Grayson Perry irks me

[everythingisbetterafteranap]

Not sure if I'm going to articulate this well, so bear with me.

I was reading a Guardian article on a therapist who is married to the artist Grayson Perry. Reasonably interesting article with a focus on self awareness as a parent.

But it got me thinking again on why so many bright, intelligent women so readily accept men dressing up as women in such a garish pantoesque way. Where is the feminist critique of this?

Grayson Perry has his alter ego 'Claire' who looks like the silliest version of female you could find. Why is this acceptable and not challenged? Would Grayson Perry be lauded for having a black alter ego with big lips and exaggerated gestures? There is even an annual 'let's dress Claire' competition at St Martins art college. Why aren't the students there questioning this?

What is this really all about? It doesn't feel female empowering to me.

Maybe you should read up enough on Grayson Perry to find out what his wife is actually called.

And when you do, poppet, then you’ll understand.

He’s always irked me too, that disingenuous big grin when dressed up as a cartoon version of a little girl.

I don't understand your point @GoFiguire

His partner is called Phillipa Perry. The article on her led me to wonder about why someone so questioning doesn't critique his version of womanhood.

Calling me poppet is so patronising. Are you a man? Sounds like male privilege language.

He's a strange one. Whenever I hear him on the radio he's normally good value - considered and thoughtful. Which makes it all the more odd that he dresses up in what seems to be a desperate attempt to get noticed.

What I do like about him is he is very clear that he is a man and has no idea what it feels to be a woman. I’m surprised the TRAs haven’t gone after him - but he’s a bloke so probably explains why.

You definitely have a point - however I suppose people might see him as an eccentric, who happens to dress up in some women's or doll clothes (as we as other outfits that are not stereotypically feminine) rather than someone who always dresses as a 'woman'.

I see it as performance art. When he is dressed like a mad dolly he uses his own speaking voice and doesn’t put on a stupid personna.

It’s rather ‘art school’ and I think he’s a bit long in the tooth for all that! I can’t see him in his studio dresses like that.

I don't understand gofigure either.

Are you saying that women aren’t allowed to be patronising and that it’s purely a male perogative?

@StephsCaddy that's a fair point. He comes across as a very interesting and nice person. Just wondering why that version of looking 'female' isn't challenged more. I think it's a debate that needs to happen.

Grayson is very acknowledging of the fact he is crossdressing and not a woman. If you hear him talk about 'Claire' he is very insightful about it and how he manages this part of him.

To me he is where the AGP part of trans should have gone, it's totally OK to crossdress, expanding the definition of manhood without ever stepping on women's boundaries.

*Maybe you should read up enough on Grayson Perry to find out what his wife is actually called.

And when you do, poppet, then you’ll understand.*

Well I just looked her up and I'm still not sure what you're getting at - would you like to call me poppet too?

(And I'll call you oddball, passive aggressive patronisingly cow).

Yep (otherwise it'd be matronising).

Phillipa Perry
Phillipa Perry
Phillipa Perry

Oh now I get it. She's standing behind me!

Thank you GoFigure. You are a genius.

GoFiguire

Maybe you should read up enough on Grayson Perry to find out what his wife is actually called.

And when you do, poppet, then you’ll understand

What does this comment mean, @gofiguire

Hmm yeah Im a bit torn tbh. I love his art and he has made some excellent documentaries on toxic masculinity. Also hes never said he feels like a women. He knows hes a man iyswim. However Ive always detested these gross parodies of women. Even as a wee girl panto dames always scared me and when I used to watch Dick Emerey and Les Dawn on tv with my Dad i remember hating it when they dressed as women. Even though it was meant to be funny it gave me that vague feeling of unease you get as a kid but dont know why

Patronise all you like - we just don’t really understand your point!

When I was at art school people didn’t really ‘dress to impress’. It was mostly practical clothing that you could wash easily and didn’t dangle into equipment. People were more bothered about their work and making ends meet.

I have gone back recently and it’s like a bloody catwalk - and so much ‘tantrums and tiaras’ in the canteen. (Shakes head, young uns... yeah yeah been there, seen that, let’s get back to work).

@GoFiguire

I'm saying calling a woman on a feminist board discussion 'poppet' reeks of male privilege language.

Even though it was meant to be funny it gave me that vague feeling of unease you get as a kid but dont know why

Because it is a piss take on how older women dress and behave? Just a bunch of old gossips with nothing more that that to sustain them?

Agree that he's actually a good example in the face of the extreme trans gender stereotyping, must transition stance - he is who he is, he's married to a woman, he has a daughter, he dresses in whatever he likes. He didn't have to be a woman because sometimes he dresses in 'femake' clothing.

So are you saying that there are male clothes and female clothes then OP?

Surely that's reinforcing stereotypes isn't it? Why can't men and women wear whatever they want? He is very clear that he is a man.

Perry is open about being an autogyneaphile and going to fetish clubs. There is a guardian article I think about from some years ago where he explains inappropriate exposure as a child to porn and sex led him to develop the fetish.

I like and admire him and Phillippa. He's acknowledged there is a sexual element to his dressing. He acknowledges he is a man in a frock. He seems a well rounded bloke actually.

He dresses as his own fetish, he’s very open about that and does not consider himself to BE a woman, even when he presents as Claire.
I’ve heard him interviews on the radio a few times and he comes across really well. I remember hearing him speak about where he felt the fetish came from, he even said that as a child he had an exaggerated view of the woman who he views as his first sexual figure and Claire is an almost childlike view of an older woman.

So it's being implied she tops him?

Is her name just a comical coincidence or did she change it?