“It's a sort of piss-take on culture, because a drag queen is a clown - a parody of our society. It's a sarcastic spoof on culture, which allows us to laugh at ourselves - but in a way that is inclusive of everyone.” (Ru Paul)
“Drag queen” is another term for a female impersonator, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as, “A male entertainer whose performance consists of dressing and acting like a woman” (OED 2015). The term ‘drag’ originated in the 19th century, when men performing as women would comment that the long skirts they wore ‘dragged’ across the floor (Jones 2015) There is a lot of confusion between two very different things: men who publicly perform as women, and men who perceive themselves as existing in the wrong body. Trans-genders
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In 2015 the Hollywood gender wage gap was leaked, showing that women aren’t viewed as equal to men. Drag is now no longer found only in basement clubs but is now on mainstream TV. Both feminism and drag have come a long way in 100 years but now clash with each other. Feminists also may hold strong views about Transgenders. In recent news, leading feminist writer and activist, Germaine Greer has claimed that transgender women aren’t women because they don’t know what it’s like to have a “smelly vagina”. The feminist figure has previously caused controversy over her views on trans women, claiming “they seem to us ghastly parodies” – and claimed being trans was a “delusion”. She faced protests last year when she spoke at the Cambridge University Students’ Union, with members of the LGBT+ society encouraging a boycott of the event. According to a Cambridge University Student, when asked about her previous comments, she said: “I didn’t know there was such a thing [as transphobia]. Arachnaphobia, yes. Transphobia, no” (Morris 2015). These outspoken comments have got the world talking about what it means to be a woman and is it too far for men to mock the realities of being a woman through …show more content…
In Greek theatre, women were banished from public performance. As a result, men would play all female, as well as male, parts (Senelick 2000). The reason women weren’t even allowed to attend was because their role was considered to be obedient and domestic (Kluth). Even in Elizabethan times, women were not allowed to perform on stage. However this did not stop female characters being created. Boys of an age when they had not yet matured were cast to play womens’ parts. They didn’t have masculine bodies or features, and their voices had not yet broken, making them suitable replacements.
Eastern cultures have also made use of men in female roles. Kabuki is a traditional Japanese act combining dance, singing, mime, staging and costuming. It dates back to the 17th century, originally being performed by women. It was seen as too sexualized, causing prostitution. Young boys were cast instead, but yet again this was a cause for concern on the basis of morals. Kabuki is still performed today and older men now act out the roles (Britannica
While women continue to be ranked as the weaker sex by popular opinion, feminists have bright hopes in a change towards their liberation. As Rebecca Solnit stated, “feminism has just started and it’s not stopping now. We are witnessing a full-fledged war, not of the sexes but of gender roles”(Solnit). Feminism and the right to equality has been a long and arduous struggle for women before the Civil Rights Act. The Feminine Mystique sparked a change, questioning society, which continues today as women fight for equal treatment regardless of laws that claim for their protection. Feminists will continue to fight for the day where women will be treated as equals, where there will be no gender bias, and for the day when a woman can state her mind, just as her male counterpart, without being called an uptight
The way we interpret and view sexuality has changed over the years. We're more accepting and it shows through movies. There are a lot of other movies that have the same sense of sexuality as Pariah. Mainly, movies back before gender and sexuality were accepted in the states.
For instance, sociologists would argue that characteristics of the male gender in a given society include independence, and dominance whereas females express more passive behavior. Gender identity, on the other hand is an individual’s sense of their gender or in other words, their sense as to whether they are feminine or masculine. Therefore, transgender is a term related to “people whose gender identity is different from the gender commonly socially assigned to them on the basis of their biological sex” (Morrow & Messinger, 2006, p. 7).“Biological theories assume that gender should be consistent with biological sex and there are only two genders and two sexes” which does not correspond to transgender people. Furthermore, transgender is also used as a general term to include people such as transsexuals and cross-dressers
There were cases in which women were used in plays, but they were used solely as models. Nonetheless, all of the types of women that lived in ancient Greece were depicted in all of the playwrights. The women in these plays were depicted by the role of a sinner, saint, poetess, coward, heroine, and many more. This was purposefully done in an attempt to make the audience relate to a certain character. In doing so, they could imagine that they were indeed a part of the play to some extent.
Transgender is an umbrella term, meaning an individual’s gender-identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth. Although transgender is a protected class in eighteen states, these individuals still face discrimination within the country and around the world (“Non-Discrimination Laws”). Transgender is not a lifestyle, no one chooses to live their life constantly being discriminated against. Transgender issues should be more educated on and their lives should be more protected.
