Just like any other social taboo, cross-dressing is often regarded with assumptions and stereotypes that may not be true. Firstly, people tend to think that cross-dressers (especially men) are homosexual. In reality, many (or even most) men who wear female clothing are in fact heterosexual. Another common generalization is that men cross-dress because of a sexual fetish. While this is always entirely possible, it is not by any means true in all cases. As for reasoning, there is an amalgam of different things that could incite this act.

Entertainment

In the ancient Greek, Roman Empire, and even Shakespeare eras, women were not to participate in plays. Therefore, the female characters on stage were to be portrayed by men. Although this is not the norm anymore, it is by no means unheard of for men to play female characters for various reasons, although the general effect is usually intended to be comedic. For example, we all remember Robin Williams’ role in Mrs. Doubtfire.

Transvestism

This is a type of sexual fetishism (paraphilia) that involves sexual arousal from donning clothes of the opposite sex. Transvestite men enjoy wearing women’s clothing because they feel erotic stimulation from wearing female or generally feminine-looking garments and accessories. Transvestites are not necessarily homosexual, nor are they necessarily “drag queens.” It must be noted that while transvestism is a sexual attraction to cross-dressing, the act of cross-dressing is not always connected to sexuality at all.

Drag

Dressing drag is, in most cases, taking on the look of an overly exaggerated female appearance. Although most “drag queens” are in fact homosexual males, straight men have been known to over-embellish female looks for comedic or satirical purposes as well. Also, some females “drag” themselves out to take on the image of a glamorously feminine caricature, and some women are also known to take on an overly-masculine look as a “drag king.”

Comfort

It has been claimed by some men that they believe women’s clothing is generally more comfortable than men’s. In most simple scenarios these men only practice cross-dressing in private settings or underneath their usual attire. Many times these men are married and/or or openly and obviously heterosexual. Men who wear female clothing for comfort are not necessarily transvestites or homosexuals.

Of all the different reasons why a man may cross-dress, it’s nearly impossible to differentiate between particular instances. If you really want to know why a particular man is wearing a dress, just ask him. Overall, keep and open mind and don’t automatically judge people or assume things about them. It might not be what it looks like at all.