Skip to main content
Log in

Transvestism in women

  • Guest Editorial
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three cases are reported of a previously undefined condition—fetishistic cross-dressing in women. The outstanding common feature found in each woman is a powerful masculinity present since childhood, but no full answer is available yet to the question why these masculine women use men's garments for erotic excitement. Transvestism in women is compared with other types of cross-dressing in women and—in more detail—with transvestism in men. It is hoped that closer observation of sexual states will let us find their true nature and help to determine how women and men differ in their erotic experiences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Allen, C. (1969).A Textbook of Psychosexual Disorders (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bak, R. C. (1974). Distortions of the concept of fetishism.Psychoanal. Stud. Child 29: 191–214.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barahal, H. S. (1953). Female transvestism and homosexuality.Psychiat. Quart. 27: 390–438.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, H. (1966).The Transsexual Phenomenon. Julian Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, H. (1942).Studies in the Psychology of Sex. Random House, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenichel, O. (1930). The psychology of transvestitism.Int. J. psycho-anal. 11: 211–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenichel, O. (1945).The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis. W. W. Norton, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenacre, P. (1960). Further notes on fetishism.Psychoanal. Stud. Child 15: 191–207.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gutheil, E. (1930). Analysis of a case of transvestitism. In Stekel, W. (ed.),Sexual Aberrations Liverwright, New York, pp. 281–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krafft-Ebing, R. V. (1932).Psychopathia Sexualis. Physicians and Surgeons Book Co., Brooklyn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubie, L. S. (1978). Symbol and neurosis.Psychol. Issues 44: 196, 198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukianowicz, N. (1959). Survey of various aspects of transvestism in the light of our present knowledge.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 128: 36–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Money, J., and Ehrhardt, A. A. (1972).Man & Woman Boy & Girl. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prince, V. (1965). Survey of 390 cases of transvestism.Paper presented at the Western Divisional Meeting APA, Honolulu, Hawaii.

  • Redmount, R. S. (1953). A case of a female transvestite with marital and criminal complications.J. Clin. Exp. Psychopath. 14: 95–111.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reinisch, J. M. (1981). Prenatal exposure to synthetic progestins increases potential for aggression in humans.Science 211: 1171–1173.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubinstein, L. H. (1964). The role of identifications in homosexuality and transvestism in men and women. In Rosen, I. (ed.),The Pathology and Treatment of Sexual Deviation Oxford University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sperling, M. (1963). Fetishism in children.Psychoanal. Quart. 32: 374–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel, N. (1967). An infantile fetish and its persistence into young womanhood.Psychoanal.Stud. Child 22: 402–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1968).Sex and Gender (Vol. I). Science House, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1973).Splitting. Quadrangle, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1975a).Perversion. Pantheon, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1975b).Sex and Gender (Vol. II). Hogarth, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1979).Sexual Excitement. Pantheon, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winnicott, D. W. (1953). Transitional objects and transitional phenomena.Int. J. Psychoanal. 34: 89–95.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zavitzianos, G. (1972). Homeovestism: Perverse form of behaviour involving wearing clothes of the same sex.Int. J. Psychoanal. 53: 471–477.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stoller, R.J. Transvestism in women. Arch Sex Behav 11, 99–115 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541978

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541978

Key words

Navigation