There does not appear to
be any one reason why some men feel the need for dressing
in women's clothes, or why they do so despite the disapproval
of society and the popular belief that they are sexual deviates.
Many crossdressers have sought out professional help in
changing their behavior, but very few "successes" are reported
despite a sincere desire on the part of these crossdressers
to change. This inability to "treat" crossdressing implies
that it fulfills a body of complex psychological needs rather
than simply being a sexual dysfunction or an expression
of "deviate" sexuality. If it were purely a sexual fetish,
for example, classic reconditioning should be effective;
yet it is not. Many transvestites report that they experience
different reasons at different times, or a combination of
reasons on specific occasions. The broad range of motives
listed here supports the notion that transvestism is not
a simplistic behavior focused on sex and/or sexuality, but
perhaps a response to a complex and interrelated group of
needs, some of which are far removed from sexual issues
and closely aligned with gender roles.
1. Erotic arousal/fetishism.
Often this is the transvestite's
first and primary association with feminine clothing. Many
times, the person is initially aroused by lingerie, perhaps
by its connection with the boudoir, or by the tactile sensations
these clothes present. Eventually these items are used as
an aid for masturbation. For transvestites, the ultimate
result is that they begin dressing in the clothes even though
that may not have been their original intent. Many transvestites
report that through masturbation they developed a fetish
for women's clothes while in puberty. Some say that the
attachment arose much later in life.
Sexual fantasies for many
transvestites involve sexual contact with another person
while they are dressed. Most often that person is a female.
Others, who are heterosexual at all other times, fantasize
about sex with men, but only while they are dressed as women.
Some transvestites are fortunate in that their partner allows
them to dress while having sex. When a transvestite cannot
dress, he frequently fantasizes that he is wearing women's
clothes while having sex with another person or while masturbating.
Some can be aroused no other way.
2. Relief from tension.
Some transvestites say
that they dress when they are feeling extreme pressure in
their male lives. For some of these men, the act of wearing
women's clothes allows them to "step away" from masculinity
and all that society expects of men. Other men report while
they enjoy playing a traditional masculine role, their cross-dressing
provides a welcome refuge. These motives are related to
the expression of hidden personality characteristics.
3. Expressing hidden personality
characteristics.
Crossdressing allows some
men the opportunity to express portions of their personalities
that this society does not accept in "masculine" men. While
these characteristics, such as gentleness, passivity, and
emotional sensitivity, are neither specifically feminine
nor masculine, they are most commonly associated with women.
Some men also report that they have the need to be flirtatious,
to feel beautiful and glamorous, or to act passive and helpless.
The transvestite feels most free to express these traits
only when he is dressed as a woman.
3a. The Androgyne Hypothesis.
Several clinical psychologists
have hypothesized that the psyche of all men and women is
innately androgynous, i.e. having the characteristics of
both genders. Through cultural processes, however, most
boys grow up to be fully masculine men and most women mature
into fully feminine women. According to this hypothesis,
these people reconcile the "residue" of their opposite gender
traits through a variety of "acceptable" means. But for
some people, this residue is so great and their urge to
express these characteristics is so strong, that they develop
a gender dysphoria which is manifested, for example, in
the need to act out a feminine role (male transvestites)
or by the desire to change their anatomical gender (transsexuals).
4. Envy of women.
Some crossdressers say
that they envy or idolize women and therefore want to be
like them. Their view of women's position in society is
often unrealistic and idealized: the "little homemaker,"
the "sex kitten," or the "bitch goddess." Some transvestites
also say that they envy women's bodies. Although this motive
for crossdressing approaches transsexualism, for many men
a desire to have breasts does not mean that they wish to
be rid of their penises.
5. Fooling the world.
The urge to appear in public
in women's clothes and pass as a woman provides all the
satisfaction some men seek. They report that although they
have the opportunity to dress often while they are home,
they do not. Instead, they dress only when they have the
occasion to go out. Appearing in public in women's clothes
provides a "high" for some transvestites that in itself
is a sufficient motive for dressing. These men enjoy being
thought of as women, although this can have some distressing
implications for confirmed heterosexual transvestites whose
feminine appearance is good enough to attract the attention
of admiring men. For others, however, this attention is
just a testimony to their success with the masquerade. They
realize an unwanted invitation need not be accepted.
6. A conscious alternative
personality.
This differs from the alternative
"female" personality is a different person from the male.
"She" frequently has "her" own name, makes "her" own social
niche, and has "her" own history. Many crossdressers refer
to their "female" selves as their "sister" or with another
third person term when they are not in drag. ("My sister
went out the other night and she had a ball!") This is often
a matter of convenience when conversing with other crossdressers.
But for some crossdressers this alternative personality
has a "life of her own." This is not, however, a split personality
because the crossdresser knows that the "female" character
is an illusion, a character in a drama produced and directed
by the crossdresser himself. The transvestite who has created
an alternative personality actually finds satisfaction in
bringing that character to "life" and in playing out episodes
of the drama.
7. Creativity.
Some crossdressers say
that their skillful appearance as a woman is an art form
that involves making something appear to be something that
it is not. This skill requires the full range of theater
arts (costuming, make up, and acting) plus an artist's eye
for color, texture and scale. Some transvestites also call
their crossdressing a hobby that pleasantly occupies their
leisure time, whether they are dressed in women's clothes
or dressed in men's clothes and shopping for or planning
their feminine wardrobe or their next excursion in drag.
Some men crossdress purely as a creative outlet, i.e. the
professional female impersonator. While many impersonators
call what they do "simply a job" and let it go at that,
others react in a strongly negative manner to the merest
suggestion that they are transvestites. This reaction reflects
society's belief that crossdressing in response to personal
or psychological needs is "sick."
