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Original poster

Drag Queens, are they outright offensive?

219 replies

Sophds · 11/02/2023 23:06

Now I’ve never been the biggest feminist, I know that’s probably not the best way to characterise myself on a feminism board but I don’t want to quickly be dismissed as wrapped up in groupthink.

Read about todays protest at the tate modern against drag queen story hour and I’ve not read enough in to the story hour thing to have a strong informed opinion about that specifically it got me thinking aren’t drag queens just a misogynist version of black face?

I’ve never really thought too much about it and have never really had an issue with drag queens but now I just feel like something doesn’t sit right with me about men dressing up with hugely caricatured female features and caricatured stereotypical female behaviours that often cross over in to overt sexualisation.

I just feel like the entire idea of drag is to caricature and degrade women? Does anybody else feel like this?

OP posts:
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BookwormButNoTime · 11/02/2023 23:37

As the mother of two daughters and I class myself as a feminist, I have absolutely no problem with drag queens.

They exist for entertainment purposes. You either like their take on comedy or you don’t. It’s all tongue in cheek. Is it any more “offensive” than a pantomime dame?

I think your response should be based on individual drag queens. Some may cross a line. But on the whole I find them hilarious (and probably look way better in heels than I ever could).

Shelefttheweb · 11/02/2023 23:36

Yes

Moopsi · 11/02/2023 23:36

Yes.

Imagine that it was a man pretending to be black performing over the top racial stereotypes.

Or a man pretending to be Jewish and performing over the top stereotypes.

There is no difference between that and a man pretending to be a woman and performing misogynistic stereotypes.

OnlyTheWeedsGrow · 11/02/2023 23:34

Itisbetter · 11/02/2023 23:24

Drag queens are grotesque parodies of “sexy” women though aren’t they? I’m not sure waxed and oiled bare chested men in tight leather shorts would be acceptable either and we wouldn’t have the furry people sporting their stuff either. It’s the sexualised nature of their presentation that I’d take issue with.

Google “rainbow dildo butt monkey” - gives a stark example of what sort of trans-umbrella presentations some councils/libraries/parents/etc feel is acceptable in relation to children.

🤬😡🤯🤮

Original poster
Sophds · 11/02/2023 23:32

Ponderingwindow · 11/02/2023 23:28

A man who defies gender norms and incorporates traditionally female clothing like dresses into his wardrobe and chooses to use traditionally female styling in his everyday life is not offensive.

a man who puts on an over-the-top sexualized caricature of traditionally female clothing and styling and possibly adds body prosthetics to emphasize the effect is offensive. When he adds jokes about females to the look or acts in an unnatural, overly stereotypical manner the offense is further confirmed.

Agree with this. Wholeheartedly

OP posts:
ChungusBoi · 11/02/2023 23:30

Ponderingwindow · 11/02/2023 23:28

A man who defies gender norms and incorporates traditionally female clothing like dresses into his wardrobe and chooses to use traditionally female styling in his everyday life is not offensive.

a man who puts on an over-the-top sexualized caricature of traditionally female clothing and styling and possibly adds body prosthetics to emphasize the effect is offensive. When he adds jokes about females to the look or acts in an unnatural, overly stereotypical manner the offense is further confirmed.

Yes, this

Ponderingwindow · 11/02/2023 23:28

A man who defies gender norms and incorporates traditionally female clothing like dresses into his wardrobe and chooses to use traditionally female styling in his everyday life is not offensive.

a man who puts on an over-the-top sexualized caricature of traditionally female clothing and styling and possibly adds body prosthetics to emphasize the effect is offensive. When he adds jokes about females to the look or acts in an unnatural, overly stereotypical manner the offense is further confirmed.

BrilliantUsername · 11/02/2023 23:27

Absolutely agree with you OP.

jibbe · 11/02/2023 23:27

🤮

ChungusBoi · 11/02/2023 23:26

It’s like black face but ripping the piss out of women. Hate them.

Octopusmittens · 11/02/2023 23:25

Completely offensive

Itisbetter · 11/02/2023 23:24

Drag queens are grotesque parodies of “sexy” women though aren’t they? I’m not sure waxed and oiled bare chested men in tight leather shorts would be acceptable either and we wouldn’t have the furry people sporting their stuff either. It’s the sexualised nature of their presentation that I’d take issue with.

DarkDayforMN · 11/02/2023 23:24

If you haven't looked into it, you probably aren't aware that aside from the debate about the misogyny of drag, a lot of very dodgy men have used DQSH to get access to children, and are behaving in inappropriate ways at these events. So that is another reason there are protests.

grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/drag-queen-story-hour-who-is-it-for

Toseland · 11/02/2023 23:23

The BBC have a lot to answer for

UWhatNow · 11/02/2023 23:23

Sophds · 11/02/2023 23:19

I’d stop short of calling it perverse in and of itself because I think in that respect you’re then essentially saying women by default are sexual. Which is half the problem.

I’d agree about it being degrading to women though.

No I’m using the word ‘perverse’ in a dictionary definition way that you might find in law. Meaning that it is contrary to what is acceptable. Nothing to do with sexual perversion.

mrshoho · 11/02/2023 23:21

In a private drag club/event for adults who enjoy that then fine but not anywhere near children. I don't want to see drag on mainstream TV either.

Original poster
Sophds · 11/02/2023 23:19

I’d stop short of calling it perverse in and of itself because I think in that respect you’re then essentially saying women by default are sexual. Which is half the problem.

I’d agree about it being degrading to women though.

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MuseThrower · 11/02/2023 23:17

Yes, utterly offensive.

UWhatNow · 11/02/2023 23:14

As one of the Baronesses said (can’t remember which one) - it’s lovely for adults to read to children but why does it have to be a man pretending to be a woman?

When you put it in those terms it makes you realise that whoever made that decision to put a drag queen in the middle of an event meant for children, not only is it perverse, but it is utterly demeaning to women. And the worse thing, it’s deliberately so.