Perspectives of Cisgenders on Cross-dressing: The Case of a State University in Claveria, the Philippines

Queenie Mar Openiano; Rejoy Lamzon; Justine Jay Ranes; Zezreel Mae Reyes; Arnel Travero; Myca Jean Labastida

doi:10.66317/734417

Authors

Queenie Mar M. Openiano University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Philippines Author
Rejoy L. Lamzon University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Philippines Author
Justine Jay A. Ranes University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Philippines Author
Zezreel Mae P. Reyes University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Philippines Author
Arnel S. Travero University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Philippines Author
Myca Jean L. Labastida University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Philippines Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66317/734417

Abstract

This study utilized a descriptive qualitative research design to determine the perspectives of cisgender toward cross-dressing at a State University in Claveria, the Philippines. The researchers chose this site for the study based on the factual observation that residents, compared to those who live in cities, generally experience limited exposure to this type of content. The study involves students, staff, and faculty who are cisgender and do not cross dress who share their thoughts on the practice of cross-dressing on campus. The results showed that cross-dressing is mainly viewed as a way for people to affirm their gender identity and express themselves as individuals. There is some recognition that cross-dressing has become more accepted and integrated into society. However, there is also cultural pushback and moral objections, with critics citing religious and traditional values. Concerns remain about how cross-dressers will be perceived by society, the possibility of facing discrimination, and the potential impact on academic performance and involvement. The passage presents a nuanced perspective, acknowledging both the personal significance of cross-dressing for gender identity, as well as the ongoing social and cultural challenges faced by those who cross-dress.

Keywords:

cisgenders' perspective, cross-dressing, non-cross-dressers

References

Afrina, N. (2015). Life in the city of Dumai: Transvestites (Case study of social pressure facing transgender individuals). Jurnal Online Mahasiswa Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik Universitas Riau, 2(2), 1–15. https://jom.unri.ac.id/index.php/JOMFSIP/article/view/7233

Ahmad, S., Tripathi, M. K., & Singh, A. (2022). Problems, challenges and experienced faced by trans-genders people in Indian society. International Journal of Contemporary Microbiology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.37506/ijcmicro.v8i1.17855

Anupama, M., Gangadhar, K. H., Shetty, V. B., & Dip, P. B. (2016). Transvestism as a symptom: A case series. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 38(1), 78–80. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.175131

Aslam, A., Muhammad, Y., & Nasir, L. (2022). Transgender students' experiences of bullying: Some case study evidence. Global Political Review, 7(2), 71–80 https://doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2022(VII-II).09

Ball, C. A. (2019). Gender-stereotyping theory, freedom of expression, and identity. William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, 28(2), 229–560. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj/vol28/iss2/2

Bolich, G. G. (2007). Today’s transgender realities: Crossdressing in context (Vol. 2). Psyche’s Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=9YnuPQAACAAJ

Bolton, J. (2020). Conscientious objection as a spiritual path. In Conscientious objection in liberal societies (pp. 263–278). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2489-9_16

Capaldi, E., & Sykes, A. (2023). Embedding LGBT equality in the curriculum and the classroom. In LGBTQ+ inclusion in education (pp. 191–203). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003286295-18

Cook-Daniels, L. (2019). Trauma and aging. In Later-life social support and service provision in diverse and vulnerable populations (pp. 113–129). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95031-0_7

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.

Fernández-Rouco, N., Carcedo, R. J., & Yeadon-Lee, T. (2020). Transgender identities, pressures, and social policy: A study carried out in Spain. Journal of Homosexuality, 67(5), 620–638. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2018.1550330

Gilbert, M. A. (2022). Defining a cross-dresser. In Crossdressing (pp. 13–26). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315613703-2

Govender, I. G. (2023). Cross-dressing. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.8634

Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? An experiment with thematic interview data. Field Methods, 18(1), 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279903

Hasan, S. A., Subhani, M. I., & Osman, A. (2012). Cross-dressing: A curse or an inspiration? European Journal of Social Sciences, 33(1), 150–154. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/40381

Hazel, C. E., Walls, N. E., & Pomerantz, L. (2019). Gender and sexual minority students’ engagement with school: The impacts of grades, feeling unsafe, and gay/straight alliances. Contemporary School Psychology, 23(4), 432–443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-018-0199-5

Janes, D. (2022). The varsity drags: Gender, sexuality, and cross-dressing at the University of Cambridge, 1850–1950. Journal of Social History, 55(3), 695–723. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsh/shab069

Janusauskas, M. (2023). ‘Putting on a dress means nothing’: Cross-dressing practice in men’s fashion. Fashion, Style & Popular Culture, 10(1), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.1386/fspc_00149_1

Kim, Y. Y. (2017). Cross-cultural adaptation. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.21

Korneeva, T. (2012). Cross-dressing strategies in Benedikte Naubert’s fairy tale novella Der kurze Mantel. German Life and Letters, 65(3), 281–294. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0483.2012.01572.x

Kornfield, S. (2011). Cross-cultural cross-dressing: Japanese graphic novels perform gender in U.S. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 28(3), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295036.2011.553725

Mitchell, T. D., Schneider, F. J., & Soria, K. M. (2019). Community engagement experiences of college students with minoritized sexual and gender identities. International Journal of Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.37333/001c.11482

Murphy, M. E. (2010). Lives embraced through memories. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14(2), 127–128. https://doi.org/10.1188/10.CJON.127-128

O’Nions, H. (2015). Warehouses and window-dressing: A legal perspective on educational segregation in Europe. Zeitschrift für Internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik, 38(1), 4–10. https://doi.org/10.25656/01:14009

Reddy-Best, K. L. (2020, August 1). Sexuality. In Dress, appearance, and diversity. Iowa State University Pressbooks. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/dressappearancediversity/chapter/sexuality/

Rutkienė, A., Kaçar, I. G., Karakuş, E., Baltacı, H. Ş., Altun, M., Şahintaş, Z. A., Barendsen, R., Wierda, R., & Crespo, B. (2022). The impact of flipped learning on students’ engagement and satisfaction development: A cross-country action research study. Pedagogika, 147(3), 253–281. https://doi.org/10.15823/p.2022.147.12

Salimath, M. B., Rose, K., & Nivas, J. (2014). Inclusion of transgenders: A small step ahead. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342480520_Inclusion_of_Transgenders_A_Small_Step_Ahead

Shinko, R. E. (2016). This is not a mannequin. In Routledge eBooks (pp. 19–40). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315765082-2

Steadman, S. (2018). It’s still me: Safeguarding vulnerable transgender elders. Yale Journal of Law and Feminism.

Stagg, J. C. (2019). Policy or pathologization? Questions into the rhetoric of inclusion and acceptance in schools. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 8(5), 18–41. https://doi.org/10.15353/cjds.v8i5.565

Strübel, J., & Goswami, S. (2022). Clothing and self-concept in cisgender and transgender individuals. Gender Issues, 39(4), 387–408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-022-09296-9

Ussher, J. M., Hawkey, A., Perz, J., Liamputtong, P., Sekar, J., Marjadi, B., Schmied, V., Dune, T., & Brook, E. (2020). Crossing boundaries and fetishization: Experiences of sexual violence for trans women of color. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(5–6), NP3552–NP3584. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520949149

Wong, D. (2022). Passing practices of male-to-female cross-dressers in Hong Kong. Journal of Gender Studies, 31(6), 733–746. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2022.2034040