Richard F. Docter - Transvestites and Transsexuals

1988, English, Richard F. Docter,

Full title: "Transvestites and Transsexuals: Toward a Theory of Cross-Gender Behavior" by Richard F. Docter.

"In 'Transvestites and Transsexuals: Toward a Theory of Cross-Gender Behavior' [1988], author and psychologist Richard F. Docter does a review of the literature on transvestism and transsexualism, explores the putative developmental process which sometimes leads a 'transvestite' to become a 'transsexual', shows his research results at length, and finally proposes a theory for the development of cross-gender identity in these individuals.

The research findings presented in this book were the result of surveying crossdressers who were part of crossdressing social organizations. Since this was published in a time where crossdressing in males was met with severe social sanctions, the research doesn't apply as accurately to the current cultural context. Regardless, this is still worth reading for someone who has already read Anne Lawrence's book Men Trapped in Men's Bodies: Narratives of Autogynephilic Transsexualism and Magnus Hirschfeld's book Transvestites: The Erotic Drive to Cross-Dress and wants to learn more.

What sets this apart from other sexology monographs on transvestism and transsexualism is the focus on the developmental aspect of it. According to the author, over a period of many years a cross-gender identity is constructed in those crossdress and sometimes this constructed identity supersedes and replaces the original gender identity. When this happens, it is usually marked by the fulltime usage of a feminine name and fulltime dressing in women's clothing, and the individual can be considered to be transgender at this point.

This usage of the word 'transgender' is quite literal and technical and it precedes the umbrella term usage of transgender which is common today. Often, these trans women go on to seek cross-sex hormones and other medical procedures with the intention of creating a more feminine appearance. At this point, they can be considered transsexual. In the verbiage of this book, the social transition and identity is what makes someone transgender and the medical transition is what makes them transsexual."

Available via goodreads.com

Intro by Ada Gynefile.