ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Wartime cross-dressing

Okay kiddo, you know how sometimes people wear clothes that match the clothes of the opposite gender? That's called cross-dressing. During wars, some people dress up in clothes that don't match the gender they were born as. They might do this so they can hide and not get caught by the enemy.

For example, in the past, women were not allowed to fight in wars, so some women dressed up like men so they could fight. They cut their hair short, put on men's clothing, and tried to look like men. This way, they could fight in the war without anyone knowing they were actually women. Some women even became famous soldiers, but they had to be careful not to get caught.

Cross-dressing during wartime can also provide a way for people to escape from danger. If someone is trying to escape from the enemy, they might try to dress up like someone from the other side so they can blend in and not be noticed. This can be very dangerous, but it can also save their life.

So, war is a very serious and scary thing, and people may need to do unusual things like cross-dressing to protect themselves and help their side win. But it's important to remember that everyone should be allowed to wear whatever they want, regardless of their gender, and nobody should be judged or mistreated for it.