User:Xlitachilx/sandbox

On a larger scale, it is was used for disguise, performance art, and as a literary trope. On a more personal scale, it is done for a myriad of reasons: religion, burlesque, disguise, status gain, and even for sexual excitement. It is without question that cross-dressing is not solely used as a symbol to signify that one is homosexual or challenging the gender identities.

Cross-dressing also has been done for personal reasons. Aside from the reasons listed above, people have cross-dressed for “the waxy taste of lipstick on the lips, the donning of a wig or a high-heeled shoe while stepping into womanhood, the constriction of hosiery on the lower body, and the swish of a skirt against the thigh.” When these males were asked about the feelings that were evoked, many of them cited the memories that they shared with their mothers or sisters, and how cross-dressing reminded them of their relatives. On online communities, cross-dressers share a more personal reason for cross-dressing: “Deep inside us cross dressers, we want peace and freedom - thus the good feeling that we obtained while being a girl in a calm and subtle way while dressed.”

The Internet has been the major tool in forming cross-gender communities. Cross-dressers from the communities say “Well I think that a lot of us started out thinking that we were alone, at least I did and it was quite a shock to find so many others out there for support.” Members of communities worldwide find these online communities to be a safe haven for them. Furthermore, the convenience of being able to open up to people while at the same time not having to reveal ones identity has appealed to many of these cross-dressers; communities such as the Crossdressers.com has sprung up as a result. . This community allows transgendered people to share everything about their lives through posts, pictures, videos, links, and sound clips. On sites there are even tips about how to live a transgendered lifestyle.