Defintion of "Cross-Dressing"?

[NotEnglish]

Question is in the title, really.

What is the definition of cross-dressing?

Is it just wearing clothes that "mainstream culture" would deem as belonging to the opposite sex?
Or does it have to have an element of sexual titillation or "expressing your inner woman/man" or something?

Or to rephrase:
If I wear my husbands underpants (in Germany we call them Boxershorts, I'm not sure if they are called the same in english?) because they are more comfortable than the woman's "boyshorts", or if I buy a pyjama top from the men's collection because it's warmer and has a more covering neckline, do I cross dress?

If my husband wears a sarong-style skirt in the house when the temperature gets really high in summer, is that cross dressing?

@Abitofalark

The law wouldn't have to define cross-dresser, though. It would only have to define trans.

Yes. But without use of a stereotype such as cross dressing. No one has managed to do so yet.

@Imayhaveerred

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Of course some people get a sexual kick from cross dressing but that's far from the only reason. Its not fair to just assume that its always a fetish.

Well that’s interesting. Honest opinion informed by actually having dated a cross dresser isn’t allowed? Fuck this shit.

@Nowayhozay I did say it was just my personal opinion. But no-one else will see that now. Very speedy report and deletion….

The cross dresser I dated wore women’s clothes because doing so gave him an erection. Delete this one too, Monitors.

[quote Imayhaveerred]@Nowayhozay I did say it was just my personal opinion. But no-one else will see that now. Very speedy report and deletion….[/quote]
It wasn't reported by me, I respect your opinion and experience.

Sorry, wasn’t implying that it was you. Just fascinated by the speed with which it disappeared.

[quote Imayhaveerred]@Nowayhozay I did say it was just my personal opinion. But no-one else will see that now. Very speedy report and deletion….[/quote]
I had a fwb who I have spoken about before on here who had a fetish for lingerie so I am denying that it happens but its the same for everyone.
My ds has been wearing girls clothes whenever he could dince he was 4 he is now a teenager and still enjoys doing so. Obviously not a fetish!!

*not denying, not the same

Personally and prob due to when grew up etc.

To me it means either-

• Gay men who cross dress for various reasons including drag but it's got long history in gay culture.

• Entertainment eg panto dames. Not so much the traditional woman plays man.

I totally associate cross dressing with blokes doing it, probably could try explain suspect wouldn't make good job!

• Pervy weirdos loads wear 'women's attire, esp fancy knickers. When out wanking cock at women/girls. Vv common well known thing.

• Doing it because hilarious eg stags, 70s 80s comedy

That sort of thing. I also take it as, apart from some films TV stage etc, meaning attire seen as revealing/ sexy etc.

I mean it's hard to define but I think most women just sort of know difference.

Eg
Cobain in dress, man who felt like wearing a dress.
Bloke in eg towering stilettos, mini skirt, big fake boobs, lots of makeup, big hair, that sort of stuff. Cross dressing.

The massive problem with this term is the fact cross dressing is v common in males with paraphilias that involve actual women/girls in some way.

The fact that this tendancy is and has been for ages popular with creepy weirdy flashers etc. And that women/girls often are understandably, in some circs, dubious/wary etc.

Is apparently something that is to never be mentioned, and women/girls should stop being so mean and rewire their brains.