NZ Cross-Dressers.

David Herkt

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Mar 6, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/6/98

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NZers have an international reputation for cross-dressing. There seems
to be a disproportionately large number of drag-queens and transexuals
in NZ compared to other countries. This aspect of NZ has survived even
the new gay 'masculinity'. Would anyone like to speculate on why this is
so? Perhaps it has something to do with our generally dour Northern
English ancestry and the attraction of the forbidden, or do you think it
might be the influence of Polynesian culture and the easy slippage of
individuals from one gender-role to another? I find it interesting, the
fact that with NZ young gay boys frequently the first thing they want to
get out of their system is this dress-fixation... It is quite a curious
cultural phenomena and doesn't seem to be refledcted in any other
Western nation.

David.

Ratbag

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Mar 10, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/10/98

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I think due to the rapid introduction of different cultures into NZ over the
last 30 yrs New Zealanders have been more comfortable with difference, hence
feeling more free to express their sexuality than some other cutures.

David Herkt

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Mar 11, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/11/98

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Ratbag wrote:
>
> I think due to the rapid introduction of different cultures into NZ over the
> last 30 yrs New Zealanders have been more comfortable with difference, hence
> feeling more free to express their sexuality than some other cutures.
>

Well I don't know that NZers are that happy with difference, but I take
your point. I agree that the increasing role of the Polynesian
communities in NZ has had something to do with it. Do you think that
some of the Polynesian freedom with gender (like the youngest son being
given a 'woman's' role and staying home to help the mother or the
fafafine phenomenon of the Pacific Islands mightr have something to do
with it? Maori and Pacific Islanders seem to have this ease of
gender-slipping that has been absorbed by NZ culture in general. For
instance I find it quite extraordoinary the number of Maori and Pacific
Island transexuals/transvestites whatever who are fathers with about
three kids. Some people who have e-mailed me don't seem to think that NZ
is any different from other countries in the cross-dressing stakes but I
think it is, and one of the best reasons for me seems to be the
Polynesian influence...

Sama...@manawatu.gen.nz

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Mar 12, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/12/98

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On Fri, 06 Mar 1998 23:41:46 +1300, David Herkt <dhe...@ihug.co.nz>
wrote:

>NZers have an international reputation for cross-dressing. There seems
>to be a disproportionately large number of drag-queens and transexuals
>in NZ compared to other countries. This aspect of NZ has survived even
>the new gay 'masculinity'. Would anyone like to speculate on why this is
>so? Perhaps it has something to do with our generally dour Northern
>English ancestry and the attraction of the forbidden, or do you think it
>might be the influence of Polynesian culture and the easy slippage of
>individuals from one gender-role to another? I find it interesting, the
>fact that with NZ young gay boys frequently the first thing they want to
>get out of their system is this dress-fixation... It is quite a curious
>cultural phenomena and doesn't seem to be refledcted in any other
>Western nation.
>
>David.

Hi David

New Zealand actually ranks about 3rd in the world for xdressers per
capita - after Britain and Scandinavia.

You are correct in your belief that there is also a
disproportionately high number of transsexual persons in NZ. However,
Transsexuality has absolutely nothing to do with "slippage"
across-gender role. You appear to be conflating Ts/CD/DQ

The high incidence of trannsexuality in NZ is due (in my experience)
to two factors.

#1. Immigration, especially from the south pacific cultures, but also
from Britain.

#2. A greater social tolerance towards towards trans persons, which
has resulted in a large increase in more mature (e.g., 40 plus)T*
persons "transitioning." This age related trend has been observed
overseas also.

Samantha

David Herkt

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Mar 13, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/13/98

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Sama...@manawatu.gen.nz wrote:
>

> Hi David
>
> New Zealand actually ranks about 3rd in the world for xdressers per
> capita - after Britain and Scandinavia.
>
> You are correct in your belief that there is also a
> disproportionately high number of transsexual persons in NZ. However,
> Transsexuality has absolutely nothing to do with "slippage"
> across-gender role. You appear to be conflating Ts/CD/DQ
>
> The high incidence of trannsexuality in NZ is due (in my experience)
> to two factors.
>
> #1. Immigration, especially from the south pacific cultures, but also
> from Britain.
>
> #2. A greater social tolerance towards towards trans persons, which
> has resulted in a large increase in more mature (e.g., 40 plus)T*
> persons "transitioning." This age related trend has been observed
> overseas also.
>
> Samantha

Dear Samantha,

Great! Informed figures! There's nothing I like more than a nice
quotable statistic. Interesting that we're beaten by Scandanavia and
Britain, the bleak Protestant north of human experience, no relaxed
Mediterranean cultures here.

Where do your figures come from? Yeah I was conflating a few things I'll
admit, but they are sort of conflatable, no?

David