As the word implies, crossdressing is wearing clothes characteristic of the opposite gender. Virtually all people crossdress on occasion. Many people crossdress with regularity. Both sexes cross dress.
Females crossdress with relative impunity. Many think it is really "classy" or just plain "cute" for a female to wear "men's" clothing. Conversely, unless the crossdressing individual is sufficiently talented to look convincing, a male who crossdresses is in for social disapproval. People crossdress for a wide variety of reasons.
Crossdressing is usually a self-expressive pheonomenon. For the most part crossdessing represents an outward expression of a cross gender living within them. Therefore, crossdressers respect and emulate the opposite gender.
Most crossdressers are male and strictly heterosexual. Many are married or have been married. Many have families.
No! Crossdressing is something quite apart from a sexual activity for most crossdressers.
"Sex" and "gender" are confusing terms, while closely linked they are not the same. As Varginia Prince said "Sex is between your legs and gender is between your ears". Sex is designated as male or female. gender traits are best described as masculine or feminine.
Again, the answer is a resounding NO. In fact the NO cannot be made sufficiently emphatic.
Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) or "sex change surgery" as it is sometimes called, is quite another thing. This is a sexual thing at the very core. Diagnostically, it is a sexual identity dysphoric condition in which the person from the very earliest ages, many even before the onset of puberty, is aware of a feeling most commonly said to be: "trapped in the wrong body". Such people are diagnosed as "transsexuals".
This condition is recognized as a medical condition which is commonly treated by long term psychotherapy, hormonal therapy and finally by surgical correction of the person's external genitalia so that the sex and gender match. This condition is found in both those born female and those born male.
In recent years the prolifiration of "Gender Clinics" has precipitated a distressing situation, with regard to the relative ease with which many have been projected into surgical suites. Borderline individuals often self-validate by recruiting insecure, confused, and gullable people to follow their path. Some genger clinics have encouraged them as SRS is expensive.
Should the children be told? There is no magic formula. Social-cultural traits in parents and children are variable. The years from birth to age five are the most formative for the child. If the parents have achieved self-acceptance telling the children is appropriate.
During these younger years, the child can grow up knowing "dad" as both a "man" and as a "lady" with no problems. This is not going to "mark" the child in any way. The child will be inclined to femininity or masculinity according to genetically inherited influences. With regard to the crossdressing parent; honesty is critical; DECEPTION IS DEATH to family life. If the child beging to manifest cross-gender traits the wise parent will be supportive.
Telling the children during adolescence is not wise. During the teenage years the children are becoming aware of their own sexuality. Combined with peer influences, these years may be chotic. If the children should accidentally discover a parent's cross dressing, honesty as always is the wisist course.
Attitudes vary among wives. In one study 1 was most positive and 7, most negative. In acceptance of crossdressing, the wives mean score was 4.00, with scores ranging widely. But, asked if marrigages are happy, they scored 1.96, therefore while acceptance of crossdressing varied widely, most wives were happy in their marriages with crossdressers.
Wives' acceptance of cross dressing varies with cultural attitudes. Afterall they are subject to the same sociological conditions and stereotypes as crossdressers. In the last generation, however, there has been a strong tendency towards acceptance.
A prespective mate should be told about the crossdressing as soon as the relationship becomes serious. Patterns of honesty or deception will be the key for the future of the relationship.
Yes there are!
There are helping organizations both of the self help variety and of the "social" variety. For the heterophilic crossdressers and those who love them (families) there is: Tri-Ess - The International Society for the Second Self.
For those prefer a non-family-oriented structure there are multiple diversity groups available.