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AIBU?

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AIBU to find drag on mainstream TV disrespectful to women?

213 replies

sanctuaryyi · 12/05/2026 11:20

AIBU to think that drag is derogative woman face and unacceptable.

Women are oppressed by men, for example;

  • 1 in 4 women will be raped by a man in their lifetime.
  • Men generally hold most of the power and wealth, 90% of the ultra-wealthy in the world are men.
  • Men are less likely to experience sexual harassment and often have more freedom of movement without fear of violence.
  • Men are generally free from unpaid caring roles
  • Women are more likely to be objectified by men and valued for their body and youth whereas men are not and this creates a power imbalance.

With this in mind AIBU to think drag on main stream TV such as this 'artist' is totally unacceptable.

He has made fun and a jokes about lactation in grotesque fashion, squeezing cream out of his huge fake tits into a cup and has made fun of pregnancy and wears comedy size 'tits' and 'arse'.

The portrayal of any group's body or bodily functions in a grotesque manner for humour should surely be considered unacceptable, particularly when it mirrors historical patterns of oppression. Shouldn't it?

The link is twitter
Drag Race

For those that don't have twitter I have added some screen shots.

AIBU to find drag on mainstream TV disrespectful to women?
AIBU to find drag on mainstream TV disrespectful to women?
AIBU to find drag on mainstream TV disrespectful to women?
AIBU to find drag on mainstream TV disrespectful to women?
AIBU to find drag on mainstream TV disrespectful to women?
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sanctuaryyi · 21/05/2026 22:22

This!

AIBU to find drag on mainstream TV disrespectful to women?
OP posts:
MesonBoson · 20/05/2026 21:06

Yes. It's fucking vile.

sanctuaryyi · 20/05/2026 14:05

dizzydizzydizzy · 14/05/2026 23:21

It depends. What you describe with using cream
to represent breastmilk sounds bad. Pantomime dame, though, is funny. So it really depends on the act.

did you watch the video in the OP

OP posts:
Tonissister · 15/05/2026 14:24

Weeellokthen · 13/05/2026 14:01

Another day, another misandrist thread 😑

Not true. Calling out misogyny is not misandry.

I have seen misandrist threads on MN and I always challenge them.

This is not one of them.

Funtime2 · 15/05/2026 13:01

CraftySeal · 15/05/2026 08:55

I enjoy the quick wit, and the cynicism and bitchiness that is clearly very much surface level and actually done in an affectionate way. It speaks a lot to my own sense of humour, the whole affectionate piss-taking thing (which is quite British actually, I think). I'm not a positive, pink-sparkly-bubbles, life's-wonderful sort of person, but I also value kindness and supportiveness. I think all of this is embodied in the show itself. The costumes and makeup for me are very much secondary.

I don't want to get into the whole black face debate. I am not articulate enough. There are some interesting debates about it on Reddit though, with people much more articulate than me on both sides.

my Question was about the woman face though.
you haven’t addressed that at all.

NotPrimrose · 15/05/2026 09:21

TFImBackIn · 12/05/2026 11:50

I just can't see the difference between drag and the black-and-white minstrels from decades ago - both equally bad.

In the same way I can't understand how that Rachel woman who said she was black was freely hated when a man who says he's a woman isn't.

This.

ArtyFartyCrafts · 15/05/2026 09:03

I hate drag. It is ridiculous, humourless shite.

I remember on those talent type shows…..Some bloke always gets applauded and fawned all over as if he’s some amazing, innovative creative because he danced in a pair of high heels and caked his face in make-up. It’s so fucking weird.

edited to say, I’m not offended by drag. I just think it’s not remotely entertaining, nor funny.

CraftySeal · 15/05/2026 08:55

I enjoy the quick wit, and the cynicism and bitchiness that is clearly very much surface level and actually done in an affectionate way. It speaks a lot to my own sense of humour, the whole affectionate piss-taking thing (which is quite British actually, I think). I'm not a positive, pink-sparkly-bubbles, life's-wonderful sort of person, but I also value kindness and supportiveness. I think all of this is embodied in the show itself. The costumes and makeup for me are very much secondary.

I don't want to get into the whole black face debate. I am not articulate enough. There are some interesting debates about it on Reddit though, with people much more articulate than me on both sides.

Funtime2 · 15/05/2026 07:45

CraftySeal · 14/05/2026 23:33

I'm not going to get into the debate (feel free to say it's because I'm hypocritical/not intelligent/oppressed/whatever) but wanted to register my voice here among the overwhelming opposition to say that as a woman and a feminist I do not feel oppressed or mocked by drag, and I enjoy RuPaul's Drag Race. Though like any category of entertainer, some people who do drag are vastly funnier and classier than others.

Can I ask why you enjoy it?

