Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Thread gallery
5
Jellykat · 01/01/2022 13:17

I love drag, the feathers, sequins, thigh hi boots, extreme make up, bloody fantastic!..
I adore the imagery of films like 'Priscilla queen of the desert', Rocky Horror (god i fancied Tim Curry in that) god i'd love to be a drag queen!! but then my upbringing and years studying fashion has made me love in yer face camp glamour, and the humour that goes with it..
As a woman i've never found it offensive whatsoever..

SoupDragon · 01/01/2022 13:19

I've tied myself up in knots trying to work out why I don't think of .drag as "woman face" and I can't quite put my finger on it at all. Perhaps because they generally bear no resemblance to women at all (but neither did the Black and White Minstrels look like black people so that argument doesn't really hold water at all - they were clearly offensive). It's why I'm very much on the fence about it.

I do think Mrs Brows Boys is "woman face" though.

QueenofDestruction · 01/01/2022 13:20

Its offensive.

BiBabbles · 01/01/2022 13:20

I think a lot of the intent and actions around drag has changed a lot over the years.

20-30+ years ago, my experience of it was more fucking around with gendered expectations and concepts, and having a space to do that in when yeah, celebrities might get away with some things, but many regular people, not so much.

Last 5-10 years, it seems to have sharply shifted to reinforcing those expectations and concepts particularly in the more popular, visible forms of it and while earlier forms could have sexualized connotations, it's different now in a way I'm struggling to describe - it's less exploring sexualized parts of gender roles in a way that used to be hush-hush, it's very harsh and forced and more power-based than anything else is the best I can put it.

I wouldn't brush all drag with the same brush, especially historically in communities, but it's become a commodity that reinforces power structures in most spaces like a lot of things that were once part of marginalized communities that have gone 'mainstream'.

WhereYouLeftIt · 01/01/2022 13:21

@Notimeforaname

I love drag. Several of my friends are drag artists. But I feel the way you described , about clowns! 😆 so each to their own.
Fear of clowns isa known thing, isn't it? Coulrophobia. I had a quick google and came up with

"People with coulrophobia may be reacting to a clown’s colorful makeup. This disguise hides a clown’s facial features and distorts facial expressions, creating feelings of distrust."

So maybe with the current crop of drag artists this is part of it. Whoever was on the Sewing Bee christmas show, their make-up was as exaggerated as a clown's. I've only seen trailers for Drag Race, but they seemed largely similar. Very far from Lily Savage, Dame Edna, Danny La Rue, whose style was reality-based.

VestofAbsurdity · 01/01/2022 13:22

@Missey85

I love drag show's! Their just a bit of fun and all of you posting about "woman face" is just stupid so I suppose you've never worn pants or male style clothing? Get the stick out of ya butts and just enjoy it for what it is
enjoy it for what it is a vicious, spiteful extreme parody of women is enjoyable? Fuck that.

Yeah whenever I wear pants or male style clothing I always make sure I stick a prosthetic cock down the front of my pants and complete the look by accessorising with a five 'o' clock shadowHmm.

There is stupid here but it's not the posters posting about 'woman face'.

Notimeforaname · 01/01/2022 13:22

Another pal I have wears no fake boobs..just his bare chest..and his make up is done as kind of an alien. He does wear heels but I cant see how his drag is a caricature of women.

Not all drag is the same or looks the same. Just one certain type seems to get on telly more as it's the most popular.

Just like fashion and trends.
But theres always so much going on if you look beyond the latest fad.

waterlego · 01/01/2022 13:22

god i'd love to be a drag queen!!

What’s stopping you @Jellykat?

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/01/2022 13:23

@Notimeforaname

Oh we've lots of drag kings here in Ireland. A few that are well known on the scene.

And Perry, of Kevin and Perry is a woman parodying a man. Only watched that a few weeks ago . ''Awwriii missus Patterson '' 🤣

It is a woman parodying a boy and it is innocent and silly. A bit like the Krankies. Rather different from dressing up as an extremely sexualised ‘version’ of woman, telling your mates they’re fishy, posting sexual content and so forth.

It is great your friends have not been on the drag Queen story circuit. However, perhaps look a little further than your friends. I, for one, am not ok with drag queens using female only spaces.

