Ask Hannah!

What is the difference between being a crossdresser and being genderfluid?

Does it involve genderfluid people feeling like their internal sense of gender shifts around, while crossdressers don’t? (Even if both kinds of people wear female clothes, want to be treated like a woman, use feminine pronouns, etc.)? Or is there something else that makes genderfluid people and crossdressers different?

This is a wonderful and very nuanced question.

Let’s jump in.

First of all, I believe that both a crossdresser and someone who considers themselves genderfluid fall under the transgender umbrella.  My definition of transgender is pretty broad and inclusive and essentially covers any sort of gender identity or presentation that goes against traditional societal gender norms.

Under that umbrella are other designations.  For example, I am transgender, and perhaps bi-gender is a more specific label, if you will, for me.  I feel I have two very structured gender identities and presentations.  I am either him or her.

I think every crossdresser in the world will have their own definition of what crossdressing is.  Some crossdressers feel that is all about clothes for them.  Some feel it’s a sexual feeling.  Some have, as you put it, a shift in gender identity when they are dressed.  I did my best to summarize what I feel crossdressing is, but again, this is my perspective and likely different than someone else’s.  No one is going to be right or wrong.

For me, crossdressing comes down to simply wearing clothes that are typically associated with another gender.  This could be any article of clothing that is genderized, whether it is a tie or nail polish or suspenders or an evening gown.  You typically do not see a lot of women wearing tuxedos or a lot of men wearing pencil skirts.  I mean, they look amazing in them, but it’s not something you tend to see at the office or in the mall.

So, what is genderfluid?  Like so many terms and words in our world, there will likely never be a definition that fits everyone.  I can only speak for myself, but I would define a person who is genderfluid as someone who does not feel they have a fixed gender.  Their gender identity does not shift from day to day, or is influenced by what they wear. They may also use pronouns such as ‘they’ and ‘them’ as opposed to ‘him’ and ‘her’.

This is a little different from someone who is bi-gender.  As someone who is bi-gender, I present and identity as either boy or girl, but someone who is genderfluid typically does not identity as any gender, ever.  My gender presentation may go back and forth throughout the day, but it’s either one or the other.

I hope that makes sense!  Let me know in the comments if I am completely wrong. 🙂

Love, Hannah