The cotton ceiling is a theory proposed by trans porn star and activist Drew DeVeaux to explain the experiences queer trans women have with simultaneous social inclusion and sexual exclusion within the broader queer women's communities

The "cotton" refers to underwear, implying that the contents of a trans woman's underwear (i.e., whether she has a penis) are of importance. The contents of her underwear act as an axis to oppress and marginalise her. The "ceiling" refers to the glass ceiling, a related phrase that denotes women's position within kyriarchy regardless of the gender they were assigned at birth. Both ceilings contribute to society-level inequalities such as the gender pay gap.