Exploring gender expression can be confusing at first. There are so many terms out there — some familiar, some new — and understanding them can make a huge difference. Whether you’re beginning your journey or supporting someone else, learning the language of gender identity helps build clarity, confidence, and community.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through 10 key terms related to crossdressing and gender expression. By understanding these ideas, you’ll be better equipped to express your own identity or support others in theirs.
Gender Identity Basics
Gender identity is the internal sense of who you are — man, woman, both, neither, or somewhere in between. It doesn’t always match the sex someone was assigned at birth, and that’s completely valid. Understanding this foundation helps us better appreciate the many forms of gender expression, including crossdressing.
Transgender
A transgender person experiences a gender identity that doesn’t align with the sex they were assigned at birth. This includes trans women, trans men, and nonbinary individuals.
Being transgender is about identity — not sexual orientation — and not all trans people pursue medical transition. What matters most is their self-understanding and how they choose to express it.
Cisgender
Cisgender describes someone whose gender identity does match their birth-assigned sex — for example, a person assigned female at birth who identifies as a woman.
Understanding the difference between cisgender and transgender helps create respectful, inclusive environments for everyone across the gender spectrum.
Transwoman
A transwoman is someone who was assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman. Her journey might include changes to her appearance, name, or medical transition — but it’s her identity, not any specific step, that defines her.
Using her chosen name and pronouns is a simple but powerful way to show respect and support.
Transman
A transman is someone who was assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man. Like transwomen, transmen may or may not pursue medical changes — each journey is personal and valid.
Recognizing and respecting a transman’s identity affirms his place in the world and helps build a more understanding society.
Nonbinary
Nonbinary people don’t identify strictly as male or female. Their gender identity might be both, neither, or somewhere in between. Nonbinary folks are an important part of the LGBTQIA+ community and deserve the same respect and recognition as anyone else.
Honoring their pronouns and how they describe their gender is essential.
Gender Fluid
Gender fluid individuals experience shifts in their gender identity over time. On some days, they might feel more feminine or masculine; on others, somewhere in between or beyond.
Gender fluidity reminds us that identity can be flexible — and that’s okay. Respecting that journey means allowing space for change and expression.
Gender Expression Basics
Gender expression is how someone presents their gender outwardly — through clothing, hairstyle, voice, mannerisms, and more. It’s the visible or social side of gender, and it doesn’t always align with a person’s gender identity or the expectations tied to their assigned sex at birth. Understanding gender expression helps us appreciate the many ways people choose to show who they are — whether subtly or boldly, traditionally or creatively.
Crossdresser
A crossdresser is someone who wears clothing typically associated with a different gender. Crossdressers can be transgender, cisgender, or nonbinary.
For many, crossdressing is a meaningful way to express femininity, masculinity, or a different side of themselves. It’s not always tied to identity — but it is often deeply affirming.
En Femme
To be en femme means presenting in a feminine way — through clothing, behavior, or attitude. Crossdressers often use this term when describing their feminine mode or style.
Being en femme is more than a look — it’s a powerful expression of self and identity.
En Masc
Just like en femme refers to presenting in a feminine way, en masc describes presenting in a masculine way. This might include clothing, grooming, or behavior that aligns with traditional masculinity. Some crossdressers, nonbinary people, or gender-fluid individuals may explore both en femme and en masc modes as part of their gender expression.
Drag Queen
A drag queen is typically a man who performs femininity in an exaggerated, theatrical way — often for entertainment. Drag is bold, creative, and political, challenging traditional ideas of gender.
While drag queens are part of the broader LGBTQIA+ world, not all drag performers are transgender or crossdressers — and not all crossdressers are drag performers.
Drag King
A drag king is a performer — often someone assigned female at birth — who adopts a masculine persona through costume, performance, or attitude. Like queens, drag kings push the boundaries of how we view gender and self-expression.
They remind us that masculinity, like femininity, can be playful, powerful, and redefined.
Femboy
A femboy is a male (often cisgender) who embraces femininity in their appearance, clothing, or mannerisms without necessarily identifying as transgender or nonbinary.
Femboys challenge the idea that femininity belongs only to women. Their style is a blend of softness and strength — often cute, flirty, and proudly outside the norm.
Androgynous
An androgynous person blends masculine and feminine traits, often creating a look or identity that’s hard to classify by traditional gender rules.
Androgyny can be a fashion choice, a gender identity, or simply a reflection of how someone feels inside. It’s all about freedom and fluidity.
Outdated or Offensive Terms: Know the History, Respect the Present
While learning gender-related language, you may encounter older terms that were once common but are now considered disrespectful or harmful. It’s important to understand why these words are problematic and why many in the LGBTQIA+ community no longer use them.
Tranny
“Tranny” is a slang term that has historically been used as a slur against transgender people and crossdressers. While it may have been used casually or even self-referentially in some circles in the past, today it is widely seen as derogatory and offensive. It’s best to avoid this term altogether and use respectful, affirming language like transgender, trans woman, or crossdresser depending on the context.
Transvestite
Transvestite is an older clinical term that was once used to describe people — often cisgender men — who wore clothing associated with a different gender. It has since fallen out of favor due to its outdated, pathologizing tone and its close association with misunderstanding and stigma. The respectful and more accurate term today is crossdresser.
Transsexual
Transsexual is a term that was used in medical and psychological contexts to describe someone who sought medical transition (such as hormones or surgery) to align their body with their gender identity. While some older individuals may still identify with this term, many now find it outdated or uncomfortable because it centers the physical body over personal identity and is often used by those outside the trans community in stigmatizing ways.
In general, transgender is the more current, inclusive, and respectful term.
Embracing Identity Through Understanding
Learning about crossdressing and gender identity terms helps create a more respectful, affirming space for everyone. Language shapes how we see ourselves — and how others see us.
By learning and using these words, you’re doing more than expanding your vocabulary. You’re helping make the world a kinder, more inclusive place — one that celebrates the full spectrum of gender expression.
Whether you’re exploring your own identity or standing beside someone who is, these terms are your tools for compassion, connection, and self-discovery.
