Womanface

As I alluded to earlier - it is also a male single sex profession for all intents and purposes. When it comes to the definition of Drag Queen for some reason sex is allowed to remain entirely relevant.

I am another one who wants to know that if other oppressed groups are able to define their views on their portrayal, why are women not given that same right?

Oh. That’s right. It is just women and some people find drag wonderful fun, so why should women spoil it.

The hypocrisy is clear.

apart from the majority bit

It is not based on depicting women as comically subhuman for the delight of the nation’s majority population. It is not a vestige of a century of vigorous punching down by the powerful against the powerless

Errrmmm, isn't that EXACTLY what it is

That article didn't convince me in the slightest

Drag Race is on BBC3 or later (around 10.30) I wondered why that was and suspect they know there are limits to how popular this is

I was sitting down with a cup of tea watching the Winter Olympics earlier this morning. Guess who appeared to tell a figure-skating partnership (man and woman) how to look more ‘fabulous’ in their sparkly bling? Yup, two drag queens.

My signal to switch off.

I once mentioned that RuPaul's Drag Race was potentially like blackface, and questioned why men pretending to be women wasn't either sexist or even transphobic, I was banned immediately and the entire IP address was banned from the website too.

It was a Vox Media website and they are particularly woke.

Good points namity. I have never liked drag but that springs from finding pantomime dames frightening as a child. It is very popular on the Beeb, however, Drag Race is on BBC3 or later (around 10.30) I wondered why that was and suspect they know there are limits to how popular this is. Or is it just a young persons thing?

I am unsure how long a programme can last that is all about exaggerated hair and clothes. The drag artist's I've known personally didn't like women

What's the difference between drag and 'identifying as a woman', other than extra makeup and more outlandish clothes?

The former is parody of womenhood and the latter is colonisation of womanhood. Both are celebrated.

No other demographic other than women is so widely mocked and devalued, with it seen as a sign of progressiveness

I used to think drag helped dismantle harmful cultural, misogynistic stereotypes and loved performers like Lily Savage, but now, when drag has never been more visible and everywhere, we are also, alongside it, seeing harmful sexist stereotypes pushed further than I've seen them in my lifetime, to the extent they are literally being carved into children's bodies. And the people on the Left who 20 years ago were horrified by American child beauty pageants and 35 years ago by TV shows like 'Minipops', and 45 years ago by beauty contests for adult women and The Black and White Minstrel Show, now think child drag, with all the adult, sexualised gestures, is wonderful.

There's no point comparing racism and misogyny while one of them is still socially acceptable

Honestly, I genuinely find the comparison between blackface and drag uncomfortable. I don't think it's the same thing. However, I found all your views interesting and I certainly think that I look upon drag more uncomfortably now.

What that white bloke doesn't realise is that drag evolved out of mocking black male slaves dressed up as women on stage as a form of humiliating entertainment.

So it's roots are racist.

05:24 namitynamechange

Isn't it blatantly obvious though, that blackface is now socially unacceptable because the target included men, taking the piss out of black men is clearly bad, but drag is taking the piss out of women some of whom are also black so why isn't this bad?

You've tied yourself in knots trying to justify why woman face is a different thing to blackface.
Why?
One of them is about women of any race, and one is both sexes of one race.

I also think people worked so hard and for so long to make others understand why blackface is offensive and basically make it no longer acceptable on TV/comedy shows etc. There are still people who grumble its PC gone mad etc etc. I don't think its fair to risk undermining that work by hitching it to drag which is still socially acceptable (it might have the opposite effect to the one you hope) even though I do understand the comparison.

With the blackface (especially in the US) it is worth remembering that where women were portrayed it was frequently white men dressed up as black women and acting out quite unpleasant stereotypes. So there was a double whammy of racism AND deep misogyny going on.
Personally I don't feel comfortable with comparing it too closely with drag just because I think one thing TRAs do a lot is try to draw comparisons with racism. I always found that off-putting - and I don't want to make the same mistake. There are similarities, but I think you see those the most in the CONSTANT arguments of "if black women are women then so are trans-women" from the other side. I don't think we should feed that nonsense at all.
I also take the same approach to drag as I do to all comedy - if I don't like it I won't go to watch it (rather than threatening to protest, demanding it be cancelled, sending death threats etc). Who would do a thing like that....

I’m veering towards uncomfortable with drag. On a night out, with adults - absolutely fine if that is what floats your boat. Reading to kids - nope, why on earth would any institution want to arrange this?

Drag, in and of itself, should not be an issue for those that enjoy it. But it should, IMO, be a choice made by adults - certainly not reading time with kids.

With regards to this thread, I’m really conflicted. I don’t like the comparison with blackface. As in, they are two separate “arguments”. It is not right to compare/latch on.

Women need to be able to stand up for what is right based on the fact that they are women - surely that’s enough! There should be no reason to compare it to blackface.

What’s happening to women isa travesty - and that needs to be called out every second you can. But comparing to blackface is wrong. We are all women - and should argue from that point only.

That article really isn’t the ‘mic drop’ moment you seem to think it is.

”If drag queens freak you out, you should at least not pretend it’s because you’re so dang woke.”

Drag queens don’t ‘freak me out’.

God that article makes its own opposite argument. What a ghastly, misogynistic, pile of steaming tripe he writes.

Stupid, sodding strikethrough never works for me but I think my poin5 still gets across
The way you posted it is better than strikethrough.

Also, agree with your point 100%

As a family we stayed at a holiday park in the late1980’s. There was a talent competition taking place that evening that several family members took part in.

My eldest brother dressed as Michael Jackson (with make up to darken his skin colour). He performed an MJ song. He was disqualified for “blacking up”.

My uncle performed a drag Queen act - complete with sparkly dress, tights, make up and wig. He won! 🤷🏻‍♀️

To answer your question OP, I guess anyone can pretend to be a woman. There are no holds barred.