Please can someone explain the appeal of drag? ***MNHQ TWEAKING TITLE TO POINT OUT STRICTLY SPOILER IN THE OP***

[CurlewKate]

Watching Celebrity Strictly last night, it was obviously set up for Tayce to win. Why? A group of celebrities of varying degrees of charm and bumble- then they are all soundly beaten by a clearly skilled dancer who's a drag queen.
There have been drag queens on Sewing Bee and Masterchef and House of Games. And loads of other shows I can't remember.
What's the appeal? And why no drag kings? Strictly has been great at featuring same sex couples- why not do more of that?

I would love it if we could discuss this in a way that doesn't get the thread deleted, so please post with care.

Exactly which is why I get so angry because I know where this is going to go. I already know that which is why I started going on the defence because I know it and we all know it that this is just let’s have a go at drag queens

You don't really need a spoiler. If the BBC have a drag artist on then they are going to win!

Drag has never especially appealed to me as a source of entertainment in itself. It's a clumsy sort of device, unsophisticated and basic. The novelty value of a man dressing as a grotesque parody of a woman is limited imo.
To each their own. It's not my thing.

I'm starting to believe this is some form of performance art

'my side need to understand'

I understand perfectly thank you. I don't need an aggressive, shouting/swearing lesson from some random on the internet who appears to have a hard time controlling their anger.

BTW, you're not getting your point across very well.

But women have been oppressed for centuries… I get what you’re saying, the woman-face stance may seem extreme, but I think you read that PP’s post the wrong way. Ie women have been oppressed, nothing to do with gay people?

Pathetic parody of women that women are supposed to go along with like grinning idiots or we are bigots/no fun/unkind etc. The bbc seem particularly obsessed with the whole culture I suspect someone in high places has skin in the game somewhere along the line.

@dementedpixie that's an extremely interesting article thank you.

I had forgotten about drag reading stories to children.

Also being gay does not mean you are not also a misogynist. Many men are misogynist, regardless of sexuality.

I'm not a drag hater but it's not my kind of entertainment so I don't watch. I don't like the style of humour which seems to be based on a snide, spiteful, sarcastic persona and glitzy costumes/elaborate make up hold no interest for me whether worn by men or women. Also dislike some of the names which are blatantly mocking female biology.

You mean like the dildo butt monkey bloke?

I've not watched the fucking show yet... Why would I even know there's a drag queen on it yet?

I think some posters are playing devil's advocate.

It shows children that people can do what they want to do be who they want to be and there is no judgement. I think if kids grew up that way finding that the world is made with different people then they wouldn’t grow up to be the biggoted fucking arseholes that we find right now trying to rule this bloody world.
do you know I want something a little bit different but in a similar theme that back in the 60s in America black-and-white people couldn’t be in the swimming pool together so it took Mr Rogers to put his feet in a paddling pool with a black guy on the TV to show that everybody is the same and what I’m trying to suggest is possibly if we all did a little bit like that showing that everybody could be different, then we wouldn’t be judgemental and attacking people

Anyway has anyone actually expressed the 'appeal of these men?

Now you have to resort to insults.

You'd be great in a debate. Not.

@Workingclasslass And please will you stop shouting? It would be a shame if the thread got deleted.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.spiked-online.com/2021/07/13/the-rainbow-dildo-butt-monkey-is-no-laughing-matter/amp/

@AlisonDonut this guy?

Can't stand drag. Whenever I've been out and drag artists are part of the entertainment they always seem to belittle women in the audience, and fawn over the men. It's a very 'mean girls' vibe and I find it horrible to watch/be a part of.

Totally agree. Also why assume all drag artists are gay? How very closed minded!

You must be living under a rock if you don’t think women are oppressed to varying degrees all over the world.

Why do you keep conflating gay people with drag queens? The question posed is about drag, men dressing up as, and impersonating, women, nothing to do with gay people.

yup, it just makes me watch something else

the licence fee is far and away the most expensive of the entertainment subscriptions I pay. I have a lot of choice and rarely watch the BBC now. I continue to pay the licence fee because (mainly) of Radcliffe and Maconie and because I believe the world is broadly a better place with the BBC than without it. But by george they test me

and going by this thread, they're testing the loyalty of a lot of other women too

I loathe drag. Its my opinion that its regressive, spiteful and sexist. I see disdain and disgust for women in it.
I also see that others see it differently and accept that. But I wont accept being called insulting and offensive names for it. That's pure bullying and to see it so baldly and aggressively on this thread is sad.

You should have added a poll OP. On a predominantly female forum, it would have been interesting to see how many women hate drag or avoid it. Compared to the minority who defend it for some reason.

There is such a thing as internalised misogyny. Someone attacking women so offensively and aggressively for speaking their truth on a woman led forum would perhaps fit that bill.