GhanaWeb Feature by Isaac Dadzie

When you turn on TikTok, Instagram reels or your favourite video-sharing platform, you're more likely to stumble across a short comedic skit featuring a guy dressing like a woman.

This dress-up is usually to play a character, maybe a mother of another character in the skit or a stereotype of a woman in the skit.

These characters are usually there as comic relief or a punchline in the video.

However, concerns have been raised about the prevalence of such characters in the content being generated on these social media platforms.

The National Commission on Culture (NCC), through its Deputy Executive Director Dr. Richardson Commey Fio, described the trend as "disturbing" and "totally unacceptable."

Some entertainment stakeholders have even alleged that many of these creators are using cross-dressing as a cover for their sexuality.

But, why now?

Cross-dressing has been used as content for years now. In other countries, many male actors have appeared in female clothing.

In the US, popular actors including Martin Lawrence (Big Momma’s House), Robin Williams (Mrs Doubtfire), Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) and Tyler Perry (Madea) have been spotted in female attire in order to play a character in movies.

Bringing it down to Ghana, in 2021, Ghanaian actor, Akrobeto appeared on his popular show Real News on UTV, appearing as ‘Akrotina’ a woman in celebration of Mother's Day.

Aside from entertainment, take your mind back to high school. Who remembers ‘Homogyan’ the ritual where SHS freshers had to wear funny outfits, including cross-dressing to the amusement of their seniors?

What about during protests? Scroll through pictures of protests over the last few years and there will be pictures of a man in a bizarre feminine-looking outfit.

In the artistic sense, cross-dressing is part of the story-telling process. It makes a statement, tells a story, provokes conversations, and sheds light on stereotypes.

One may argue that the content creators are doing the same as they’re just telling stories, not hiding anything or influencing anybody.

And to be fair, they are doing well. Most popular content creators have at least 100,000 followers on the
Tik Tok app with their best performing videos being those of them playing female characters.

The argument is that the populace finds such content funny and enjoyable, prompting these creators to continue with the trend.

But aside from content, what about those who appear at events?

‘Art’ is the reason given.

And to be fair, art is subjective. While many may interpret the concept as someone just trying to be funny, others may interpret it as a fashion statement.

Others would also see it as a commentary on societal pressure to confine people to specific gender boxes (Why must a man be in trousers all the time! Why not a dress!) or something like that.

Either way, there's no defining reason behind cross-dressing, and roping people who do so into one box may end up being detrimental.

But one interesting thing to note, all these are just speculations. No cross-dresser has yet to respond to these assertions. Maybe, when they do, we will know the truth.

ID/MA

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