissed crossdressing as a fetish for years. Some groups, like Tri-ess, emphasize the non-sexual nature of crossdressing, and they're pretty popular. People still have a hard time getting around the sterotype of what they believe is a sex-centric activity.

3) When women go out wearing pants, or whatever, they're wearing a few pieces of clothing from the other gender. Some crossdressers aren't just trying to wear girl's clothing, though, they're trying to be perceived as the other gender either by themselves or by others. Making the jump from clothes to identity is a hard thing for non-crossdressers to understand.

4) Most crossdressers are guys (yes, that's a fact, as opposed to the more proportionate number of transmen and those id'ing as TG), and since only men have fetishes (that's what they say, at least), crossdressing much therefore be a fetish. Correlation doesn't equal causation, of course, so this argument could really suck, but when people make flash judgements in their heads I don't think they care.

I also answered this question here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiagmW42rJ_rpdtjoMRrLgfsy6IX?qid=1006051403338 (not the same response ;)).

Personally I think people need to lighten up, and you should be able to wear the gender of clothing you most prefer, but I think everyone has to work for that change a bit.

Answer 2

I'm not entirely sure so maybe I shouldn't be answering this. I think it is because it goes against the social norm. Whether or not society wants to admit it, many people still assign gender roles to others. A man isn't "manly" if he wears a skirt. Personally, I really don't think it is that big a deal. I think guys are missing out in a way because wearing skirts can be wonderfully freeing.

Another reason people might not agree with cross dressing is because our society as a whole is homophobic. When a guy wears a skirt his sexual preference is usually put into question by those around him. This makes the people around him uncomfortable because of their strong feelings about homosexuality.

These are just theories though. I've no idea if there is a more concrete answer.

Answer 3

People fear what they do not understand. And people just do not realize how crossdressers feel. They do not understand the thrill the relief of crossdressing, the joy of it. Most of what people see is a man dressing up as a woman trying to get other men. One of the first questions I am always asked when people find out I am a crossdresser is am I gay. Most crossdressers a completely hetero, we just have a need to express a feminine side of us. NO we do not dress to attract men we just do it to fulfill a need that we all have.

Answer 4

I think society is what makes it taboo.When people see or hear of a crossdresser they create their own image of what one is(usually a negative one),without any understanding or knowlegde of the internal feelings of why one would crossdress.Not many people can have an open mind to let others be themselves without casting judgement on what they think is right & wrong.Its the unknown that scares them.When people crossdress in private it doesnt hurt anybody,when people crossdress and go to xdress clubs it doesnt hurt anybody.Its just another form of one's individual expression,as in tatooing,bodypiercing or goth clothing. Its just not as socially acceptable and I can understand that.I feel just fine doing it in private or with others with the same likes.Its also known to be another form of fetish/fantasy/roleplaying for some people,thats ok to when done by consenting adults.

Answer 5

It's misogyny, really.

It used to be that women who dressed in pants were considered odd and "going against the natural order" and "going against the Bible." Can you imagine that now?

Even in Greek theatre, men who were forced to dress as women were the subject of comedy because it's taboo. And it's taboo because it "makes a man like a woman" as if there is something wrong with women.

For some men, crossdressing lets them "get in touch with their feminine side" and what's wrong with being balanced? I guess more people just think you should be unbalanced -- they certainly like to be.

Answer 6

Its what everybody has said already.But mostly its the fear of not knowing.Society as a whole fears what they don't know,the only problem with this is they don't want to learn either.Its much easier to just say its a taboo and ridicule any person who does is.You know the old saying ignorance is bliss,well as far as i am concerned don't judge me until you have walked a mile in my shoes or my heels,which ever the case may be.

Answer 7

I don't have a problem with it (as a married woman) if a man is honest in the beginning of a relationship and as long as he is hetero. I think it would be fun to go out with the "girls" now and then....but I wouldn't want to be exploited by some man who covered it up. That's what makes it "dirty" to some people. The dishonesty....women wear mens clothing....men should have the same priviledge.

Answer 8

Because people are stupid. They are afraid of and don't like things that are different from them or what's close to them. People should just get over it. There are more important things in the world than if a guy wants to go wear a skirt and some heels.

Answer 9

Because society is obsessed with the idea of proper role-playing and parents freak out if their little boys decide to put on a dress. (Though it's more acceptable for little girls to put on boys' clothes.)

And besides, where I go, I've frequently seen guys come to dances in skirts, but since they have hairy legs, no sense of dressing style, and none of the grace that women usually manage to bring, the whole image puts me off. Bleah.

Now what you do in the privacy of your own home is different and if it makes your sex life more interesting, come over to mine and show me your techniques!!!

Answer 10

Actually it's mostly men more then women that think its taboo and that is because they are all mad that dont look as cute as a crossdresser.