As for drag kings, we all know it is women, who are the targets for rape, abuse, trafficking, prostitution and so forth. Therefore there is an imbalance between drag kings and queens. I don’t like the kings either. But no man is going to be at risk from one. Most drag kings do not dress provocatively as they can’t due to their bodies. A woman dressing up to look a bit like prince, meh. The more extreme is yukky.

TheFive · 01/01/2022 13:23

I think the whole transgender thing has confused us silly little women and got our knickers in a twist. I mean, if some big hairy bloke wants to put on a dress and call himself Tracey I have to use his preferred pronouns and get naked in the changing room with him or I’m a transphobic TERF…but another guy with padded hips and bum and bra and six inches of foundation on is a theatrical artist subverting stereotypes and being an hilarious scream, and I’m a po-faced prude because I don’t find it funny.

Okey dokey.

eagerlywaitingfor · 01/01/2022 13:24

I've spent a lot of time in theatres over the years, and seen a lot of pantomime Dames. Heck, I've even done the stage make-up for some of them.

There's a time and a place for dressing up like that, and on stage in a panto is probably it.

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/01/2022 13:24

@Notimeforaname

Another pal I have wears no fake boobs..just his bare chest..and his make up is done as kind of an alien. He does wear heels but I cant see how his drag is a caricature of women.

Not all drag is the same or looks the same. Just one certain type seems to get on telly more as it's the most popular.

Just like fashion and trends.
But theres always so much going on if you look beyond the latest fad.

Do they call themselves a drag Queen? I presume not.
Schmoozer · 01/01/2022 13:25

It reminds me of Punch and Judy and I’m not
Sure why 🧐
On the surface it’s fun and glitzy like strictly
Scratch the surface and it’s vile, course, mocking of women and aggressive

VestaTilley · 01/01/2022 13:26

YANBU- I hate them- I call it “woman face”. It’s deeply misogynistic and a horrible anti woman trope.

It shouldn’t be tolerated.

mykitchenruler · 01/01/2022 13:26

It's offensive and misogynistic. And underage drag queens like this young man turn my stomach. Adult women book him for their entertainment Xmas Envy

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/meet-edinburghs-youngest-drag-queen-22602429.amp

BoudecaBains · 01/01/2022 13:27

You’re not alone. I think it’s weird and slightly creepy.

Notimeforaname · 01/01/2022 13:28

Do they call themselves a drag Queen? I presume not. yes they do. It's their job title

Gonnagetgoing · 01/01/2022 13:28

I’ve been around a few since I was younger as friends of friends. They’re ok but I did get a bit intimidated by it all and I think some acts and the men behind it play on that especially to a younger straight girl as I was then.

Some of the acts are hilarious though and fun to watch.

Timeisavirtue · 01/01/2022 13:29

YANBU, I love drag but some are terrible in my opinion..... each to thier own I say. I grew up around them as my uncle is gay and him and his husband know many... most are the funniest people I know, there are a few that make me cringe though.

hangrylady · 01/01/2022 13:29

It's one of those things that I think I should be offended by but I'm not. I just think they're weird.

slashlover · 01/01/2022 13:29

Are you coming back tot he thread @Draggedalong1 or just posting something you know will get a reaction and then leaving?

Notimeforaname · 01/01/2022 13:29

As for drag kings, we all know it is women, who are the targets for rape, abuse, trafficking, prostitution and so forth. Therefore there is an imbalance between drag kings and queens. I don’t like the kings either. But no man is going to be at risk from one

Sorry, are we at risk from drag queens?

Betty000 · 01/01/2022 13:30

My city is an up and coming platform for young alternative drag artists, I don't see what you have described at all

Waftypants · 01/01/2022 13:30

I can't think of another group of people that it's so acceptable to mock and denigrate so openly. Mainstream BBC these days ffs. It's vile- the names, the overly sexual and hostile content that is unkind to women and constantly pushing boundaries further and further, the aggressive undertone, the horrid makeup and costumes. Vile, vile vile.

FuzzyPuffling · 01/01/2022 13:31

@MaryAndHerNet

There was a time Al Jolson was popular for doing black face. Drag is woman face and one day I hope it'll be as offensive as black face is now.
This.

I find the current craze for drag queens really upsetting and another way that women are sidelined and belittled.