Is female impersonation/drag offensive?

[dannybb]

Hi. As a teenage hairdressing apprentice I used to do a drag act in my spare time - a few decades ago. With more time on my hands I'm now thinking of returning to female impersonation - doing drag queen bingo and entertainment mainly in old peoples homes etc.

While I am (and always will be) very respectful of women I'm wondering if the era of men dressing as women to provide entertainment has had its day.

Has this now become offensive or inappropriate?

Any responses much appreciated!

Paul O'Gradys character Lily Savage wasn't as offensive as others because he wasn't using the character to mock women.

It’s the exact same as blackface comedy routines of the 1940’s.

There used to be a group of men in our town who once a year would push a hospital bed around town collecting money for the hospital while dressed as women. No idea why they dressed up as women.

Anyway last year the hospital refused to accept the money saying it was inappropriate because of the dressing up. Most people commenting on local news site couldn't see the issue but quite a few likened it to "blacking up"

I've been thinking about this - why is it funny (if it is funny); why does it not seem to work the other way round, if women dress up as men. It could be just sexism - the more powerful dressing as the less powerful. But maybe drag is kind of taking the piss out of men as well as women? Dresses and make-up throw into relief how clunky men are in comparison to women. I'm thinking of the ugly step-sister in Shrek, voiced by Jonathan Ross. I found that funny. It didn't feel like it was taking the piss out of women. Maybe it was.

It ‘s offensive because it’s a hate-furled mockery of women.

Furled is a nice word
But inaccurate.
F u e l e d.

I think it's past it's time. I'm sure you can come up with something better :)

I find it offensive. For me “womanface” is the same as “blackface”. I realise that I am in a minority in this.

Had a look at the thread now- pleased to see that i’m alone.

I feel conflicted on this.
One the one hand, I understand it's just a bit of fun that some people find entertaining. And the person doing it just wants to have a good time.
On the other hand, it is offensive to mock women. And I feel defensive of women at the moment, given all the hysteria surrounding the transgender movement.

Maybe drag acts have had their day. Do people really still find it funny / lighthearted?

I don't get why blacking up to look like a black man is deemed offensive, but dressing up as a parody of a woman is ok.

It’s woman face and I don’t like it one bit.

Don’t like it anymore, it’s outdated. It makes me uncomfortable now, I wouldn’t go and see a drag act at a pub now that I’m a fully grown women, it feels like an unkind sort of parody especially with everything that’s going on at the moment.

I wondered a bit if I'd lost my sense of humour because the current advert for Drag SOS on C4 makes my hackles rise every time I see it. But I don't think I have, I don't want to watch women being parodied and ridiculed on top of all the other shit we have to deal with. And yes, I do feel a bit offended by it in the current climate, our rights are being threatened and trampled on so watching men effectively mocking us just feels like adding insult to injury tbh.

I think it’s outdated now in the same way blackface is as a form of entertainment.

I hate the current trend for women to wear drag style make up too- hd eyebrows, massive eyelashes and nails, contouring, heavy eye make up and painting on huge lips.

Women are characaturing themselves now too. I realise it’s driven by selfies and cameras but this need to paint in a face is just daft.

Hate it. Even as a child at the panto it made me uncomfortable. Why is it any different to the black and white minstrels?

I became aware of drag as a kid at around the same time as black face was becoming mainstream unacceptable.

I couldn't understand what the difference was and as a result have never been comfortable with drag acts. The exception to this was Lily Savage, mainly because I knew scouse women with the same demeanour and attitude. It didn't feel like a parody of those women.

I appreciate that some consider it an art form, part of gay culture but I don't think you are going to be subverting gender norms if you are performing at bingo halls and retirement homes. It's likely to be outdated sexist stereotypes.

I hate it, it buys into all the worst stereotypes surrounding women.

If a drag act came on I would walk out. Hope the women in the old people’s home get a chance to opt out

I see it so much on pride rallies these days - over-sexualised characatures of unpleasant, catty and bitchy women - dressed like strippers with mad over the top makeup. Not flattery in the least.

I like the upside down topsy turvy world of it all. I think it's fun. Goes way way back, this reversal of the sexes.

I know many TRAs hate it, as apparently it mocks them.

My problem is biological men actually demanding to be treated as biological women in absolutely all respects. Not with the subverting of gender.

I've noticed there's a big drag event on at the NMM and people are getting cross on the post. Think they are coming across badly.

I know someone who's a drag king, so it is both ways.

I personally think I would LOVE to be a drag queen, just to be so OTT would be really fun. Anyone that is lurking and can transform me please pm me hun!!

I don't get why blacking up to look like a black man is deemed offensive, but dressing up as a parody of a woman is ok.

This all the way.

Yes. I think it should be a thing of the past.

I don't find it offensive but I don't 'get it'. I don't think a man suddenly becomes funny because he puts on a ridiculous costume and a shed load of make up. Some people seem to love it but it leaves me cold.

I'm not interested in drag, and I haven't seen enough of it to have an opinion that is informed.

From the perspective more of comedy male impersonations of women, yes, if they are well done I find them funny and not offensive. At least not more offensive that good comedy generally is, it does often have an edge. The kind of comedy I like tends to present true things in a way that is a little ridiculous or makes you see something more clearly by being extreme. A lot of humour can be in contradiction, and impersonations of the opposite sex are perhaps a place where you see kind of a contradiction.
As far as really PC comedy goes, its almost never funny. I don't think comedic social or political comedy can work within those kinds of constraints.
I lot of comedy troupes here in Canada have opposite sex impersonations, both by men and women. Men impersonating women did used to be far more common but I think this has changed because more women are now found in comedy troupes.

My favourite is probably Dakey Dunn, masculinity correspondent, here commenting on Caitlyn Jenner wining woman of the year: