Varieties of cross-dressing

There are many different kinds of cross-dressing, and many different reasons why an individual might engage in cross-dressing behavior. The following examples are by no means an exhaustive list.

Some people cross-dress in order to shock others or challenge social norms. Kemal BB6

Both men and women may cross-dress in order to disguise their true identity. Historically, some women have cross-dressed in order to take up male-dominated or male-exclusive professions, such as military service. Conversely, some men have cross-dressed in order to escape from mandatory military service. Mulan (1998)

Single-sex theatrical troupes often have some performers cross-dress in order to play roles written for members of the opposite sex. Shakespeare In Love (1998)

Cross-dressing, particularly the depiction of males wearing dresses, is often used for comic effect onstage and onscreen. Little Britain (2003-)

Drag is a special form of performance art based on cross-dressing. A drag queen is a male-bodied person who performs as an exaggeratedly feminine character, in an elaborate costume usually consisting of a gaudy dress and high-heeled shoes, heavy makeup, and a large wig. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)

A transvestic fetishist is a person (typically a heterosexual male) who cross-dresses as part of a sexual fetish. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Some people who cross-dress may endeavor to project a complete impression of belonging to another gender, down to mannerisms, speech patterns, and emulation of sexual characteristics. This is referred to as "trying to pass". Some Like It Hot (1959)

(Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dresser#Varieties_of_cross-dressing)