 | |
| Transvestism | |
| Classification: | Miscellaneous |
| Genres: | Drama; Action; Comedy; Horror |
| Franchises: | Psycho film series |
| Associated films: | Mrs. Doubtfire Mulan Psycho Tootsie |
| Character examples: | Michael Dorsey |
Transvestism (also called transvestitism) is the practice of dressing and acting in a style or manner traditionally associated with the opposite gender. In most media, the practice is usually presented as a man dressing up as a woman, however, this is not absolute and there are also films featuring women disguising themselves as men.
Considered an aspect of an "alternate lifestyle", transvestism, or cross-dressing is often looked upon unfavorably by some social groups. Despite this however, it appears in numerous films not the least of which include a healthy dose of animated features, which are generally aimed at younger audiences.
In film, there are several transvestite characters who stand out as a cut above the rest. Dustin Hoffman once donned a wig and a dress for the role of Michael Dorsey, aka Dorothy Michaels in the 1982 comedy Tootsie.
In Mrs. Doubtfire, Daniel Hillard is a divorced man who is desperate to be a part of his children's lives, so he enlists the aid of elder brother Frank, a makeup artist, to transform him into the visage of a middle-aged Scottish woman he dubs Mrs. Doubtfire. As Doubtfire, Hillard becomes a housekeeper for his ex-wife, Miranda, and gets to be near his children.
On the darker and more macabre side of transvestism, a disturbed young motel owner named Norman Bates had a penchant for dressing up like his dead mother and even speaking in her voice, instructing his male persona to murder the indecent "whores" who would frequent their establishment. This motif formed the basis for the 1960 thriller Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Appearances[]
Animated[]
Comedies[]
- Birdcage, The
- Mrs. Doubtfire
- Tango & Cash
- Tootsie
Horror[]
- Children of the Corn: Genesis
- Psycho
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation
Musicals[]
Notable transvestites[]
| Character | Film/Series |
|---|---|
| Bubba Sawyer | Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The |
| Frank-N-Furter | Rocky Horror Picture Show |
| Gabriel Cash | Tango & Cash |
| Leather | Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation |
| Michael Dorsey | Tootsie |
| Norman Bates | Psycho |
Notes[]
- Transvestite redirects to this page.
- Cross-dresser redirects to this page.
- In some contexts, Transvestism is often linked to homosexuality. While many transvestites may in fact be homosexual, there is nothing about one particular lifestyle that precludes or excludes the other.