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.

I don’t feel uncomfortable seeing him dress as Claire. I find it fun and refreshing. He isn’t trying to be like me or offend me. He is expressing a part of his personality which he is entitled to do freely

My thoughts exactly. If everyone is supposed to be free to wear whatever they want you (general you) can't police what he wears.

Honestly, I'm fascinated by how much people will hypothesise arty and liberal motives for Perry when he has quite clearly explained over and over it is sexual.

Of course men we like can be judged as behaving inappropriately. As I said, I'm a fan of his and I think what he contributes is valuable. I also said I am very willing to consider what people have said and to follow links etc. I'm happy to reconsider my views if the evidence supports this, and I hope others would do the same.

I think you're reading a bit much into my phrasing there. It wasn't intended to dismiss anyone's views. I've taken against lots of men myself, for very good reasons. Perhaps it's a regional/dialect thing.

Honestly, I'm fascinated by how much people will hypothesise arty and liberal motives for Perry when he has quite clearly explained over and over it is sexual

So ? I don't care. I'm still not offended by it.

I'm not convinced he's performing his fetish when he publicly dresses as Claire.

I think he's a costume kind of guy, Lycra when cycling, jeans when potting, rag doll when wanting to annoy people in public.

OK so whoever complained about my post, you are part of the problem.

But it’s not obviously sexual attire to me, or most people. It’s harmless. If he gets a kick out of people who are so rigid they get freaked out by a man in a dress, so what?

I'm not convinced he's performing his fetish when he publicly dresses as Claire.

Me neither. Regardless, it isn’t overtly sexual IMO.

I'm not convinced he's performing his fetish when he publicly dresses as Claire.

He says he gets a sexual kick out of cross-dressing - why do you think the Claire persona isn't part of it?

I think maybe I don't particularly care if it is sexual. People being sexual openly in the public eye doesn't bother me that much.
If he was on the same women's hospital ward as me-yes then in would bother me.
Maybe Maggi Hambling was turned on by wearing a moustache? I probably don't care.
I just think there are bigger fish to fry.

I think Claire is a damning indictment of patriarchy, but not of GP. I think he is as aware as anyone of the problematic way women are seen.

He says he gets a sexual kick out of cross-dressing - why do you think the Claire persona isn't part of it?

Do you have an issue with cross dressing generally?

I'm not convinced he's performing his fetish when he publicly dresses as Claire

He says he gets a sexual kick out of cross-dressing - why do you think the Claire persona isn't part of it?

I don't know if he does or doesn't. I don't care. It isn't overly sexual- the costume more than covers the bits that need to be covered in public.

Do you have an issue with cross dressing generally?

Generally - no. Men who admit it's a fetish turning up in their femme get-up at work - yes.

nora

can I just say I adored Gallery too - I thought I was the only one who remembered it.

I found Magi Hambling fascinating and still love her now.

Sorry for the detail...!

Do you have an issue with cross dressing generally?

I think some posters do. The everyone can wear what they want mantra isn't always upheld logically on FWR.

Men who admit it's a fetish turning up in their femme get-up at work - yes.

Why? It’s not hurting you.

What about women who wear men’s suits who say it’s a fetish? Ok or not?

I think some posters do. The everyone can wear what they want mantra isn't always upheld logically on FWR.

Yes, I am discovering this. How odd.

I just think there are bigger fish to fry.

Me too. Perry’s doing good things for men. That will help some women. Like doing good things for women helps some men.

And I think that dressing people shouldn’t be connected with convicted child rapist child torturers, simply because they are cross dressers.

Do you have an issue with cross dressing generally?

Generally - no. Men who admit it's a fetish turning up in their femme get-up at work - yes

How do you distinguish acceptable cross dressers from non acceptable?

Is Grayson Perry the only person ever to get a sexual kick out of what he wears? I don’t think so.

Is the woman who enjoys lascivious looks while wearing a revealing dress forcing others to participate in her sexuality? The Diet Coke man who knows what he is doing to those women?

Why? It’s not hurting you.

No it's not 'hurting' me - I just don"t think fetishes belong in the workplace.

I think Claire is a damning indictment of patriarchy, but not of GP.

This is how I see it also, and why I'm a fan. Although I will research more through the lens of what others have said here.

The everyone can wear what they want mantra isn't always upheld logically on FWR.

The more cross-dressing the better, as far as I'm concerned. Until it finally gets to the point that it's no longer even seen as cross-dressing, just people wearing wtf they want.

I don't subscribe to the wear what you want mantra. It isn't a universal requirement for posting here. Mantras are a bit suspect to my mind. Having spoken to a QC about this coming to work dressed as a woman for erotic purposes is not a protected characteristic. Unwanted sexual conduct at work is sexual harassment.

Cross dressing isn’t sexual conduct nor harassment, that’s really reaching.