Transvestite - Cross dresser?

Question

I hate the word Transvestite it seems such an ugly word, apart from cross dresser can anyone think of a new modern and fun sounding name for this.
And please dont bother with your insults, heard it all before and not interested.

Answer 1

I don't have a problem with transvestite or cross-dresser, but of the two, I do prefer using the term cross-dresser.

Answer 2

One of the problems that transgendered people have is that the general culture isn't accepting of such blatant differences as wearing the clothing (and candidly sometimes getting a rush from) dressing as a member of another gender.

If it's more of a libidinous 'rush' from wearing the clothes... then chances are the crossdressing might be more of a fetish. If it seems to be an outward manifestation of inward personality and less about feelings relating to the below waist region then the person is likely to be genuinely transgendered. Sometimes there is a bit of overlap.

Being transgendered doesn't necessarily mean a person is "trapped" in the body of the "wrong" gender, it is more likely to mean that they have inner feelings that culture has assigned to the opposite gender. (Transsexuals is the label for the folks who feel they're in the wrong body.)

The cultural icon for REAL American men is still seems to be close to the John Wayne ideal in a lot of ways and that is what culture sees men as "supposed to be like." Even if John Wayne really loved satin and would have appeared wearing a satin gown, the cultural reaction wouldn't have been pretty.

General society seldom sees any difference between sex and gender whereas to a transgendered person, there is a GREAT deal of difference. Instead of seeing gender as a black and white issue, try viewing it as a spectrum... Some men are very, very macho, some are more passive, there are some women who would give the macho guys a run for it, and there are passive women. One size, as in most everything else, does not fit all.

By the way, I do not see anything wrong with the designation of transvestite as such. It is descriptive and literal, but for the most part I think it misses the core of the matter.

"Trans" basically means "across." It presupposes a barrier or a separation that has to be crossed. I don't have a better name for it; wish I did.

Tara

Answer 3

I don't think there's anything wrong with the word transvestite, I don't like the term cross dresser personally. I wouldn't use any of these terms in a conversation though, just out of respect.

The thing that shocked me the most, was reading other people's comments, people shouldn't be treated like ''freaks'' just because they dress differently, there all bi-gets and full of their own self worth. I say each to their own, your not hurting anyone by dressing differently, and at the end of the day it's up to the individual how they dress and everyone is different. Society determines what is the ''norm'', what is normal anyway? If anyone's offended then it's their problem, no one has to look, they should all just mind their own business.

BTW I'm not a transvestite.

Answer 4

I've heard the terms t-girl and t-ladies used to describe them, though language is just a label, that we use to reference our peronsal inner meanings for the words used. If you're not happy with the meaning that you have, for what after all are just words and not the people, then it is easy to change them. There are also female to male cross dressers, as well as gender changers, so these labels are not as generic as both 'transvestite' or 'cross dresser', which cover any sex to the alternative.

Of course, we don't necessarily need 'fun' words, as this may encourage some to poke fun at others. I take it that the spirit you intended was aimed not to be as serious as medical jargon, like 'transvestite', but for a more lighthearted viewpoint, so I'm not critical of your statement.

Hang out with some t-ladies etc, and you will find some beautiful people, with bodily and self-identity issues that many of us don't have. I know, we used just to get tea ladies at work, serving us tea and coffee, but this practise has now largely stopped. Perhaps the ideal time to recycle the similarly sounding word (t-lady) for a newer meaning, it's already in use. The English language is rich with imported words from other languages - 'transvestite' being one of them. It's also all the richer for words taking on new meanings, as society evolves.

If someone is inherently fixed in their newer sex, I just use male, female etc, as this describes their more real new identity.

Just some thoughts, hope this helps. Good luck! Rob

Answer 5

What is it you really hate ? The term transvestite or the fact you are one. I really dont see a problem because trans means to cross and vestite means to change clothes. I am a transexual and obviously means cross sex. I dont have a problem with that. It is such a trivial thing and really you shouldnt worry about it. You cant change all the world to think the way you do. Best wishes babe. Get in touch if you like.

Answer 6

Since the word transvestite is derived from Latin and translated means cross dresser I don't see the problem.
I only like to see men wearing skirts when they're Scots and it's not a skirt, it's the kilt, but that's personal.
On the other hand, I haven't worn a skirt since New Year's Eve. I almost always wear trousers and no one has called me a cross dresser yet. And they'd be in for a shock if they did.

Answer 7

I don't see any problem with either word, but they do have distinct meanings.

A transvestite is a person who wears the clothes of the opposite sex for the purpose of sexual stimulation.

Cross dresser is a bit more broad, and can refer to any person who chooses to wear the clothing of the opposite sex.

Transgender is a more recently coined word that describes any person who actively adopts gender characteristics of the opposite sex, regardless of what they might be.

Transsexuals, by the way, are not crossdressers or transvestites. When a transwoman wears women's clothes, she is dressing appropriate to her gender. There is no crossdressing involved, unless she's in male mode, but because women are permitted to wear men's clothes with no stigma, this generally isn't considered crossdressing.

Drag queens are performers who use exaggerated femininity for theatrical effect.

Lastly, female impersonators are men who imitate women. They may be drag queens or transvestites.

Cross dresser is a nice neutral term.

Answer 8

I don´t see anything ugly in either of these terms. It is people´s prejudices which are ugly. I can offer you only some terms which are used in the non-English speaking country where I live. A drag (queen) show is called a Travesty Show and is very popular among "normal" people, who attend such shows in such numbers, that my friends the performers can make their living in this way. If they perform with a recording and without singing with their own voices, they call it "playback". Of course some people do not feel that they are wearing the clothing of the opposite sex, but they feel that in reality they ARE the opposite sex and the clothing reflects their true selves, but I assume you know that already. Sometimes the word "androgynous" is used to describe people who seem to have an appearance somewhere between feminine and masculine. Some verbs occur to me in this context, like "dressing up" or "getting dressed up" which can be used for so-called cross dressing, for getting ready for any kind of social or formal event or also for wearing a costume or children trying on their parents´clothes. Maybe you could ignore the gender aspect and just say that you are an "experimenter with fashion". In any case, try to realize that whatever words you use, people who are opposed to the phenomenon will always perceive them negatively over time, their prejudice infects the words and makes them negative althought they were originally meant in a positive or neutral light. Try to have like-minded or tolerant people around yourself and don´t sweat the "turkeys" who don´t understand.

Answer 9

I prefer cross dresser, it sounds much better than drag queen and Transvestite, those words sound like they mean there is something wrong with you.

Answer 10

I don't see anything wrong with transvestite. That always what I say I am if the subject comes up. Everyone seems to understand it and with words all you want to do is to convey your meaning