male sex partner. This practice may continue into late adulthood, with an item such as a bra or panties becoming a fetish item required to be worn for, or at least close by, during completion of a sex act. Sex, however, is just one aspect of the pleasure derived by transvestites, either gay or straight. Many cherish the escape from their expected gender role just as much. In an article by Matthew Gilbert (1993) RuPaul stated: “It is not a sexual fetish for me. Drag is the ultimate in power dressing. When you’re in drag, any drag, you become the God of your imagination, and that’s powerful medicine, baby. With my drag, I encompass both male and female. I become a microcosm of the whole universe, the yin and the yang, and people pick up on that and are enthralled by the power. That’s what got me addicted in the first place.”Garber (1995) believes that transvestitism has become more prevalent in the media because “the current roles of men and women in society, maleness and femaleness and personality, are all very much under question.” More women are “wearing the pants” in the family, and more men are becoming more hand on with child rearing. Although this may be true, it does seem as if a woman assuming characteristics of a man is much more accepted than that of the reverse. In the 1950s, Mary Tyler Moore caused much controversy by wearing Capri pants on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” and even then was allowed by the studio to wear them during only one scene per show. In the 1970s, women rebelled from typical gender roles by burning their bras, often seen as a symbol of gender restraint. These are just two examples of how women have changed views enormously over the years. It is now common for women to adopt traditional male clothing for everyday wear. It is a rare double standard, with women being accepted in this behavior, and often even encouraged for breaking g...
