The third group will fringe on transsexuality in that they will live and pass as women for extended periods. The only real difference between these so-called 'secondary' transsexuals and the full transsexual is that, again, like all the less extreme transvestites, they have no wish to actually be women. One argument is that transvestism or cross- dressing is a way of offering a challenge to society's preconceptions about gender. Some men cross-dress because they are unhappy at being men. But for many transvestites, cross-dressing is an intensely sexual activity.
Most transvestites have their first cross-dressing experience around puberty or in adolescence.
The first experience is likely to be sexually exciting and the young person will carry on with the practice. However, transvestism is not just a sexual variation. There have always been plenty of men who get a sexual thrill from their cross- dressing, but the accepted view of most experts in this field now is that these are not the majority. Sex, particularly with other people, is not the main reason why most men cross-dress. Some transvestites do masturbate as part of their cross-dressing routine and it is easy to see why this is such an attractive prospect.