This article discusses some common categories used in the field of Sexology, that are somewhat unclear in terms of definitions. Sexology, while a very recent science, has been built up through the contribution of researchers from many different areas of knowledge who usually work with different epistemological assumptions and categories. Such a multi-disciplinary approach brings, on the one hand, a rich contribution to the field, but, on the other hand, also creates much confusion and lack of communication between scientists. I tried to identify and compare these categories using empirical evidence and explanatory studies in the actual literature. Interpretative research was left out of the review because it does not contribute to this attempt at interdisciplinary theorizing. This critical review, written in English, provides a contribution to one such category - "transsexualism," - illustrating some of the recent ways of approaching this issue in academic and clinical terms.
Gender roles; cross-dressing; transvestism; transexualism
