GenderQueer masculinity

Drag performances tend to be characterised by an exaggerated, highly theatrical and oftentimes ironic display of either femininity or masculinity. SJ “kinging” has emerged as a powerful cultural and political comment on gender norms “women—butches, trannyboys, femmes, and gender variants— perform masculinity to cross the spectrum of sexual and gender categories” “In the 1920’s, they were known as male impersonators,” she said. “It wasn’t until that “drag king” became a term.”

People of different genders and sexualities are using drag performances to express diverse identities and politics. Drag kings are particularly misunderstood. Drag kings are usually thought of quite simplistically as women "dressed up" as men, but in fact the term encompasses anyone who performs masculinity, regardless of their gender or sexuality. Charmaine de Silva and Susanna Allevato Quail “…but performing masculinity is a great deal trickier. It is easy to see why drag kings might resort to sexist stereotypes; without aggression, dominance, or machismo, what signifiers can a performer use to communicate masculinity to the audience? A person who puts on a skirt or makeup sends an obvious signal that he or she is dressed femininely, but a person in pants and no makeup could be dressed as any gender.” Charmaine de Silva and Susanna Allevato Quail

Because the drag king community is so open to gender diversity - welcoming self-identified women, men, and trans people as its own - it deconstructs notions of who can and cannot be male, and in what ways. Even when not explicitly political, each performance makes its own small statement of what masculinity is. Because masculinity, unlike femininity, is privileged in our society, the act of performing as a drag king is one of taking back power. While it would certainly be great to see more drag queens performing femininity in a questioning, critical manner, this act of reclaiming gender power is especially embodied in the performances of drag kings. When we can open the borders of who gets to be masculine or male, it becomes possible to weaken gender hierarchies and break down oppressive social norms. Charmaine de Silva and Susanna Allevato Quail

DRAG KINGS

Constructing and deconstructing stereotypes

SM and gay male fantasies

poltical

DRAG KING-

MALE IMPERSONATORS

THEATRE

Masculine presentation and passing - non performance

FTM

Intersex

GenderQueer

gender fluidity heteronormative gender outlaw transgender genderqueer intersex Drag King butch performance boi grrl zie FTM Gender neutral pronouns Cross dressing transsexual Gender identity Gender illusionist

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