RuPaul's Drag Race

82 replies

PinkMojito · 27/06/2018 11:49

I am new to feminism, and while watching RuPaul's drag race, it struck me...I had always thought of it as just a bit of fun, but is this actually glorifying a grotesque characterisation of women? The overly done and exaggerated padding to make a cartoon-like female figure (not all, some use their natural bodies, but by and large), and the makeup (removal and redrawing on of eyebrows far above the natural line, to exaggerate a large and very unnatural eye size), huge lips, among others.

In writing this I found the article posted here:

www.feministcurrent.com/2014/04/25/why-has-drag-escaped-critique-from-feminists-and-the-lgbtq-community/

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PinkMojito · 27/06/2018 12:05

@BiologyIsReal Exactly, I feel like the equivalent would have to include gigantic comical schlongs flapping about!

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PinkMojito · 27/06/2018 12:03

And use of the term "hunty", combination of honey and c*nt.

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PinkMojito · 27/06/2018 12:01

Yeah good point, the fish references, and also "charisma uniqueness nerve and talent" being the top accolade.

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BiologyIsReal · 27/06/2018 11:58

Be a bit more convinced if there were as many drag women doing OTT male impersonations.

Battleax · 27/06/2018 11:56

Because they’re not actually pretending to actually be women. They know full well they are men, dressing in drag.

That’s my (drag-mad, otherwise very GC) DD19’s argument, and she’s right, I suppose (although I’m sure it’s not true of all of them individually). I just don’t know why they have to lace the whole thing with so much misogyny.

As you can tell, it’s an ongoing debate in this house.

Battleax · 27/06/2018 11:52

It’s worse than that. All the “fish” references etc. Eurgh.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 27/06/2018 11:52

Because they’re not actually pretending to actually be women. They know full well they are men, dressing in drag. As with lots of artists who perform in shows like that, it’s supposed to be over the top and camp and bizarre. If they came out on stage and actually just acted like a regular woman it would be boring as hell.

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