I mean obviously some people do.

and can I ask why woman face is different from blackface?

CraftySeal · 14/05/2026 23:33

I'm not going to get into the debate (feel free to say it's because I'm hypocritical/not intelligent/oppressed/whatever) but wanted to register my voice here among the overwhelming opposition to say that as a woman and a feminist I do not feel oppressed or mocked by drag, and I enjoy RuPaul's Drag Race. Though like any category of entertainer, some people who do drag are vastly funnier and classier than others.

montysmaw · 14/05/2026 23:28

If Blackface is unacceptable as a grotesque parody of black people then drag is not acceptable as a gross demeaning hyersexualised parody of women.
They are never pleasant charicatures are they? Large breasted, painted faced , vulgar and foul mouthed .

dizzydizzydizzy · 14/05/2026 23:21

It depends. What you describe with using cream
to represent breastmilk sounds bad. Pantomime dame, though, is funny. So it really depends on the act.

GlosGirl82 · 14/05/2026 20:42

I hate drag so much - I am rarely offended by anything but I find drag so wrong - it’s mimicking a woman, belittling her and representing her as a collection of body parts in a dress rather than half the human race - and without whom the human race would not exist

Millymollymandy4 · 14/05/2026 20:12

sanctuaryyi · 14/05/2026 14:17

And that's before you take into account that as a sex class men already oppress women. It makes it all the more unacceptable.

I was just reminded that the bbc had nick lyrics on the commentary team for Wimbledon AFTER he had admitted domestic abuse - ffs!

ginasevern · 14/05/2026 16:16

@sanctuaryyi Modern drag has pushed, and will continue to push, boundaries to the limits. These men know exactly what they're doing, and it amounts to complete and utter contempt for women. No question about it. What a fucked up world where universities slap trigger warnings on Jane Austen novels, and yet this obscene caricaturisation of women gets a totally free pass. Just another rancid layer of the patriarchy.

sanctuaryyi · 14/05/2026 14:17

tarheelbaby · 14/05/2026 13:49

I find 'drag' to be distasteful and inappropriate at all times. It is men making fun of women at the most fundamental level.

(Imagine if women dressed in trousers with bulging crotches or stuck shaggy carpet to their chests and backs! or wore a bald patch + comb over and nose/ear hair and made jokes about scratching themselves and farting loudly)

And that's before you take into account that as a sex class men already oppress women. It makes it all the more unacceptable.

OP posts:
sanctuaryyi · 14/05/2026 14:16

Totallyfedupnow · 14/05/2026 13:40

I have no interest in this stuff and don’t know anyone who really enjoys it. However there are people who support it being on because it normalises public exhibition of fetishes and misogyny, and that’s useful to them.

It is definitely fetish, you can't un see it when you look at that original twitter video that was shown on Ru Paul.

OP posts:
tarheelbaby · 14/05/2026 13:49

I find 'drag' to be distasteful and inappropriate at all times. It is men making fun of women at the most fundamental level.

(Imagine if women dressed in trousers with bulging crotches or stuck shaggy carpet to their chests and backs! or wore a bald patch + comb over and nose/ear hair and made jokes about scratching themselves and farting loudly)

BoeotianNightmare · 14/05/2026 13:47

Yanbu drag is inherently sexist

Totallyfedupnow · 14/05/2026 13:40

I have no interest in this stuff and don’t know anyone who really enjoys it. However there are people who support it being on because it normalises public exhibition of fetishes and misogyny, and that’s useful to them.

sanctuaryyi · 14/05/2026 13:29

76% agree

Drag can go to room 101

👇

OP posts:
Millymollymandy4 · 13/05/2026 15:01

sanctuaryyi · 13/05/2026 13:32

It's actually little wonder women have not been able to have the same success in comedy as men. I mean the jokes are mainly aimed at women.

Look at the 'legend' Benny Hill.

Prime-time comedy family entertainment for years.
All based around the 'hilarious' joke of women (school girls) being leered at by a dirty old man.

Fucking hilarious, what a talent!

And not that long ago! All in our lifetimes

sanctuaryyi · 13/05/2026 14:22

Weeellokthen · 13/05/2026 14:01

Another day, another misandrist thread 😑

Since you wrote that post another 8 rapes by men will have been reported by women in the UK

OP posts:
Weeellokthen · 13/05/2026 14:01

Another day, another misandrist thread 😑

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 13/05/2026 13:53

maftan · 13/05/2026 12:10

Drag artists are misogynists, all are male, correct? Why not caricature their own sex? God knows there's plenty of material there.

Because there’s not the market for it there! I once when quite young, went on a night out to a gay bar where my best friend (female) worked with drag acts where my friend worked and got chatting to 2 gay guys who used to be straight. One of them came onto me! His boyfriend was not best pleased.