Why do people confuse transgender and transvestite?

[humanearth]

I saw this question on some other website and I thought.

WTF go ahead and post it. This question might be a hit. So I did and I am posting it because I have nothing else to do

Fun Facts:

So I did a little poking around and I found that "transvestite" was coined in 1910, the term 'transsexual' was coined in 1949, and the term 'transgender' in 1971 and the term 'trans' in 1996.

And here is something else I found out that the last two terms are both very British terms

[Anonymous]

"Vestite" is Latin, meaning "clothing."
I know this because Spanish is my second language and it sounds like the Spanish words "Vestir" or "Vestido." And obviously there are clothes typical to males and females.

Gender (at least loosely defined by the trendies and activists) means something like mannerisms or behavior typical of one sex. Something along those lines. Even though these people also tend to conflate "gender" and "sex" very often, so I don't take them very seriously.

And, of course, "trans" would mean something like to move (or transitioning) from one point to another.

So putting two and two together, "Transgender" means, for example: "female, but having male-like personality" (we use to call those tomboys, by the way). "Transvestite" is basically a cross-dresser.

The End.

[Lliam]

I like the info about the origins of those terms, humanearth. Thanks.

I understand the difference, but can be hard to tell them apart.

They're both men pretending to be women. Transgenders just take it further by believing that they actually ARE women.
Transgenders are transvestites and some transvestites may be transgender.

They both have a screw loose.

[lightningwolfo]

People don’t do the research to inform themselves of the differences. Usually if it’s not dealing with them they don’t have any interest in informing themselves.

[QuietVerbena]

You raise a good point here

[QuietVerbena]

I know the difference

[exitseven]

There are so many different terms being thrown around it is very confusing. I still don't get the thing with the pronouns. I think there are even different ways if being transexual. Sometimes it is misleading.
Is a person a transexual if he/she simply declares he/she is a member of the opposites sex? Would you feel comfortable with them in the locker room with you?

[MysteriousDarkness]

Transvestite - a person, especially someone assigned male at birth, who assumes the dress and manner usually associated with a different sex for psychological or sexual gratification.

Transsexual - a person having a strong desire to assume the physical characteristics and gender role of a different sex.

Transgender - noting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond to that person’s sex assigned at birth

[maximumpower]

Most don't confuse the two - they just don't care.

That's what you get when 5% of the population tries to convince the rest that they MUST honor every whim they have. The more it's pushed, the more people will be willing to recognize them.

[itsmegrave]

Because they're both related to crossdressers! They both mean "people who wear clothes that aren't their own". The difference between them is that transgender means someone whose gender identity isn't male/female, while transvestites are still men/women. It's also because transgender women are often called shemales

[Jacobbbb]

Maybe that's just not something people really think about. I mean topics about trans don't come up too often so people are probably just uninformed. Not really sure

[RolandCuthbert]

Because some people don't care enough to know the difference.

[hafinjun]

Because ignorance is bliss to some. Why learn about something when you can find an endless supply of "experts" on the internet who are happy to give you your opinion based on ,"they say"

[Guardian45]

Maybe because transgender patients start out wearing the clothes of the opposite sex, so ARE transvestite initially!

[JSmuve]

What's the difference? A tranny is a tranny regardless of the suffix.

[genericname85]

because these days emotional bullshit is valued more than facts.

[genericname85]

also sometimes people play the racism card to get away with some shit. that's basically that but everyone can do it. you don't even have to be part of a minority to use that guilt trip.

[Hardworkingguy]

Perhaps because it's at times difficult to pay attention to the details of things happening around you

[Anonymous]

We were talking about this type of situation in my design classes back in 1972. This would cut down with design costs for the client have one shared toilet facility

[Pterodon]

We’re not confused. We know which restroom to use and what the definition of a woman is

[007kingifrit]

they're both not real things. just men dressing as women

[jimmy2]

There's no confusion dicks to the left pussy to the right

[ZS007]

I have no idea about gender studies

[MrTaboo]

Because its all made up.

[AsaKyo]

One is real and one isn't

[humanearth]

I didn't hit the disagree button just so you know

but which one is not real

[skyee_727]

what is even transvestite

[joeldalton]

crossdresser.

[QuietVerbena]

Not necessarily transgender but can be

[EGIRL111]

i see

[skyee_727]

oh ok cool @joeldalton

[BLP11520]

Lazy mentally