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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being offended by “womanface” (drag) is bizarre

158 replies

MrsWinters · 23/02/2022 16:41

Is anyone else thrown by the fact the Daily Mail has described the concept of being offended by drag as bizarre? I thought there was enough debate on the topic-and it has been going on for long enough to not be labelled as “bizarre”.
I’m not saying that I want to ban drag or anything, but surely I have a right to find it offensive? Otherwise aren’t we into the realms of thoughtcrime?

OP posts:
OP posts:
VestaTilley · 23/02/2022 16:55

It is offensive. It’s womanface.

Kizty · 23/02/2022 16:57

Well nobody finds it entertaining and hilarious when women dress as men. I think that tells you something.

SilverHairedCat · 23/02/2022 16:58

It's the Daily Heil. I expect no less.

And yes, it's no better than blackface IMO and yes, I think drag should be off the stage, out of schools and libraries and definitely off the TV.

A580Hojas · 23/02/2022 16:58

I'm not reading the Daily Mail article, but are you quite sure that's what they are saying?

Are they not quoting a third party who says it's bizarre?

I think your AIBU is "AIBU to think it's perfectly ok and rational to find drag offensive?"

Or maybe I'm getting the wrong end of the stick.

Cheeeesecake · 23/02/2022 16:58

@Kizty

Well nobody finds it entertaining and hilarious when women dress as men. I think that tells you something.
You’ve not heard of drag kings, then?
DrManhattan · 23/02/2022 16:59

20 years time people will be looking back in horror

0blio · 23/02/2022 17:00

To me it is offensive.

Can you imagine Ant and Dec parodying disabled people or people of colour? Not acceptable - but because drag is a caricature of women - that's OK?

scootalooser · 23/02/2022 17:03

I find it deeply offensive. But just women complaining eh so who cares.

WorraLiberty · 23/02/2022 17:03

Oh God they look hideous!

It is offensive imo but you're a Daily Mail reader, so it's hard to take you seriously OP.

I don't know why you'd read that rag and then come here to complain about it.

Mooserp · 23/02/2022 17:05

@Kizty

Well nobody finds it entertaining and hilarious when women dress as men. I think that tells you something.
Not saying there's nothing wrong with Drag, but you do get women dressing as men for comic effect e.g. French and Saunders, Kathy Burke as Perry

It's not as 'odd/funny' because women have more freedom to wear what they want than men.

AnxiousHeffalump · 23/02/2022 17:07

I hate drag.

VickyEadieofThigh · 23/02/2022 17:07

I find it offensive and deeply sexist.

I'm also bemused by the notion that this is somehow "good" for children who might be gay or gnc. Caricatures are good for nobody.

ExcitingTimes2021 · 23/02/2022 17:07

@Kizty

Well nobody finds it entertaining and hilarious when women dress as men. I think that tells you something.
Erm. Drag Kings? Some fabulous male impersonation artists/entertainers. I don’t think you know enough about the LGTBQ+ community and culture to make that comment in my opinion x
NotMeekNotObedient · 23/02/2022 17:08

It is offensive!

Pixiedust1234 · 23/02/2022 17:09

Nope, never heard of drag kings. Are they new?

I have always felt uncomfortable around men dressing up as women including panto dames. It was borderline with benny hill and les Dawson however they dressed up as battleaxe mil rather than what is happening now

ThatsNotMyGolem · 23/02/2022 17:09

I'm glad that more people, especially women, are seeing drag for what it is - a parody of womanhood. With names like Ana Bortion and Miss Carriage, not to mention Flo Job (who incidentally was hired for a children's even) they are certainly not the respectful and humorous entertainers they've often been seen as.

#nothankyou

MrsBertBibby · 23/02/2022 17:10

Can you imagine Ant and Dec parodying disabled people or people of colour?

No need to imagine.

Being offended by “womanface” (drag) is bizarre
frazzledali · 23/02/2022 17:10

it IS bizarre. But you won't get a reasoned debate on here about it.

frazzledali · 23/02/2022 17:11

@Pixiedust1234

Nope, never heard of drag kings. Are they new?

I have always felt uncomfortable around men dressing up as women including panto dames. It was borderline with benny hill and les Dawson however they dressed up as battleaxe mil rather than what is happening now

been around since the 1800s so... no.
MrsBertBibby · 23/02/2022 17:12

And here

Being offended by “womanface” (drag) is bizarre
lucylucyapplejuicy · 23/02/2022 17:13

It doesn't bother me I'm interested to know why it would bother people though?

Itwasntmeright · 23/02/2022 17:15

I find it offensive, not because men are dressing in women’s clothing, but because they present grotesque exaggerations of sexist and misogynistic stereotypes and somehow it’s supposed to be hilarious and entertaining. If white people were to do black face and present grotesque exaggerations of racist stereotypes it wouldn’t be hilarious and entertaining, it would be racist and unacceptable, and rightly so. This is the daily fail though, so…

Tabitha005 · 23/02/2022 17:17

I've always found drag to be a bit boring and tedious, tbh. I've never found it funny and some of the acts around now are downright offensive in their explicitness and disrespect of women (going by some of the clips/reports I've seen/read in the context of examples of misogynistic behaviour perpetrated by men).

Kids don't fucking need to see drag acts - either in their schools or anywhere else. Of course, I'm considered a moody, middle-aged battle-axe ripe for ridicule and abuse whenever I give my opinion.

QuirkyTurtle · 23/02/2022 17:17

Why do people try so hard to be offended by literally everything?