Why do men crossdress?

Girl friends and wives want to know.

Why do men cross dress?

Why does my husband cross dress?

How can I make him stop cross dressing?

The unfortunate truth, is that there is no simple, one line answer to these questions. If there were, you probably wouldn’t be reading this article, and the debates on this topic would be silent.

In my personal experience, the fascination with woman’s clothes started when I was very young. I must have been about four years old, and I remember going to great lengths to procure and then wear my mom’s nightie. My most vivid memory is as a teenager, nervously buying a pair of pantyhose from a local supermarket and then wearing them home under my pants.

I felt (and still feel) a need to wear woman’s clothes, and I can’t quite explain where it comes from. The media like to think of cross dressing as a sexual perversion, and so naturally they see the desire to cross dress and purely for sexual gratification. The problem with this theory is that when I (and many others) first felt the desire to cross dress I didn’t know what sex was.

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Many cross dressers I’ve asked describe the need as ‘feeling more comfortable wearing woman’s clothes’. This is sometimes (but not always) coupled with the desire to be seen as a woman. To not just dress like a woman, but behave like one as well, to wear make-up and otherwise pass as a woman. There are others who cross dress for sexual excitement. The need to cross dress is indeed a spectrum.

That still doesn’t answer the question why do men cross dress?

Marcy proposes a few interesting answers to this questions.

One argument is that transvestism of cross-dressing is a way of offering a challenge to society’s preconceptions about gender. Some men cross-dress because they are unhappy at being men. Others didn’t mind the male state, but also like to put on women’s clothes occasionally. Some men cross-dress simply to make a passing social or fashion statement, and some because they have emotional needs that can only be met by the comfort that wearing women’s clothes gives them.

Yet the true reason why men cross dress remains somewhat of a mystery. It is intensely personal, often confusing and sometimes guilt ridden. I’m hopeful that as society grows more tolerant of diverse gender expression we will see more cross dressers and transgendered stepping forward to share their stories. Without the need to justify their behavior, and no longer shamed by society perhaps we will be better able to answer this baffling question.

Comment and let me know, I would love to hear- why do you cross dress?

EnFemme

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Delireoius
Delireoius
12 years ago

all boys start to crossdress at very young age, it means there are still some very deep memories of being women in the previous life.

Staci Andrews
Lady
8 years ago

I crossdress because it helps calm me from the stress of feeling like a woman trapped in a man’s body. While I know that being in women’s clothing doesn’t in itself make me a woman it does help me feel better about myself. I have felt I am female pretty much as long as I can remember. I remember being very disappointed when my parents insisted that I was a boy. I have always like all the same things that seem to be associated with being female and detested my body and body hair etc. Crossdressing helps me have a… Read more »

Karyn Lobelia
Karyn Lobelia
8 years ago

After our marriage , my wife Shelley wanted me to start being metrosexual and to wear my hair longer .At first , I wore women’s lingerie under women’s pants and shirts , jackets and even shoes in men’s styles . Some , I started wearing my nails in gloss and later French nails . I soon started wearing natural makeup after starting on hormones . I was wearing ear stuts in both ears . Soon I started wearing diamond tennis s braclets and ballet flats or Mary Janes . At work I starting having noticing a real change in the… Read more »

Jennifer Elise
Jennifer Elise
8 years ago

Like you, I started dressing from an early age. 4 or 5 maybe. Truth be told, I can’t remember a time where I didn’t wear women’s clothes. Even when I was in the Army, I found a way. It certainly didn’t start out as sexual. At 4 I didn’t understand what sex was. It just felt right. It was the only time I felt like me. Thus is still the reason. It’s not that I don’t like men’s clothes, I just feel more comfortable in women’s clothes. I wish it were accepted. I hate that it’s even called crossdressing. Ellen… Read more »

Ricki
Lady
Member
8 years ago
Reply to  Jennifer Elise

I do agree we have a double standard when it comes to dressing .women dress in pants and shirts and lately in their pjs and it is acceptable however when a guy wears a dress the name calling begins . I love a dress and the freedom it provides far more than jeans or pants I guess if women are giving up dresses the we should do it for them lol
Ricki

Tracey Rose
Tracey Rose
8 years ago
Reply to  Jennifer Elise

very true!

Rosaliy Lynne
Member
Rosaliy Lynne
8 years ago

Why do I crossdress? I never really came up with an acceptable reason for it. As a child I was always different but no one, not even I, understood why. In grade school, I did not relate well with other boys and never really got into boy activities. Oh I shot hoops, jumped rope, climbed the bars at the park, played cowboys and indians and other kid games but I just never really fit in. In high school, one day it just hit me, I had to dress as a girl. Believe me when I say I spent a lot… Read more »

Cecily
Cecily
8 years ago

Hi I’m Cecily
I am new here I am more curious at this point then anything I have had these feelings more then likely for a while but have just started coming out lately I am married so it’s hard to figure things out but I am trying to work on it not quite sure of what my style is but hopefully I can work through this and figure out how I want to do this

LingerieLouise
LingerieLouise
8 years ago

When I was going to high school my mates dared me to go to the annual dance dressed as a girl. It was the local boys and girls high school social get together. I knew a girl who went to that school and she lent me a uniform and gave me basic instruction to pull off my stunt. All I purchased was a wig from the local party supply shop. My female impersonation was meant to be a joke and I was to announce myself by taking off my hairpiece while dancing. I was astonished to discover no one at… Read more »

jamey Trusty
jamey Trusty
8 years ago

I have been crossdressing since I was a child don’t know what really started it. I almost feel like a split personality when I dress male am all male and when I dress woman its the same. I have tried going out in public but like the knowledge and grace to fully pull it off i honestly fell like that man in drag. Recently with you help and a newly purchase you a cheap down under I really feel more like a woman. I am saving my money for a better down under but this is the first time I… Read more »

Jennifergordon
Member
8 years ago

I love my panties, nylons and dresses. Not giving them up! Jennifer.

Jaye Dee Bowman
Jaye Dee Bowman
8 years ago

Why do I crossdress???? I do it because it makes me feel more at ease with myself. I also have a “need" to feel the snugness of my bra(w/forms), the silky feeling that my panties give me when I’m wearing them, the joy of stockings or pantyhose on my legs, the sound of my heels on a floor, the rustle of my skirt when I walk, the feel of my blouse or my dress on my skin, the length of my hair tickling my neck, the joy of applying my make-up. This is how I become the girl that lives… Read more »

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