To feel uncomfortable with regards to Drag?

[ShawshanksRedemption]

Am I the only one who feels uncomfortable with Drag?

AIUI Drag came about because women's roles were originally played by men on the stage, and from there it's evolved to have pantomime dames, which is a caricature of women. Drag has now become an art form, a performance, with programmes like RuPaul's Drag Race showing how popular it is, but at it's core it's still a caricature, it's still a parody of women, and it's gaudy, brash and the wit and put downs waspish!

I can't help but feel a bit uncomfortable about it all, maybe it's something I'm reading too much into, but effectively it's men aping women in a very unattractive way (and I'm not just talking the make up here).

Anyone else feel the same? Or should I just embrace it and get over myself?

Well it wasn’t the 50th time was it, and it was in response to a remark from another poster so i hope that satisfies your criteria of what comments i am and am not allowed to make :)

If i had to guess, i would say that drag kings are not as prominent in mainstream culture for the same reasons female rappers, directors, pilots, etc are not as prominent in their chosen fields no? Everyday sexism. Same as why you don’t see many grey haired post menopausal women presenting tv in partnership with attractive young men. Institutional sexism and misogyny exists, did you think that i think it doesn’t?

No that's not what's been said.... They're stating their feelings on the subject as FACT. hence why people including myself and replied explaining not all drag queens are the same. Like every other act! Just because one is one way doesn't mean the next is.

I couldn't care less if someone doesn't like drag... but don't try and tell me something is a fact when it's not.. it's how you feel.
The same as how I feel isn't factual.

If i had to guess, i would say that drag kings are not as prominent in mainstream culture for the same reasons female rappers, directors, pilots, etc are not as prominent in their chosen fields no? Everyday sexism.

Yep. Which includes the fact that blokes just wont stand for the piss being taken out of them, especially not by women. They certainly won't pay money to go and be mocked by a woman.

Well it wasn’t the 50th time was it

You take things very literally don't you?

If drag is all about 'celebrating femininity' then why all the exagerrated bitchiness/catiness? Especially when it is aimed at women.

As I said I am not on the 'drag scene'. I am talking about the drag that I have seen in the mainstream which does certainly seem to have this flavour. If that's not the 'essence of drag' then fair enough, but that certainly is the type of drag that has made it into the mainstream and I would wonder why that is.

You have to stop doing this thing btw peter where you align being disagreed with as a woman with the historical oppression of women. I’m a woman, i’m being told my reality as i see and understand it is wrong, i’ve been told to go and lick a drag queen’s arse ‘because they’d probably enjoy it’, you yourself have just called me a dog a few posts ago! These things have also happened to women who voice opinions forever.

“If drag is all about 'celebrating femininity' then why all the exagerrated bitchiness/catiness?“

Idk, why do you think there are so many tv dramas and films about awful life shattering events happening to people vs shows about someone washing the car, doing a bit of weeding then having a nice sit down? Seen many riveting stand up routines about how easy and convenient making toast is lately? Could it be that entertainment of whatever kind mainly deals in extremes? Anyway you yourself admit to a lack of familiarity with drag, so you’ll have missed a lot of more positive humorous stiff. Jinkx monsoon just toured a really good show about dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. The only woman she poked fun at was herself as in the character. And she was very honest about feelig real political anger as her ‘real self’ too, and how depression on a large scale can influence people’s mental heath on a small scale.

It was fascinating, intelligent and touching. But maybe i just imagined all that

To parody any other protected characteristic would be considered a hate crime. Mock a woman's appearance, voice, walk, mannerisms- fair game

To be fair, I've seen the 'macho man' parody many times. Chest out, swaggering, etc. And also the 'oo, hello darling' parody of a gay man.

In fact, I'm fairly sure that the 'only gay in the village' sketch couldn't have been done as the 'only black man in the village'.

Neither could many of the threads we see about men on here.

Imagine somebody posting 'I'm starting to hate black people' or 'are all black people like this.'