| Cross-dressing |
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Cross-dressing is the act of wearing Clothing commonly associated with another Gender within a particular Society . The usage of the term, the types of cross-dressing both in modern times and throughout history, an analysis of the behaviour, and historical examples are discussed in the article below. USAGE Nearly every society throughout history has had a set of Norms, Views, Guidelines, Or Laws, Regarding The Wearing Of Clothing and what is appropriate for each sex. Cross-dressing is behavior which runs counter to those norms and therefore can be seen as a type of Transgender Behavior . It is not, however, necessarily transgender Identity since a person who cross-dresses does not always identify with the other sex. The term cross-dress''ing'' denotes an action or a behavior without attributing or proposing causes for that behavior. Some people automatically connect cross-dressing behavior to transgender identity or sexual, fetishist, and Homosexual behavior, but the term ''cross-dressing'' itself does not imply any motives. (See "Equal clothing rights" below.) However, referring to a person as a '''cross-dress''er''''' suggests that their cross-dressing behavior is habitual and may be taken to mean that the person identifies as transgendered. The term cross-dresser should therefore be used with care to avoid causing misunderstanding or offense. A new meaning for the term "cross-dressing" has appeared in the African-American community, where it is used to refer to wearing two different name brands of clothing (or sports team logos) simultaneously. For example, a Tommy Hilfiger hat and FUBU jacket might be referred to as "cross dressing." This use of the term is exclusively negative. While far removed from the original meaning, this usage is increasingly common and can lead to confusion among those used to more traditional meanings of the term. The term "cross dressing" is also used in debate, as a rhetorical device to couch your argument in your opponent's terms, making you appear more cooperative and your argument more difficult to refute. {Link without Title} VARIETIES OF CROSS-DRESSING There are many different kinds of cross-dressing, and many different reasons why an individual might engage in cross-dressing behavior. The following examples are by no means an exhaustive list. Some people cross-dress as a matter of comfort or style. They have a preference towards clothing which is only marketed to or associated with the opposite sex. In this case, a person's cross-dressing may or may not be visible to other people. Some people cross-dress in order to shock others or challenge Social Norms . Both men and women may cross-dress in order to disguise their true identity. Historically, some women have cross-dressed in order to take up male-dominated or male-exclusive professions, such as military service. Conversely, some men have cross-dressed in order to escape from mandatory military service. Single-sex theatrical troupes often have some performers cross-dress in order to play roles written for members of the opposite sex. Cross-dressing is often used for comic effect onstage and onscreen. Drag is special form of performance art based on cross-dressing. A ''' Drag Queen ''' is a male-bodied person who performs as an exaggeratedly feminine character, in an elaborate costume usually consisting of a gaudy dress and high-heeled shoes, heavy makeup, and a large Wig . A drag queen may imitate famous female film or pop-music stars. (See also RuPaul ) A Drag King is the counterpart of the drag queen — a female-bodied person who adopts an exaggerated masculine persona in performance or who imitates a male film or pop-music star. Some female-bodied people undergoing Gender Reassignment Therapy also self-identify as ''drag kings'', although this use of "drag king" is considered inaccurate by some. Many transgendered people cross-dress relative to their birth sex, but transgendered people who have undergone gender reassignment therapy are usually not regarded as cross-dressing. See Transvestism . A Transvestic Fetishist is a person (typically a Heterosexual male) who cross-dresses as part of a Sexual Fetish . The term ''underdressing'' is used by male cross-dressers to describe wearing female undergarments under their male clothes. Some people who cross-dress may endeavor to project a complete impression of belonging to another gender, down to Mannerism s, Speech patterns, and emulation of Sexual Characteristics . This is referred to as "trying to Pass ". Others may choose to take a mixed approach, adopting some feminine traits and some masculine traits in their appearance. For instance, a man might wear both a Dress and a Beard . This is sometimes known as '' Genderfuck ''. Finally, for some the motivation for cross-dressing is to undermine the idea that any article of clothing is "only for men" or "only for women." These people may broadly mix clothing from both genders, in a practice called Freestyle . CLOTHES The actual determination of cross-dressing is largely Socially Constructed . For example, in Western society, trousers have been adopted for wear by women. This is generally ''not'' regarded as cross-dressing. In cultures where men have traditionally worn skirt-like garments such as the Kilt or Sarong these are not seen as female clothing, and wearing them is not seen as cross-dressing for men. As societies are becoming more global in nature, both men and women are adopting styles of dress associated with other cultures. Surfers in California have begun wearing sarongs and pareos as an after-surfing wrap, and men throughout the U.S., including those involved in construction and outdoor sports, such as kayaking or hiking, have begun wearing skirts and kilts, such as the Macabi Skirt , the Utilikilt , and other hiking kilts. The Macabi Skirt in particular has won rave reviews by various backpacking and outdoor magazines. Reviews - Macabi Skirt for Men "Equal Clothing Rights" It was once Taboo in Western society for women to wear clothes traditionally associated with men. It is specifically cited as an "abomination" in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy (22:5). This is no longer the case and Western women are often seen wearing trousers, ties, and men's hats. Nevertheless, many cultures around the world still prohibit women from wearing trousers or other traditionally male clothing. In most parts of the world it is still generally considered taboo for a man to wear clothes traditionally associated with women. Many people perceive this as hypocrisy and an imbalance in the Equality of men and women in society and believe that men should not have to suffer discrimination for wanting to wear dresses or skirts. This issue is often labeled as "equal clothing rights," which has gained a significant movement around the world. In fact, some men who wear skirts or similar garments contend that they are simply wearing masculine clothes that currently aren't in fashion; they may call themselves "bravehearts" after the 1995 film '' Braveheart '', which depicted a leading man in a Saxon kilt. {Link without Title} Another element of equal clothing rights is resistance to one's own traditional gender-mandated clothing. For instance, men may resist wearing neckties or women resist wearing skirts as part of a workplace uniform. ANALYSES Female-bodied cross-dressers The behaviour of women in general has historically often received less attention than that of men, and cross-dressing is no exception. However, there are some famous examples of cross-dressing female-bodied persons in history (see Famous historical examples of cross-dressing people below). Cross-dressing among women in modern Western societies seems to be rare. Yet the question of how many people cross-dress is difficult to answer, as it depends on social norms that change over time. When only a few women in the West wore trousers, women in trousers were considered to be cross-dressing. As more women began to wear trousers, the style gained mainstream social acceptance. Trousers are now no longer considered for men only. This broadening of clothing types considered "normal" for women has made cross-dressing behavior in women more difficult to identify. A woman might wear men's shirts, trousers, and underwear without anyone recognizing that she is cross-dressing, as very similar clothing items are produced for women. The classic psychoanalytic view Classic psychoanalytic views of cross-dressing emphasized the role of Taboo in the behavior. Only items that were proscribed to a gender would be appropriated, and therefore it is not the general association of an item with one sex or the other but the prohibitions against the item that give satisfaction to those with a Fetish attachment to cross-dressing. According to this theory, as articles become acceptable for ordinary wear (e.g. a man's Necktie on a woman, which passed from taboo to fashion in the 1970s ) they will cease to be sought by cross-dressers. The problem of attributing motives for cross-dressing When speaking of historical figures, when cross-dressing is not clearly related to specific events (like an escape or disguise) it is usually impossible to state clearly what the motives for cross-dressing were. This information was rarely recorded or preserved. Documents on the subject are often either Court records (where the cross-dressing person may have said whatever they thought would minimize their punishment) or accounts by other people who might not understand the motivations correctly. Furthermore, historic figures were often unable to identify themselves as homosexual, transgender, Transsexual , or transvestite because these classifications simply had no names or social recognition in their era. It can be equally difficult to be certain of the motives of modern day people who cross-dress. The only real proof of motive is that person's own statement. Yet even this is not always certain, as there are examples of people attributing their cross-dressing behaviour to one motive only to later realize that they may have had another reason. The classical example of this would be a transsexual person who initially attributed cross-dressing behaviour to transvestic fetishism (for transwomen) or the utilitarian practicality of male clothing (for transmen). SOME FAMOUS EXAMPLES OF CROSS-DRESSING and Loki in drag]] In Greek mythology In Norse myths and legends
Famous historical examples of cross-dressing people Famous historical examples of cross-dressing people include: photograph of English war reporter Dorothy Lawrence who secretly posed as a man to become a soldier.]]
Cultural examples of cross-dressing Cross-dressing is the subject of many works of Literature and plays a significant role in Popular Culture . References to cross-dressing are frequently used for comic effect. Film and television See Also: Cross-dressing in film and television Internet The explosion of the Internet and the World Wide Web has provided new opportunities for cross-dressing people to express themselves. Numerous websites cater to cross-dressing men by providing dresses, shoes, and other feminine accessories in larger men's sizes. In addition, the Internet has given many cross-dressers a safe forum for sharing photos and stories (see Fictionmania ). Animation Bugs Bunny occasionally engages in cross-dressing, usually to confound a foe. His transformation is typically so effective that his adversaries (especially one Elmer Fudd ), who moments earlier had been trying to kill him, are smitten by his "feminine charm." The film Revolutionary Girl Utena (also known as 少女革命ウテナ ''Shōjo Kakumei Utena'') is perhaps one of the best-known examples of Japan ese Animation involving cross-dressing. The female protagonist, Utena Tenjou, cross-dresses as a result of her desire to be a heroic prince. Comics In the Japanese comic book series Urusei Yatsura (1978-1987) created by Rumiko Takahashi and published by Shogakukan, a girl character named Ryuunosuke wears a white shirt with the Chinese ideogram for "male" on the back of her shirt along with pants, along with other male attire as part of her father's misguided insistence that his child is a male. More recently, in the Japanese action comic Gunslinger Girl (2003), published in the United States by ADV, one girl character brainwashed to be an assassin, takes pleasure in wearing a men's style suit and tie. Theater William Shakespeare made substantial use of cross-dressing for female characters, who take on masculine clothing in order to carry out actions difficult for women. In Shakespeare's play The Merchant Of Venice , Portia and her maid dress as men to plead in court on the merchant's behalf, and are quite successful in their ruse; in the same play, Shylock's daughter Jessica dresses a man in order to elope with her Christian lover. Twelfth Night, Or What You Will deals extensively with cross-dressing through the femaile protagonist Viola. She disguises herself as Cesario, and immediately finds herself caught up in a love triangle. She loves Duke Orsino who loves Countess Olivia who loves Cesario. Luckily, all is resolved when Viola's presumed dead twin brother Sebastian comes along. We only see Viola as Viola in one scene; for the rest of the play she is dressed as Cesario. When Rosalind and Aliena flee court in As You Like It , Rosalind dresses, for their protections, as a man. David Henry Hwang 's 1988 play '' M. Butterfly '' focuses on a love affair between a French diplomat and a male Beijing opera singer who plays ''dan'' (旦), or female, roles. The Takarazuka Revue is a group of six associated all-female Japanese acting troupes, known for their elaborate productions of stage musicals. Takarazuka actresses may specialize in either male or female roles, but the most popular stars tend to be those who play male characters. Beethovens' only opera, Fidelio , involves the story of a woman who disguises herself as a young man as part of a plan to rescue her husband from prison. In the musical Rent , Angel is an example of a modern drag queen. SEE ALSO
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