Cross-Dressing

Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothing usually associated with a gender other than one's own. People do it for many reasons, including self-expression, performance such as drag, personal comfort, erotic pleasure, or exploring their gender. It appears across cultures and throughout recorded history, from theater traditions to everyday life. Cross-dressing describes what a person wears, not who they are, so it is distinct from being transgender. Many people cross-dress without any wish to change their gender, while for some others it can be an early step toward recognizing a transgender identity. It is not tied to any particular sexual orientation.