Author(s): Awat Malone Embuta

Abstract: Crossdressing, a multifaceted and complex phenomenon, has long been a site of fascination and contestation. This paper sets out to investigate social media’s influence on crossdressing identities and expressions. The study thus intends to answer the following research questions; how do crossdressers navigate binary gender norms in everyday life? What role does drag culture play in shaping crossdressing identities and practices? And how do online communities suporrt or challenge crossdressing individuals’ identity formation? By examining the motivations and reasons for crossdressing, the study seeks to present the effects of the practice of transvestism in the Cameroonian and Nigerian media space in particular, and Africa in general from a neutral perspective. The research problem is centered on the negotiation and construction of identity within societal norms by individuals who engage in crossdressing. The paper employs postmodernism and queer theory to deconstruct crossdressing, challenging traditional notions of identity, power and performance. By examining the fluidity of gender and sexuality, this study reveals crossdressing as a submersive practice that disrupts traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.

Keywords: Crossdressing, social media, identity, community and practice.

Article Info: Received: 10 Jun 2025; Received in revised form: 23 Jul 2025; Accepted: 15 Dec 2025; Available online: 31 Dec 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.106.78