what is the difference between transexuals, transgendered and trnasvestites? (sp)?

Question

im just so confused what is the difference?

and also what are they? what does it mean?

Answer 1

*sigh* okay.

transsexual people feel they should have been born as the other sex, and into the other gender, as they don't feel that they 'are' the gender that they were assigned at birth.
so that usually leads to a long process of changing sex, which is lots of social, mental, and physical changes, not just surgery (in case you were wondering).

'transgendered' is usually used as an umbrella term to describe anyone who doesn't strictly adhere to society's definitions of the two genders. so like, anyone who crossdresses or even behaves like what the other gender is stereotypically, is transgendered apparently.
it's often used by the media to refer to anybody who is transvestite or transsexual, because it's seen as more politically correct and they often can't be bothered to find out the difference.

a transvestite is someone who crossdresses for pleasure, be it sexual pleasure or just enjoy it pleasure. but that's basically the difference.

this question gets asked a lot, but it's good that people care to find out.

take care

Answer 2

Oh my goodness, there were a lot of inaccurate answers. Claudia's answer comes close. Sorrow's answer is accurate. And I'm not trying to put down those who tried to answer.

A Transgender person is a man or a woman who will cross over the genderbarrier in some way. It is an umbrella term which incorporates transvestites (or crossdressers), drag queens and drag kings, and transsexuals. However more and more transsexuals would like to distance themselves from this term.

A transsexual is a person who was born with a congenital defect. They were born with the wrong body. In their heart and soul and mind, they are actually the gender opposite of what is visbily seen. These people will often seek to correct the defect through hormone therapy and surgery. They should be correctly identified as the gender they should be.

Drag Queens and Kings are people who dress up in the opposite gender's clothing for the sake of performance. These people will generally be exaggerating their clothing and make-up.

A Transvestite (or crossdresser) is a person who enjoys wearing the clothing of the opposite gender than they actually are. Why they enjoy wearing it may be because of various factors, including comfort, happiness,and sexual arousal. Most transvestites are otherwise normal hetrosexual males.

Being transgender has no bearing whatsoever on ones sexual preference. Being a transvestite does not automatically make you gay.

I hope that you find this will clear up your confusion.


k

Answer 3

Transgender are when they feel they were born into the wrong body. Like a guy feeling that is in fact a woman. Transvestites dress as the opposite sex. Transexuals have gone thru surgery to become the opposite sex.

Answer 4

I'll use the male to female as an example since thats what I am, but remember that it works both ways.

a transsexual woman such as myself, was born in the wrong body, she thinks and feels just like a girl but unfortunately was born looking like a boy. Transsexuals correct the error through hormone replacement therapy and become who they feel they are inside or who they feel they should have been (depending more on their perspective I guess, and how they cope with it) either way its caused by an agonizing condition called gender dysphoria, or benjamin's syndrome.

Transvestites are comfortable with themselves as men, but enjoy dressing as a woman and being treated as one. I believe the sexual exitement is from being percieved as female while actually being male. some take hormones to help enhance their female appearance however

transgendered, I'm not actually sure but I think it is an umbrella term for anyone gender variant, as some people feel they are neither male nor female, or both, or simply closer to one or the other.

hope that helps

Answer 5

To paraphrase Noxema Jackson: "When a straight man likes to get his kicks by dressing up in women's clothes, he is a transvestite. When a gay man who wants to be a woman has a little operation, he is a transexual. And when a gay man has far too much fashion sense for one gender, he is a draq queen!"

(the above can apply to women as well)

Transgendered is often inappriately used to refer to all of the above, but it really refers to a person who feels they were born into the wrong body. They identify with being the opposite of the sex that they were born.

Phew! Isn't life fascinating!

Answer 6

Transexuals and transgendered are the same thing, people who feel that they are the wrong gender. Men feel like they should be women and vice versa.

Transvestites are people who merly dress int eh traditional clothing of the opposire sex. Men in dresses and stockings, women in suits and tuxedos.

Answer 7

Transexual = Person who lives their life as the opposite sex. Usually homosexual.

Transvestite = Person who wears clothes of the other gender. Usually heterosexual.

Transgendered = Person who feels that they were born the wrong gender. Usually in the process of trying to get a sex change operation.

Answer 8

A 3 minute excursion through a dictionary will answer your questions and save us all a lot of time.