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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Drag Queen story time and The National Gallery

250 replies

NellieEllie · 25/06/2019 22:50

Just spotted this. 30th June. The “gender fluidity of childhood”. Giving children “queer role models”. Good Grief. www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/drag-queen-story-time-30-06-2019

OP posts:
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ZuttZeVootEeeVro · 07/08/2019 17:13

I’m sure the person offering colouring sheets would actually be expecting the parents to be the ones to send their email address, surely that seems obvious?

He should speak to the parents, not the children.

He shouldn't normalise the idea that it's fine for children to contact unknown adults online.

If he is a professional children's entertainer he should know that. I would also expect libraries to know that too and not employ adults who do.

bettybeans · 07/08/2019 17:14

Snotty little brats 😄
You're trying much too hard here Butters.

VickyEadie · 07/08/2019 17:15

Womanface mocks the features women were born with, coupled with sexist notions of 'femininity' and 'womanhood'.

See how that works?

Butters83 · 07/08/2019 17:15

Additionally, women can also be in drag (both king and queen).

There was no such thing as whiteface, as you can only imagine the repercussions.

Cocolapew · 07/08/2019 17:17

Why does a child need to know that there are men who dress up and perform as an exaggeration of women?
Drag has always been adult cabaret.
Children do need to be taught there are lots of different types of people in the world. But that means black, asian, disabled, gay etc. They aren't going to go to school and be sitting next to a drag queen.

ZuttZeVootEeeVro · 07/08/2019 17:18

We obviously need a definitive definition of drag, because we have about 15 definitions on this thread alone. Mainly from one poster.

Butters83 · 07/08/2019 17:18

VickyEadie But that ISNT how it works, is it?

Its not the same thing, even slightly, and its hugely offensive to compare the two.

Drag shows you how ridiculous the misogynistic culture is around what feminine (which doesn't belong to women anyway) and female beauty is meant to look like. Its done with intention.

Blackface started because of racism.

zebrasdontwearbras · 07/08/2019 17:19

Drag parodies women though - we may not be born with high heels or makeup, but we are born with the "female sexuality" that drag queens are emphasising. Performing femininity is something which is pushed on women and girls from an early age. It's something that feminists fight against - do you really think feminists think that drag queens performing & exaggerating female sexuality is harmless?

Butters83 · 07/08/2019 17:20

zebrasdontwearbras

I absolutely do think there are still MANY issues in drag.

A drag queen reading books to children who are quite happy to be there isnt one of them.

VickyEadie · 07/08/2019 17:24

Drag shows you how ridiculous the misogynistic culture is around what feminine (which doesn't belong to women anyway) and female beauty is meant to look like. Its done with intention.

I find drag offensively misogynist. Positing it as some sort of 'feminist' art is ludicrous - men who perform drag are ridiculing women and they know it.

And small children may or may not be "happy to be there" - at their age, they usually don't get to make their own choices and it doesn't mean it's not an abusive and damaging experience for them.

Butters83 · 07/08/2019 17:25

I think the issue is no one would bat an eyelid if their kid had a reading session with a pantomime dame or Disney characters which also could be argued are problematic

Butters83 · 07/08/2019 17:28

As a feminist do I think there are still issues with drag? Absolutely.

Do I think i am harming a child if they have a book read by someone in costume? No.

Propertyofhood · 07/08/2019 17:29

And drag queens are always so full of horrible innuendo as well, it's really inappropriate. Don't get me wrong, I quite like a small amount of sexual innuendo here and there, but with drag queens it's just constant and often kind of uncomfortable because it's very male dominated.

The other day there were some drag queens on Lorraine Kelly's show. They were talking about 'drag queen names' and Lorraine was saying that it's your first pet and your mother's maiden name and from that came up with some totally innocent name.

Then they said, 'actually, we've come up with one for you' - I braced myself as I knew it would probably be something sexual and it was... Morning Gloria. Yep, giving a woman a 'drag name' based on a male erection on daytime telly, lovely. Lorraine, of course, thought that was 'brilliant' and did her usual sicophantic tinkly laugh.

There was also an ad for some train company who had jumped on the Pride bandwagon recently, which had several drag queen innuendos in it.

It's not suitable for kids. Kids don't need to see drag queens to be 'accepting of gay people'. Drag Queen Story Time is not for the benefit of children, let's be honest, the kids aren't really getting anything out of it.

Get the fucking message: no one else cares about your fucking penis and what you do with, we don't want to hear about it, even if you are dressed as a parody of a woman.

VickyEadie · 07/08/2019 17:32

Do I think i am harming a child if they have a book read by someone in costume? No.

If they're encouraging inappropriate sexualisation of children via twerking? How about then?

MadamBatty · 07/08/2019 17:32

I was groomed as a young child by an adult....I thought it was great fun that an adult paid attention & seemed to be interested in me....just saying.

Butters83 · 07/08/2019 17:34

Pride was started by black/trans/drag queens. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Propertyofhood · 07/08/2019 17:35

As a feminist do I think there are still issues with drag? Absolutely.

Do I think i am harming a child if they have a book read by someone in costume? No.

If you think there are issues with drag then why would you be OK with a 'drag queen story time?'

VickyEadie · 07/08/2019 17:36

I was groomed as a young child by an adult....I thought it was great fun that an adult paid attention & seemed to be interested in me....just saying.

I had a friend groomed by a man who organised a table tennis league for boys (only - no girls allowed to join). Over the course of a few months, the boys (including my friend) were groomed by being taken on little days out, the man bought my friend a very expensive guitar...he was very happy with it. Until the day the man sexually assaulted him.

truthisarevolutionaryact · 07/08/2019 17:37

Thank you MadamBatty for reminding us of the awful reality and why we must fight so hard to protect children.Flowers
Children need boundaries, responsible adults who protect them from those who seek to breach those boundaries and a society that is absolutely clear that adults seeking to sexualise children in any way must not be allowed anywhere near them.

This is the hill that I will die on - every bloody time.

FixItUpChappie · 07/08/2019 17:37

"I don't want children to learn to be accepting of all different types of people. I want them to learn that some people are to be avoided and understand what behaviours indicate dangerous people. Like, for example, strangers who ask them to send private messages online."

^^this is such a good comment IMO. I want my children to think critically and be cautious of people and yes, even judge a book by its cover until they have more information.

"Gender fluidity of childhood" - made up brainwashing nonsense

VickyEadie · 07/08/2019 17:38

Pride was started by black/trans/drag queens. Sorry to burst your bubble.

What "bubble"? Besides which, Brenda Howard started Pride.

But what on earth has that to do with inappropriate presentations to small children?

Propertyofhood · 07/08/2019 17:43

I’d take my boys to these events, I bet they would think it’s great fun.

Here, have your virtue cookie, hope it tastes good.

Butters83 · 07/08/2019 17:48

Lol one woman didn’t start pride.
And it was off the backs of the trans and drag and black community. Don’t try and whitewash it

VickyEadie · 07/08/2019 17:51

And it was off the backs of the trans and drag and black community. Don’t try and whitewash it

Whatever the history, I fail to see what it has to do with safeguarding children from inappropriate sexualised performances or grooming.

Birdsfoottrefoil · 07/08/2019 17:53

I wouldn’t take children to pride either.