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.

But drag queens are nit just mocking white women are they? They’re mocking black women, South American women, Asian women, in fact every woman.

Pressed too soon. Why is every time women object to something males Do, it’s compared to racism? Demand single sex spaces…. Racist. Lesbians who refuse to date males with a trans identity are called sexual racists….. and now women objecting to womanface are called racist. Are you saying women are intrinsically racist every time they do not agree with males?

It's so desperately shallow, bitchy and narcissistic. For stupid people. By stupid people. Imo. 🤷‍♀️

Both are offensive. Both are pretending to be something that they're not.

I love tess tickle. 😊

Totally neutral. Would never go to one but don't care that they exist.

Just another example of perverts - very common in Ancient Rome

I used to watch all the seasons of Rupaul's Drag Race. Was just some mindless fun to see those unhinged dudes, some of them talented dancers or seamsters.

I always found the very vulgar, sex-only schticks quite boring and cringe. Started to lose attention for several reasons, like: all contestants are now Instagram celebrities, they have designers who do all their wardrobe for them, there is rarely a fashion challenge anymore. It became about the ethnicity-of-the-winners tally, to the point that once they had to give the award to 2 contestants so that one wasn't accused of "only winning because whites always win" and the other wasn't accused of "only getting a token victory". And they put a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman, who was insufferable but got to the end because it was the 1st "transman" and the transes are untouchable somehow. I also started being increasingly bothered by the sexism and mockery of womanhood. "Woman" is all about sex for these guys.

That said, I grew up in a time (and place) when a "drag queen" was call a "transformist", and it was about "creating the illusion of woman onstage". Mostly practiced by men who loved makeup and sequins, and Im all up for that. Clothes (and other social constructs such as who wears the long hair, the makeup, etc) shouldn't have gender, and if drag served to liberate gender-nonconfirming men from the "appropriate" "man's clothes, and to show society that most women who are considered "beautiful" are mainly dragged up, so a great part of whats considered "beauty standards" is mostly consumerism, it would be great.

Unfortunately, drag shows took another direction and evolved towards trying to make a buck off the children's session on the What's On guide.

This video *actually politicians discussing whether or not drag shows are "family-friendly" has a good sample of the current state of drag:

In fact, many drag queens somehow give themselves a free pass to do Asianface or SouthAmericanface with the poor excuse that its a "costume", and I really don't know how it's different from a non-drag doing the same (a kimono, a black wig with a high bun, geisha makeup, etc), or blackface.

And even when the drag performer is doing the typical "It's ok because Im from that country", it's always a mockery that WOMEN in that country find offensive.

so If it’s only a costume, how do the wokescolds allow that but then whine every time anyone who is not a drag queen does it? Is it from fear of being thought homophobic? Because surely it’s more homophobic to associate racist womanface with the LGB community? I can’t get my head round these new rules lol.

Totally agree

Can I just remind you all please that you must not have an opinion that is different to mine. And if you do, then it must be because you haven't done enough research nor enough thinking on the subject.

As per @FiddleLeaf i have done some extra research and thinking. I am now even more convinced that drag is offensive and as demeaning to women as blackface is to block people. The thing these people who tell others to educate themselves must realise is, the result may not be the one they wanted…. So think on eh @FiddleLeaf

It's not a form of entertainment that interests me in the slightest.

It’s fine

I've no recent experience of them, although about 20 years ago before I even really thought of myself as a feminist I went to a famous drag club in Boston when visiting a friend who lived out there. Friend and her friends were all lesbians and all loved it, I just found it slightly confusing/unsettling.

There was a point where I was paying for a drink and I had to shove it down the bra of the hostess and I just didn't like it, having to paw this person to pay for a drink. It just felt weird and uncomfortable.

Around the same sort of time I think I also saw the ladyboys of Bangkok on some sort of work outing, I don't think that particularly bothered me.

Distasteful, offensive, tacky and mocks women. I won’t go to one. They give me the creeps/ick - something about them is very off - and they always have done since I was a child (am 40), even Dame Edna Everidge and all that. Similar to clowns but with an added taint of misogyny!

I think they are adult entertainment, with a strong sexual theme & in general very misogynistic in tone.

For adults who want to see that kind of thing, I have no problem as long as they don't want me to go.
For children it's completely inappropriate.

Any Drag Queen who 'performs' in front of children I see as a child abuser.
Any parent who takes their child is a child abuser.

Wouldn't get me in one not my thing and don't agree with all that

I find it really cringe. I'm not mortally offended by it, but it's cringe af

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea

Why are femininity, dresses and make up exclusively for women? If men want to wear/curate these looks then that is their choice surely, it doesn't make them women, it makes them men who enjoy performing in women's clothing. I actually think it's far healthier to accept that some men like the feminine aesthetic than insist that you need to be a woman thus need to be trans to enjoy such perks.

@gogohmm no one is saying men can’t wear dresses, make up etc. women are upset because drag mocks women, make misogynistic jokes and portrays a highly sexualised, sexist view of women. Just look at some of the drag names. Anna Bortion for example. Who would think they was a respectful name to choose?

This.

Personally I’ve no issue with men wearing dresses or whatever they feel comfortable in, but I dislike the nasty misogynistic caricature that drag shows perpetuate. I’ve seen many, many drag performances through my work and can count on one hand those that weren’t misogynistic and spiteful. I appreciate this might not be everyone’s experience but i5 is mi e, and from a relatively large sample size.

I am not sure about drag.

I may be wrong but I think it was developed at a time when make homosexuality was illegal and derided.

It seems deliberate in it’s transgressional nature. A way for men to celebrate their perceived and mocked lack of ‘masculinity’. As in ‘oooh, we refuse the straight male model of masculinity, we are mocked for being ‘effeminate’… so let’s celebrate that!’. And as such, a powerful way to create counter cultural solidarity.

Or / also possibly underpinned by some jealousy of women who are allowed, in fact pressured, to perform femininity.

Anyway, whatever it is, children’s story time isn’t the right place for it.