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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to not like drag Queens?

999 replies

Draggedalong1 · 01/01/2022 12:04

And why don’t I? To me there is something intimidating and scary in the make up, and harsh glamour, parodied until it’s ugly and I think, aggressive. I remember going to drag shows long again in the 90s and they seemed to be a bit of fun and almost innocent compared to whatever it is about ru Paul et al. Nothing wrong with a bit of dame Edna from what I remember as a kid. What’s the reasoning behind this new style I wonder, and aibu?

OP posts:
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5
Moolia · 03/01/2022 20:01

Yeah, a compliment that they successfully look like a woman. Woman = fishy vagina. How is that not misogynistic?

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:02

I’d like to know how so many drag queens (who are usually gay men, if I’m not mistaken) seem to think they know what women’s bodies smell like. Surely most of them have never been near a vagina since the day they came out of one?

I remember kids saying it at school and on the streets in the early 90s. That's how I remember hearing the notion for the first time .

So they probably heard it like that.

waterlego · 03/01/2022 20:02

Exactly @omicrone. They are using the term to compliment other queens. How sweet. But why that word and not any of the other thousands of words they could have used? Because they think that’s what women smell like.

Moolia · 03/01/2022 20:04

@Notimeforaname

Are women who do drag not referred to as Drag Kings? In the definition given above 'non-drag women' would appear to refer to women who are not involved in drag at all.

Drag kings are usually women dressed up as men.

I was at a drag competition a couple of years ago where a straight female doing drag was called a 'bio queen' first time I'd heard it. She had crazy colour extensions/wig and really bright neon clothing and make up. I think she sang and danced to a dua lipa song.

The TRAs won't like the term bio-queen!
waterlego · 03/01/2022 20:04

@Notimeforaname. Yes. They are using playground insults which were offensive to girls in the playground and which are still offensive when those girls are adult women.

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:05

I've heard it in songs and tv and magazines when I was younger. It wasn't gay men who introduced me to the notion that womens vaginas smell like fish.

At sex ed class in school the teacher was talking about STI's and how sometimes there can be a 'fishy' or 'fish like' smell. So it's been around a long time.

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:07

Thay should say.. STI's and other infections*

Omicrone · 03/01/2022 20:09

@Notimeforaname

I've heard it in songs and tv and magazines when I was younger. It wasn't gay men who introduced me to the notion that womens vaginas smell like fish.

At sex ed class in school the teacher was talking about STI's and how sometimes there can be a 'fishy' or 'fish like' smell. So it's been around a long time.

What the hell has any of that got to do with drag queens using the term 'fishy' to describe other drag queens who 'pass'?

The clear message here is 'women=a fishy smell'.

What songs and TV shows did you see it in, just out of curiosity?Confused

Franca123 · 03/01/2022 20:09

This thread just gets better and better.

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:11

What the hell has any of that got to do with drag queens using the term 'fishy' to describe other drag queens who 'pass'?

Someone asked how gay men would know that vaginas smell like fish. So I said that's probably how. People can do what they want with words.

waterlego · 03/01/2022 20:12

@Notimeforaname. There is at least one STI which causes that symptom, as well as other conditions like bacterial vaginosis. That’s why your teacher mentioned it Confused

GettingStuffed · 03/01/2022 20:13

I love drag, if you ever watch Drag Race you'll see that it's not about making fun of women but giving them an outlet for their sexuality. A lot of them were bullied for being gay and drag gives them the chance to explore their feminine side. I think British drag ad American drag are different

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:14

What songs and TV shows did you see it in, just out of curiosity?

Oh some rap/hip hop songs , stand up shows , late night tv etc. That type of adult late night telly/content.

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:15

There is at least one STI which causes that symptom, as well as other conditions like bacterial vaginosis. That’s why your teacher mentioned it confused

Yes I understand that.
Someone asked how gay men would even have a clue that vaginas can smell of fish ... I was just pointing out the ways they could have heard it. As I heard it that way.

Omicrone · 03/01/2022 20:16

The absolute CRAP that people are coming out with on this thread just shows how indefensible this stuff is.

