Telling a Crossdresser and a Drag Queen Apart

Welcome back, sweeties! Today we will be discussing an important topic that produces confusion among newcomers and outsiders of this universe alike. Today’s article is about the difference between drag queens and crossdressers! But we are not talking only about the things that differentiate them, but also about similarities and the challenges we all face in society every day.

Each of us is different and unique, with our own likes and dislikes. As a result, different lifestyles and communities gather to share their love for their interests. All of this proves that even in our uniqueness, we are not alone in the world! Without further ado, let’s get to it!

Main Differences Between a Drag Queen and a Crossdresser

To the untrained eye, it may seem that a drag queen and a crossdresser are the same. Although they share some traits and love glamorous, feminine clothes, they are pretty different. For starters, a drag queen is generally a man wearing clothes designed for women and a performing artist. They may or not make a living out of their shows, but that is not a condition they need to meet. Drag queens go on stage to perform a well-practiced number while wearing feminine outfits. Although drag queens go back a long way in history, crossdressers go further. While a drag queen is a performing artist, crossdressers do not need to be. The latter enjoy femininity and expresses it by wearing girly clothing, which can be done in their privacy. So that is the main difference between the two!

And What About Trans Folks?

While crossdressers and drag queens may feel identified with their gender assigned at birth, trans people do not. Being transgendered is like being born in a body that does not represent said individual’s personality. In recent years, the transgender umbrella has grown to include many different mentalities, all of which do not feel defined by their assigned gender at birth. Like non-binary people, for instance, who feel uncomfortable either as female or male. While many crossdressers and drag queens can also be transgender, this is not always the case. Despite this, many trans folks start out crossdressing only then to realize they are indeed female. As you can see, gender issues are full of vicissitudes that we could discuss for a long time. If you want to know more about this topic, let me know in the comments below!

Common Stereotypes Crossdressers and Drag Queens Face Everyday

Stereotypes are something quite common and have been for ages. Be they good or bad, they rarely represent the reality of individuals or communities. Regarding crossdressers and drag queens, the most common misconception is about sexual preference. The general bias is that because we love feeling feminine and acting accordingly, many think we may, in fact, be gay. As homophobic as it sounds, it hardly represents the truth. Not that it is anyone’s matter what others do with their love life, but some studies prove that most crossdressers are, in fact, heterosexual. This idea can produce insecurities and mental health issues in not only young crossdressers but grown-ups as well. Sexuality, which is very different from gender, is defined in a few words by the gender a person is attracted to. So if you have doubts about yourself, you should only listen to what’s in your heart and pay no attention to others.

What Are the Main Reasons for Crossdressing?

Simply put, expression of oneself. If you have ever used “women’s” clothing, then you know that is an urge that comes quite naturally. Whether it is curiosity, a higher sense of identification with skirts and such, comfort, or even a fetish. Most crossdressing folks may feel guilt or shame when trying on girly clothes because the norm dictates otherwise. Despite what others may think, the exhilarating sensations we get when we are dressed to the nines keep us coming back to them. Even if we are unaware of it, when we crossdress, we disagree with society’s status quo. There is perhaps one more reason why there are many crossdressers in the world: it’s fun! And sexy too! You know that feeling when you dress to impress? Well, sexy, feminine clothes have that effect on all of us, and with a plus!

Perception Over Time

The truth is that crossdressing has not always been looked upon with discontent by society. There were, and still are, many societies that praise and even worship femininity in men. In ancient Greece, not only homosexuality but also crossdressing was nothing to bat an eyelid. Despite this, women didn’t have the same luck as they were “second-class” citizens. This is true to such an extent that female characters in the theater were portrayed by men crossdressing. The same happened during the Japanese feudal times. But some cultures still exist today where feminine men are held in high regard and fulfill a key role in their communities. The biggest examples are the Muxes in Mexico and the Hijra in many parts of South Asia. If you wanna know more about them, I recommend you read another article I wrote a while back on this blog!

Challenges and Discrimination We Face Everyday

Even though we have been present, perhaps since the appearance of humans and the definition of feminine and masculine, we have had to fight throughout history. Acceptance by society has never been quite easy. In the search for ourselves and our inner nature, the first and maybe the hardest battle we all face is acceptance and recognition by our pairs and family. The fear of being discriminated against is not an unfounded one. In many families and societies, people that do not accept their gender assigned at birth are seen as fools, to put it mildly. Even those with a caring family can be met with discrimination by society. This includes being bullied, overlooked when applying for a job, and even prosecuted by law and vigilantes. Thankfully this is slowly changing, but we still have a lot to go to enjoy the same rights and acceptance as rightful human beings.

And that’s all for today! It is in us to unite as a worldwide community of smaller local cells to fight for our rights. And even though this may sound a little pessimistic, it’s far from it. There are many loving and accepting communities and countries all around the world that welcome us! We can and should strive to live as we wish, shining truly and fully our inner light! Hope you enjoyed this article and will come back for more soon! See you, sweeties!