Drag Show at school

[Iliveonahill]

My child’s secondary school, as part of Pride week, has an age appropriate drag show tomorrow afternoon.

Im really not comfortable with this. The drag shows I have seen over the years have mocked women and are really just a “woman face” show. Why is it appropriate in terms of inclusiveness and diversity to mock 51% of the population and in a school?

the real patriarchy, who would never dream of singing a song in high heels

I disagree. I have observed that "the real patriarchy" bloody loves an opportunity to slap on high heels, fake tits and make up. Especially at university, stag do's, carnival processions etc.

I do not agree that they are misogynistic or derogatory to women. This is also true of all my female friends. And I have many male and female gay friends who enjoy drag too

All of your female friends, every single one. You've discussed it and all believe exactly the same thing. Not one dissenter. As do your 'many male and female gay friends.'

It's so MN. "I believe day is night, and BEFORE YOU SAY I'M WRONG, 457 of my closest friends of every walk of life ALL agree with every single thing I've posted here, so that means I'm right."

Yep.

Gay men and drag artists are NOT more likely to be Allies

I agree with both of these points.

The OP said that the school were facilitating a drag act show to mark Pride, and that strikes me as such a one dimensional, lazy, and patronising choice.

The whole point of Pride was to promote homosexuals as equal. As no different. Just people who, like heterosexuals, are important members of our society who achieve and contribute in numerous ways. Not as amusing circus acts with their 'funny ways' or 'outlandish costumes'.

Prejudice has not always made that easy, and if a school wishes to mark and promote the progress of acceptance and equality during Pride, why not facilitate an event where gay and lesbian people come to share their stories - successful local businesspeople, artists, local politicians, members of the emergency services or armed forces - who can talk about real-life, about challenges, about triumphs. They can be both relatable and aspirational.

Much better than the sexualised misogyny that underpins the drag industry.

Primary schools do trips to pantomimes all the time

I am not going to keep responding as we will have to agree to disagree. But yes, all my friends and many of my colleagues enjoy drag. In fact many of us are attending a work event hosted by a drag Queen on Monday to celebrate Pride. I luckily haven’t come across a drag act with a nasty anti female name or one who makes misogynistic or homophobic jokes. I am not saying they don’t exist but as with regular comedians, am sure they vary greatly. And the ones I have seen have been genuinely funny, a bit risqué, but not in the least bit offensive. I am pretty easily offended too, lots of straight male comedians like Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr I can find far more offensive to be honest.

Funnily enough it’s just men isn’t? Ever show a drag king at schools? Nope - but they are just usually not old old ‘fat northern men’ or ‘WW2 posh boy pilot’ characters.

but who listeners to women anyway?

I just wanted to say whatever you think of drag is up to you but there's no such thing as 'woman-face' as a comparison to say 'black face'. It doesn't exist. And isn't in any way comparable. As you were

Womanface does exist, and it is exactly like blackface

My view: womanface exists. It's a thing and it's important.

However, it is not like blackface. The history and context count for everything here.

They don't need to line up neatly side by side to have validity.

I suppose there's a huge caveat. Much like the discourse on how Handmaiden's Tale is becoming a reality the whole womanface 'thing' rests on whether you're a white woman so therefore only just realising that your rights too are on the line too. Again I know it's mumsnet and I should know 'my audience' etc etc but again womanface is not a thing. In much the same way that shoe-face is not a thing or 'toilet face' is not a thing. As you were

I think it's really odd that drag acts seem to be the default way of introducing children to LGBTQ issues. Most gay, lesbian, bisexual & trans people are not drag queens. How does this help children to understand the reality of life for most LGBTQ people? Why not get a lesbian teacher to talk to the kids or a gay social worker or a bisexual postal worker? Then maybe children can see that LGBTQ people are just regular people & the kids can talk to them about their real lives & real experiences rather than watch a show. Just a thought. 🤷‍♀️

If the kids go to the pantomime, they experience drag.

the whole womanface 'thing' rests on whether you're a white woman so therefore only just realising that your rights too are on the line too

I understand the direction of travel, but I disagree that only white women have an issue with womanface.

I'm using the term womanface in the context of this thread. I don't use it in rl, although I'll willingly debate the issues it represents.

And panto represents Christmas. Whereas this is supposed to represent Pride. I wonder how many lesbians the school has invited.

'basic bitch beauty'

. . . and what the fuck is that exactly?

Men in women's clothing mocking women appears to be all the rage at the moment. Anti women is the thing. Pro minority groups and encourages trans women to take over women's safe spaces and sports appears to be the way. Is it a way of men putting women down even more?

I agree with you op. I’m glad your ds understood. What happened? Did the school contact you and did your ds go?

As for shaming the students, whose parents contact the school, this is a confidentiality breach and warrants a formal complaint and investigation.

It’s yet another way of mocking women
But yes, Drag artists are totally allies (not)

@Iliveonahill so your son, who has to watch it, was fine with it. Until you decided to force him to change his opinion?
Oh dear Lord, you’re honestly the problem.

So a 17 year old has the maturity to make decisions (and who is telling him that drag is ok - random strangers?). I thought parents were meant to advise and guide their kids.