Thecla as transvestite

I was always amused and puzzled by a scene, in a Severian dream, where he turns into Thecla and she is pleased to find herself in men's clothing. A recent web surf showed me that the original Thecla travelled around with Paul, with her hair cut and jewelry removed, so she could pass as a man and not be molested (by rapists or suitors). Before that, there is a lot of imagery of her sitting in a window (trays and a rood?) to listen to Paul's preaching when she wasn't allowed to go out. bsharp