It’s time for our series of posts here at Jessica Who?, titled “Word of the Week”. In these short articles, from here on out published each Friday, I will explore the various labels and umbrella terms used to label us. By doing this, I hope to educate not only myself, but also anyone who may not be familiar with these terms. Feel free to add your own knowledge to each post by leaving a comment 
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The label that we will be examining is: Cross-Dresser
Standard Definition
A wearer of clothes designed for the opposite sex circa 1911
Derogatory?
What’s It Really Mean?
When someone thinks of the word cross-dresser they typically picture a man dressing up as a woman, but really a cross-dresser can be anyone, man or woman.
My Take
I plan on using this blog as a way to express my thoughts and emotions as I live my life as a crossdresser. Although I am really not a fan of that word, at least everyone knows what it means.
These are the words that kicked off Jessica Who? and they still hold true. In reality, although I do identify with cross-dressers and find it okay to be called a cross-dresser, I prefer not to label myself. However, on the internet I do use this word frequently to describe myself because it is easier than saying that I am a “Biologically Male, Male To Female Cross-dressing, Non-transitioning Transgendered Person, Wannabe Drag Queen, Heterosexual Gender Neutral Human Being”. 
Seriously, though, I think that I represent a little bit from everyone in the trans community — crossdressers, transsexuals, drag queens, genderqueers, etc. I’ll touch on this more in a future post.
Labels can be helpful as well as harmful. My advice to someone looking for some would be, don’t let them hold you back from being yourself, because that’s what’s most important. If you choose to labels to identify yourself, then that’s fine as well.
Your Take
Have you anything to add? Please leave your take on this word in the comments section, I hope we can open up a dialogue and learn from each other while educating the masses.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
“Crossdresser”…. a short, but most of the time not so sweet description. I have listened to society and I have found that there are many, many people out there who believe that a person who crossdresses is either sick in the head, gay, or want to be a woman (or man, in the case of FTM). People don’t want to hear or believe a person who dresses can be, and usually is heterosexual. Maybe they feel threatened by it or just simply do not want to even try to understand it, the why’s and wherefores of crossdressing. It seems the only people who understand a crossdresser is another crossdresser. Even most women don’t understand it. It takes a very openminded woman to accept a man who dresses into her life. I have such a woman, thank God, after my first wife left me due to it. Most of my friends, who found out about my hobby, have broken off their friendship, a few have remained though. It is a label that will be around for a long time, I fear. but is slowly changing.
Jessica, I nearly skipped this one due to the tendency to overuse this “label”. I did like your take on this. I personally take offense to the way it has been used to insult me by one or two in our world. I am well over through the simple TransGendered spectrum and find my self as a non-op TS. In general this term is used non-offensively but most assuredly can be used to sting others.
Nice Post,
Ellen
BMMTFCDNTTPWDQHGNHB! has to win some kind of award!
Seriously what would a woman have to wear these days to be called a cross dresser or even cause a second glance?
Hi Jessica,
Really liked what you had to say about the word “Crossdresser”. Personally, I don’t have any problems with the word, I like it better that “Transvestite”. Not sure why.
The part that really stood out on what you wrote is being yourself. So true. That is something that we all need to remember. To be ourselves and to be happy no matter what anybody says. Cause this is the way God has made us.
Have a good day & God Bless.
Veronica =)
Caroline had it right. Women can wear anything that a man wears and its perfectly OK. When a man wears what a women wears its suddenly crossdressing. I find this a double standard. Clothing design for men never has much originality but womens fashion is another matter altogether.Shopping for womens clothing can take up an entire day and is fun and challenging. I think one can see where I stand on this crossdressing matter.
Thank you for some new insights on a frequently used term. I agree that it can be difficult today to identify a FTM cross dresser due to fashion trends. As I recently asked on my Facebook wall – can you really call a woman in a 3 piece suit and tie a cross dresser?
I also agree with Veronica that I prefer CD to transvestite – that sounds rather like a disease!
Julie Michelle
Cross-dresser has less negative connotations than transvestite, I’m not surprised its been replacing the latter.
But…if you say you’re a transvestite, you can walk around singing “Sweet Transvestite!” All joking aside–labels rarely do anything justice: that’s why food comes with an ingredients list.