The last few days I've been thinking about the broad spectrum of interpretations of what it means to be a crossdresser.  It is increasingly self-evident to me that all crossdressers are created unequal in that beneath that banner lies a thousand takes on what it is to be a crossdresser. 

There is one crossdresser in our city that I occasionally see riding a bicycle.  Once I saw him dressed in a mini-skirt and bikini top but that was the extent of his concern for looking feminine.  His large mustache, balding head, and hairy legs were out of step with the skirt and top, at least from my perspective.  However, he was out there, where as I am locked in a closet so secretive I'm not sure if even I could find the key.  I try to get every detail right or as close as I can given the equipment with which I have to work.  Using these two different interpretations as points on a spectrum, there are probably hundreds of interpretation to the left and right of these two made-up benchmarks and hundreds in-between. 

I'm not sure if there is a point to this message or not.  It's likely a statement of the obvious.  However, it seems to me that the CD tent is a very big tent indeed with room for all. 

Oh, dear, I think I created a topical turkey.  Forty-nine views and nary a response.  Is that a new record for an ill-considered posting? 

Definitely not a "topical turkey"...(smile)..for my part, I would have probably responded sooner but have been making multiple trips out of town for my mother who is currently in an ICU.

From my youngest age of knowing I was different until my later adult years when I really started exploring who "Dani" really was, I had a set, stereotype in my mind of what a crossdresser was or should be.  When I started coming out strong in the mid 90s, I dressed to that perception.

In all those years, with the exception of a rare book or periodical that came my way on the issue, I didn't know any different for the most part as my TGism and crossdressing was not shared with other CDers on an interactive social level.    It wasn't until I came back to my roots, so to speak, and started interacting with ladies online that I learned of that which you speak - the broad spectrum of crossdressing that exists.

I have even found in myself, many changes in style and desires from before.  A few months ago, when I was cleaning out my shop, I came across a box filled with what was left of my previous CDing years.  One of the items was a jewelry box that my oldest brother had made for me.  When I looked inside at the jewelry, my first thought was "Yikes!  Did I really think that was stylin' ?"  Giggle...

I think it's great.  It's like I am learning and relearning all of this all over again but on a much larger scale than before.  It's exciting and I love it!  So many ladies, so many levels of interest and perception.  What's not to like?  Grin!

I know a guy (no am not misgendering, read on) who cross dresses full time now. He uses a male name, his name I suppose, so everyone refers to him as he. He doesn't pass, I don't think he really tries to pass though. He has super long hair, I believe it is his real hair, wears makeup, dresses as a female all the time (tho quite tacky, like a teenager I suppose because he always wears shorts or dresses that are WAY too short, barely covering his junk...heard co workers say they have even seen it before tho Idk if there is any truth to that, luckily I don't look down that way) and has had laser or electrolysis for unwanted hair removal.

At the same time, he uses an unmistakable male name, speaks like a man and doesn't use any kind of padding or forms to add curves so that is why I say he doesn't even try to pass.

I just figured I would throw that out there because I imagine, correct me if I am wrong, that that is quite atypical and thus worthy of adding to the crossdressing spectrum.

I don't know where I sit on this spectrum. Gender-wise I dont identify as male, more a feminine androgyne. I  do however, have a muscular/athletic male body with a lot of hair, so finding girls clothes that fit me, let alone look good is a hard issue. Shoes are out of my budget with size 11 feet as well. I guess it depends if we have to identify as our perscribed gender to be a crossdresser or is it perfectly based on our sex?

I crossdress in my own home, and recently I've been taking to girls jeans as opposed to guys (they pass well as skinnies on me) and I have few feminine accesories like scarves, a bag etc. I wear make up on nights out (but our city now lacks a gay bar, so I only go out in a skirt and tights very rarely.

Even though I brought up the notion of a spectrum and placed myself near one end of the spectrum, I don't have a clue as to where I sit on the spectrum.  The point I was trying to make is that there likely as many different expressions of crossdressing as there are grains of sand on the seashore.  Ours is a pretty broad tent (no pun intended) rather than a one-dimensional lifestyle or mindset with specific criterion.     

Hello, fellow Noncomformants.

The CD tent is very, very large indeed.  The snacks are a little stale, though.  And don't try the dip; pretty sure I saw ______ double-dipping earlier.  D:

Toodles from TN,
Ales

In a poll about cross dressing:

The poll sample could be 10,000,000

You would get 10.000.000 different answers

It's an interesting thought. I would see myself as transgender in the mind but my dressing is only an expression of that. The whole TG/crossdressing spectrum is beautifully wide. I get caught up in the passing thing but that is not how everybody feels. I think it's great that we are all different and that we all challenge the gender clothing thing in our own way. It all helps to break down the barriers to clothing and gender freedom. Do what thou will is the only law. ( sorry to quote Crowley )

Well I dress normal. I cross dress when I have to be a guy. No choice sometimes. But the reference library is interesting here. Our Dear Susan put some good psychological stuff, It is confusing on some things but it is more useful than going to a therapist.