What counts as cross-dressing and what doesn't?

[Alexmakenoise]

I want to ask this question in general, and also in application to my specific situation. 

First, generally, can anyone define cross-dressing?  There are so many "gray areas", I wouldn't know where to begin . . .

Secondly, I have a male gender identity and female body.  I'm not sure if I ever want to change my body in any way.  And my gender expression is androgynous.  I wear men's clothing when I'm not putting much thought into my appearance.  I feel comfortable in men's clothing.

When I dress in a gender-bending sort of way or wear women's clothing (like a dress on a rare occasion), I feel like I'm cross-dressing, and I get a thrill out of it.  Sure, I look like I'm wearing clothing that's appropriate for my female body, but because I'm a guy in terms of gender identity, I think of it as having fun with cross-dressing or gender bending.

So . . . what counts as what?  Considering that my body looks female, am I cross-dressing when I dress like a guy (even though it feels like I'm dressing as my real gender)?  Am I cross-dressing when I dress like a woman (because I feel like a guy) even though I have a female body?

I'm totally confused about the categorization and definition of this, but I've always identified with cross dressers and sort of considered myself to be one, without knowing if I should or not.

[Osiris]

I think you've got it figured out but are getting confused by over thinking labels.

I think it's all about gender identity and the intent you have when you put on certain clothes. If you wear women's clothes to cross dress then yes I would consider that cross dressing, never mind what sex your body might be. Whether or not you decide to pursue masculizing your body or not doesn't change how you identify and doesn't make you any less of a man. Of course some people may not see that since they will go on visual cues and make assumptions from there, but that's the case with anything.

Don't let others perception of you change how you perceive yourself.

[Adio]

Like Osiris said, I think you've got it. 

One can be transgender without altering their body.

It's not cross-dressing to dress as a guy if your gender identity is male.  It could be cross-dressing to wear women's clothing but only if you want to call it that yourself.

I'm ftm and I cross-dress (women's clothes) occasionally.  Wearing men's clothing is just my everyday.

[Silver]

Well if you identify male, then wearing women's clothes is crossdressing.

[Pippa]

I feel there are two types of cross dresser, the drag queen, often a gay man, who cross dresses to be outrageous and the fetishist, who cross dresses for sexual gratification.   I don't identify with either of these.   I dress as it is the real me.  It is my aim to live as a woman 100% of the time.   For me this is the way my life should be and is how I want to present myself to the world.  I am trying to fit the external me to the image I have of myself in my mind.

That's the difference.   Cross dressers want to live in both worlds.  Transexuals only want to be the gender that they are inside.

[Adio]

@Pippa

I want to make sure I'm understanding you correctly.  I understand what a "typical" cross-dresser is, a natal male with a male gender identity who dresses for various reasons (for fun, for show, for pleasure, etc).

Because I am female-to-male with a male gender identity and should have been born a natal male, am I no different than the "typical" cross-dresser then?  I just happen to have been born with female parts.  I have no desire to "live in both worlds" and strive to seen everyday as a male only.  I cross-dress in private for my own pleasure and with no attempts to pass as a female (I still bind my chest and pack while dressing).

So because I don't dress as a male 100% of the time, am I any less transgender?  If I've misunderstood you, please correct me.  I don't talk about this topic often because I feel like sometimes no one gets it or I'm the only one.  I don't want to be misunderstood or misunderstand someone else.

[Pippa]

That's not what I mean at all.   Although I am gradually moving to living in my true gender 100% of the time, as a matter of necessity, I currently have to spend part of my life in male clothing.   

The transgender spectrum is very wide and it is not the clothes that define you.   Whether I am dressed in a suit, a dress or a t shirt and jeans, I am female.   With those that are usually defined as crossdressers, they may imitate the opposite gender but that is all.

Some of us want to fully transition, surgery and all, some want to just live in the opposite gender.  A few are happy to flit one way and then the other.

I can only speak from my perspective as a male to female transexual.  All I am stating is the clasifications that therapists use.   A therapist would not agree to a cross dresser transitioning and they can diagnose the difference between a transexual and a cross dresser.