transvestism

transvestism, practice of wearing the clothes of the opposite sex. The term transvestism came into use following the publication in 1910 of Die Transvestiten (The Transvestites), a work by German physician Magnus Hirschfeld. The term originally was applied to cross-dressing associated with nonheterosexual behaviour. It also was used to describe cross-dressing with intent to derive sexual pleasure. Later in the 20th century, however, transvestism was distinguished from cross-dressing for sexual excitement, which became known as...