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Terminology

Some dislike the use of the terms "Stealth" and "Passing", feeling those terms imply dishonesty or deception about ones gender identity.

Gender Attribution

~Gender attribution is the process by which an observer decides which gender they believe another person to be. Once an observer makes an attribution of the person's gender, it can be difficult for the observer to change his or her mind and see the person as another gender.~

Gender attribution is used by people to make initial assumptions about a person to be able to infer other details or aspects about them. In most interactions one cannot observe others physical sex characteristics like their penis or vagina so therefore must use other visual cues to be able to discern others gender. This concept can be summarized by the work of SJ Kessler, W McKenna and H Garfinkel, "This not directly visible "cultural genital" which is expected to be there "exists in a cultural sense if the person is assumed to have it"."
-Citation Added to: Passing entails much more than physical appearance, since there are many factors : height, bone structure, appearance of having or lacking an Adam's apple.

Stealth

~People may also choose to be stealth in some parts of their lives and not other, disconnected parts (for instance, being stealth at work, but openly transgender amongst friends).

To attain the level of gender passing to be stealth is a goal for many who choose to differ from traditional gender. Many in the community fear issues of discrimination and bias due to their transgender identification. According to Gillian Branstetter from the National Center for Transgender Equality, "People privilege the rights of others based off of how they look,". Being able to effectively stealth can make individuals feel safer being able to appear as a non-transgender person than if their gender identity was more easily identifiable.

~Passing privilege is the concept that transgender people face less prejudice when they are perceived as cisgender, including less risk of harassment and violence and better employment opportunities.~

For those in the transgender community the ability to pass is held as the standard of sorts for which to ascribe to. However in terms of the privilege associated with passing there is a general lack of research about the impact that successfully passing has on a multitude of aspects of an individual's societal experience. However it can be noted in a few studies that successfully passing can impact ones likelihood to experience homelessness as well as ones experience with homeless shelters themselves. Passing privilege in these cases can present as the following experiences or lack thereof as pertaining to homelessness. 11.4% of surveyed individuals stated that they had experienced homelessness directly related to their gender identity, with a bigger percentage of 16.3% indicating they needed to seek new or short term living arrangements due to their identity. As for those dealing with direct homelessness those who lacked the ability to pass were more likely to experience a variety of difficulties including harassment from staff and other visitors, difficulties being accepted to and staying in the shelters themselves, and due to these factors being less likely to seek assistance from shelters.

New Section: Privilege 2.2 Risks of Not Passing

The risks of not fully passing for the gender one is attempting to pass for can vary depending on the circumstances. There is a significant difference between drag queens or those who dress for performances, and transgender people or those who vary from the gender binary. For those who attempt to pass as a means of a differently gendered lifestyle the risks assumed can be greater. Being outed by ones physical attributes as a transgender or gender non-conforming individual can negatively impact ones cultural experience. According to data from the U.S 2015 Transgender survey, it is reported that 88% of those interviewed we're denied "equal treatments and services" as a result of their trans identity. Transgender people face high rates of discrimination and harassment, particularly among trans women of color. Transgender people face high rates of harassment and violence both sexual and physical, sexual objectification and social stigma. The experience of transphobia can also lead to negative impacts on mental health, as noted by Lombardi,Melendez & Pinto, Nuttbrock in an article "Experiences of transphobia have consistently been found to be associated with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem" .

History

~women disguising themselves as men were so that they could go into battle as soldiers, or in order to work in male-dominated professions that would not hire women.

Many women who chose to present as another gender come from similar situations and backgrounds. Many we're often times orphans or with a poor family situation, forced to try to earn a living, and we're often lower class. Presenting as male allowed for more options for many of these women who we're otherwise unskilled. Since many women could pass as young men, they often times ended up in the sailing profession as the age limit and requirements to join are low.

Wartime

~Reports exist of women doing this in both the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. Examples include Mary Anne Talbotand Hannah Snell. and Hua Mulan, who, according to legend, took her elderly father's place in the Chinese army.

On example would be a Spanish woman by the name of Eleno/Elena de Cespedes. Dispite being married and pregnant by the age of 16 due to a series of events she had begun identifying as, as well as dressing as a man. After a first failed attempt, she was accepted into the army to then serve for several years successfully.

Another would be Catalina de Erauso, a Spanish woman originally a nun, but who grew increasingly dissatisfied with religious life and in turn decided to dress as a man and flee to a new life. Joining the army a few years later she did remarkably well in the military. According to source material, "After serving in several campaigns against the Indians of Chile and Peru, she distinguished herself sufficiently to be promoted to the rank of ensign". She reportedly earned a reputation of "courage and daring" while involved in campaigns. However outside of combat she was known to cause trouble frequently. Known for brawling, gambling, fighting, and killing people on a few occasions her issues with violence would eventually lead her to reveal her true sex at what she thought at the time was the end of her life. Although her female identity was revealed later in life, she maintained her masculine appearance until her death.

Hannah Gray makes an interesting case as well, she was a part of the British army under the name James Gray. Due to various circumstances and issues regarding the reveal of her gender Hannah eventually ended up joining the marines instead. She was noted to have "proved to be not only a brave warrior but a good drinking companion as well and was accepted by her mates as a man", engaging in the construct of masculinity and doing successful masculine gender.

New Section: Upper Class Passing Men

Cases of male impersonation by women appear to be more historically common than that of male impersonation of women. Outside of artistic expression men who attempt to pass as women are not only less common but less socially accepted as a result. It can be noted that therefore many known female cross dressers are those from the upper class who do not face the same socioeconomic risks in repercussion to their cross dressing.

Henri III of France was a historic cross dresser, noted to dress as the opposite sex at grand parties and events, according to source material he was reported to have "dressed as an Amazon or wearing a ball gown, makeup, earrings, and other jewelry, and attended by his so called mignons, or homosexual favorites".