SelfhelpMagazine

by Gail S. Bernstein, Ph.D.

Thanks for asking about this difficult topic. Men wearing women's clothing is negatively-valued in most situations and in many cultures, so children who start cross-dressing are often assumed to be abnormal in some way.

While his behavior is unusual, what this child does not need is to have everyone around him acting as if there is something terribly wrong with him. He needs people, adults, who will discuss his behavior calmly and without conveying the message that he is damaged.

If his family and friends are unable to do so, I would encourage them to seek professional assistance from someone who can explore the situation calmly. A nearby psychological association is a good place to start looking for referrals, but it's also important to evaluate the therapist's attitudes about and expertise with this issue before making a selection.

Cross-dressing and sexual orientation are not necessarily related. There are many heterosexual men who enjoy wearing women's clothes. We rarely hear about them because their behavior is seen so negatively by so many people. And, while some gay men do occasionally wear women's clothes, most do not.

For more information, see the SelfhelpMagazine.com article The Real Truth About Crossdressing, by Ellen Sherman.

About the Author:

Gail S. Bernstein, Ph.D. is an author and psychologist. She has a psychotherapy practice in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Bernstein speaks and writes about gay, lesbian and bisexual people for both general and professional audiences, and is the author of the audiotape, NOT HETEROSEXUAL: An Educational Program About Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People.