Imagine going through life believing that you were born into the wrong body. This is how a transgender feels as they go through life. A transgender is a person who whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to male or female sex. This topic is very controversial due to many arguments about the differences between the male and female physique. The natural biological differences between males and a females play a huge role in this controversy.
“Emancipation of women had made them lose mystery” –Grace Kelly, this was a quote said from a woman’s mouth, this was not only Grace’s opinion but the percentage of women being against feminism is increasing. Stop Fem-Splaining: What ‘Women Against Feminism’ Gets Right is an article wrote by Cathy Young published on Www.time.com which is an website for the news and articles, the article was published on July 14,2014. The article is taking about the Women Against feminist meme that has been up in 2014 through social medias and TV shows, the issue had many perspectives from the different kind of sexes, some women believe in the equality between men and women, that
This is to be expected in a society that did not even permit women to perform in theaters, so men played the women’s roles. Women were not allowed to perform on stage until 1660 when Charles II took the throne and the Restoration occurred (Nestvold). Hence, women are often restricted by husbands or fathers, like Juliet who was controlled by her father in Romeo and Juliet, or women are victimized by men and not in control of their own fate, like Desdemona who dies at the hands of Othello in Othello.
The Women of Othello All through history, the role of women and their place in the general public has tremendously changed. William Shakespeare’s Othello was established during a time period where the role of women and their collective value were downgraded in the Venetian and Elizabethan era. During the Venetian era, women were dominated by their sexual orientation. The Venetian era had a patriarchal society.
Transgender Today Nowadays, there are lot of unexpected changes coming in our lives every day which are challenging to our society. Gender issues are one of the hot topics among new changes. Transsexuality is a critical part of this gender issue. After reading the article “Night to his day” by Judith Lorber, I found a clarification regarding the social construction of gender. While looking for some facts about transgender, I have also found a lot of articles with different points of views from researchers, scientists and individuals who have transformed from their origin to transgender men/women.
Women – beautiful, strong matriarchal forces that drive and define a portion of the society in which we live – are poised and confident individuals who embody the essence of determination, ambition, beauty, and character. Incomprehensible and extraordinary, women are persons who possess an immense amount of depth, culture, and sophistication. Society’s incapability of understanding the frame of mind and diversity that exists within the female population has created a need to condemn the method in which women think and feel, therefore causing the rise of “male-over-female” domination – sexism. Sexism is society’s most common form of discrimination; the need to have gender based separation reveals our culture’s reluctance to embrace new ideas, people, and concepts. This is common in various aspects of human life – jobs, households, sports, and the most widespread – the media. In the media, sexism is revealed through the various submissive, sometimes foolish, and powerless roles played by female models; because of these roles women have become overlooked, ignored, disregarded – easy to look at, but so hard to see.
In the Elizabethan period, it was "forbidden" for women to appear on stage and considered "immoral", and so boys played...
Women for many years have been denied the right to express themselves. If a female spoke against something she was considered strange and out of line. Hall says, “Feminist methodologies are the belief that patriarchal oppression of women. has been profound and multifaceted” (Hall 202).... ...
Women were prohibited because many of the performers were cheap mistresses outside of the theater and because of fights among the actresses' courters (Graves 378, Johnson 1). The government thought this set a bad example and proclaimed that only men could perform kabuki. The restriction of females performing kabuki was a positive strategy because it stressed the significance of talent instead of attractiveness. In addition it emphasized acting instead of dancing (Johnson 1). Along with the ban also came the introduction of onnagata performers, or males that portrayed ladies. (Graves 378)
Gender Theory in Everyday Life”, the various definitions of “trans” depict that it is not possible to place one’s gender into only two categories. In the definitions of “trans”, transformation or transitioning is a common theme. Transforming into their true self or transitioning from one gender to the other. In the third definition, transgendered individuals are seen as transcending gender, thus making gender non-existent; not only to them, but when they view other individuals (Kessler and McKenna 1-2). The individuals in “When Girls Will Be Boys”, had to create a safe space, and find allies that would provide them with resources to help them in their progression as a trans individual. Trans people truly want to be integrated into society, but they are cognisant of the social standards in place that make them othered (Quart 49-50). In the instance of the varied definition of trans and the experiences of people in “When Girls Will Be Boys”, they are all going against the social norms and actively fighting to create a seat at the table. They refuse to to fit in the status quo of accepting that there are only two genders, and one must stay in either category. Instead, they challenge that thinking by being themself, thus having a hand in creating the new norm. These individuals are not passively combating the misconceptions, miseducation, and misinformation. They are actively creating a space for others and themself to grow in self and in