People can do what they want with words.

That's the exact argument that racists and homophobes use when they get all offended that you can't call someone an N-word or an F-word any more.

SwimmingIntoMotherhood · 03/01/2022 20:25

@waterlego

Exactly *@omicrone*. They are using the term to compliment other queens. How sweet. But why that word and not any of the other thousands of words they could have used? Because they think that’s what women smell like.
But they don't think women smell like fish

In some communities it's common to refer to someone's lovely, large bum as 'fat' being called fat or thick is often seen as a compliment. That doesn't however mean they think someone is fat in terms of obesity or thick in terms of stupidity and it's definitely seen as a compliment.

Words used in different contexts by different people mean different things. How are people really not getting this fundamental basic of the English language.

Franca123 · 03/01/2022 20:27

Oh dear god. Could anything a drag queen ever do be sexist?

waterlego · 03/01/2022 20:27

Why that word @SwimmingIntoMotherhood?

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:30

That's the exact argument that racists and homophobes use when they get all offended that you can't call someone an N-word or an F-word any more.

Well it is true that people can do what they want with words.

Many of us find certain words morally wrong to say.
Some you can get us in great trouble, as you mentioned homophobic and racist slurs.

Drag or drag artist saying 'fishy' isn't considered hate speech or abuse.

But of course others could be highly offended.

Some music and comedy really offends some people but not others.

Drag is all within the law and enjoyed by many. I'm aware someone will come back and say something about blackface years ago but I cant equate the two, I still just dont see anything hurtful or wrong with drag.

It's a matter of taste and interests for me though I appreciate its different for others.

Omicrone · 03/01/2022 20:30

But they don't think women smell like fish

In some communities it's common to refer to someone's lovely, large bum as 'fat' being called fat or thick is often seen as a compliment. That doesn't however mean they think someone is fat in terms of obesity or thick in terms of stupidity and it's definitely seen as a compliment.

Words used in different contexts by different people mean different things. How are people really not getting this fundamental basic of the English language.

So why have they used the word 'fish' then? In what other possible way could the word 'fish' be linked to males who pass well as women? The word 'fat' in your example is still linked to a big bum, there is still a link there. What is the link with 'fish'? Are you expecting women to believe that the drag community just randomly pulled it out of their arses?

Especially coming from a specific group who, from what I have seen from Instagram, regularly use the term 'tuna tube' for a woman's vagina.

SwimmingIntoMotherhood · 03/01/2022 20:31

@waterlego

Why that word *@SwimmingIntoMotherhood*?
Because colloquially fishy is used to describe a woman's vaginal scent?

Not because they hate women and want them to die in a fish pie.

Notimeforaname · 03/01/2022 20:31

In some communities it's common to refer to someone's lovely, large bum as 'fat' being called fat or thick is often seen as a compliment. That doesn't however mean they think someone is fat in terms of obesity or thick in terms of stupidity and it's definitely seen as a compliment

Words used in different contexts by different people mean different things. How are people really not getting this fundamental basic of the English language.

This is a very good point.

middleager · 03/01/2022 20:33

The amount of gaslighting on this thread is laughable.

Drag artists saying "fishy" while wafting away the smell is now somehow a positive compliment for women?

Good grief. I'm old enough not to buy into that bullshit thank you.

Omicrone · 03/01/2022 20:35

@middleager

The amount of gaslighting on this thread is laughable.

Drag artists saying "fishy" while wafting away the smell is now somehow a positive compliment for women?

Good grief. I'm old enough not to buy into that bullshit thank you.

I know, it truly is laughable.

Some people are making utter tits of themselves on this thread and if their intention is to defend drag, then they are doing a thoroughly piss poor job of it.

I am sure that the eyes of a lot of lurkers have been opened by this thread.

Soberiscoolnow · 03/01/2022 20:37

Fucking hell, had no idea so many people hated drag.

“Womanface” get over yourselves 😂😂😂😂

You clearly have no understanding of drag, the history, or the part it serves in the LGBTQ community

Your homophobia is showing ladies!