What do you think about drag shows?

[AWorriedMum]

Just as the thread title says, really. I have a relative who’s been to a couple of these. I’d just like to see what other posters impressions / experiences of these shows are like.

makeup artistry, hair, glitz and glam

That's not femininity, though, is it? That's just dressing up. Which is great - people who like shiny things and makeup should absolutely be free to celebrate that. But calling it 'feminine' or 'effeminate' is regressive and reinforces stereotypes for both men and women.

(I've left out 'movement' from your list because I'm not sure what you meant by that - movement is hardly limited to 1 gender in even the most extreme of stereotypes. Did you mean dancing? If so, the same applies as to the other points.)

I went to a gay bar with some friends and a drag artist was mc'ing the karaoke, the jokes were really personal and derogatory to women, I won't be going back.

It's hard to explain, easier to show which I obvs can't do. There is a way of moving that isn't typically associated with masculinity. Tbh it's one of the first things any actor learns in a 'movement' class (eg men often lead with their dick when walking). And anything that moves away from typical masculinity is often shunned by men. I am keeping femininity and masculinity here instead of men and women as I believe there is a huge cross over that society tried to stifle.

I know they aren't femininity in their entirety, but they are things socially accepted as part of being feminine.

Exactly this.

This is a really interesting thread.

I don't like drag but never truly figure out why. Felt a bit creeped for some reason. Like the clown analogy mentioned above.

Quite

I’ve seen drag shows where there is definitely a love of feminine beauty, of glitter and well done makeup and wit. I admire their abilities with makeup.

I haven't deliberately watched a drag show, but I've seen pictures of some of the people on Drag Race. I think they look grotesque tbh. Very far from beauty. In order to look like women (which they never really manage), they have to wear such massively OTT make-up that they look horrible.

anything that moves away from typical masculinity is often shunned by men. I am keeping femininity and masculinity here instead of men and women as I believe there is a huge cross over that society tried to stifle.

So why not break boundaries by celebrating men doing all these things as men, and as things men do, rather than claiming it's celebrating femininity?

The older drag queens didn’t bother me, and I wasn’t bothered by people like Les Dawson dressing up as woman etc. Also not bothered by traditional pantomime dames. you knew it was a bit of fun.

However, not keen on the modern drag queens which are over sexualised, wear to much make-up and have (not so witty) ‘comical’ names, and they are all a bit ott.

There isn't really a space for that atm. Not to the extent there is for drag queens anyways. Androgyny is on the rise and more open 'drag' (as opposed to just drag queen or drag king) shows are on the up too.
It will take time but I think it'll move towards the idea of fluid performers. It has already changed a lot in the last 20 years or so.

It’s a niche adult entertainment and that’s the way it should stay, doesn’t need to be mainstream entertainment and certainly not for children.
I don’t like stripping but it exists and should stay for adults only. Drag is the same (I don’t think panto is the same thing)

It depends.
If they're using overblown stereotypes to take the piss, I'd find it just as offensive as someone pretending to be disabled and taking the piss out of those who are wheelchair bound or someone pretending to be Asian and taking the piss out of Asian people.

I used to go to the Cabaret night at Mme JoJo's at least twice a month - really enjoyed it. That was long before we were expected to pretend we thought men were women though.

I think they’re offensive and talentless, a way for misogynist men with psychological problems to make money out of mocking women.

Vile. It's female appropriation.

I dislike drag for all the reasons already outlined above.
It also gets me on an emotional level; I feel this hot, stifling humiliation and complete sense of powerlessness at the objectification of my sex class. I've been objectified my whole life and drag just turns the screw.

When I was younger drag was quite 'in' but it has always left me cold. I always think would that joke be funny if he wasn't in drag, 99% of the time it's a no. The singing/dancing drag acts never seem to be great either, it's just mediocre entertainment 'dressed up'.

I'm in two minds really. I have no problem with men wearing feminine clothes in whatever form. Clothes are clothes are clothes.

However, once you start to question why drag acts are perceived to be funny and realise that they're "funny" because a man is dressing and degrading himself as a lesser being, a woman, it's not so amusing.

And are they just mocking women or are they mocking trans women too? If the joke with drag is ha, ha, ha, look at that man in a dress and wig then why aren't the TRA telling them to stop taking the piss?

Really enjoy them as long as they're tasteful and actually funny. Most I've seen have been great.

Loathe them .

I've seen them years ago in gay bars and they were shite and misogynistic as hell. You couldn't pay me to watch one . Boring! That garbage telly show as well- brain rot!
Makes me sad that our town has more cruddy Drag Queen nights better attended that live band gigs! People have no taste these days. I wouldn't ban it as I hope it will die out soon. Any draq queens involved in DQSO are well needing their harddrive checked.

I don't see drag queens as a composite mass. Some I like, others I don't. Like any comedian/ entertainer. Plenty eschew the fake breasts and misogynistic tropes.

Personally I love costume and club kid aesthetics. I enjoy cabaret. Some people I find hilariously funny.

In general I don't find them particularly funny or entertaining, but like all things in life they are always a couple who are incredibly talented and they buck the trend.

Each to their own, I don't find them offensive or gross, just a bit boring.

I'm not offended by them. But I hate them with a passion. We don't do blackface-why the fuck do we do womanface?

I'm on the fence. On the one hand I think it is womanface, and there are a lot of drag queens out there that are rank misogynists. But, some are just gay guys putting on a show. I follow a guy on Instagram (Carrie Dragshaw) and he does photos of himself dressed as Carrie from SATC. I think he's fantastic! Very respectful of SJP and her character.