Drag refers to clothing that has an important symbol representing the roles played by different genders. Drag is used when people of opposite genders wear the clothing to bring out various aspects in the society. The use of drag appeared in print during the1870s, which shows it was acceptable in the society. Drag is used for a number of purposes that include comfort, performance and entertainment, convey of social statements, and as a method of self-expression. The use of drag is sometimes associated with gay culture but people of all genders practice it. Drag artists often overdo their various features such as eyelashes, satirical, or dramatic effects to enhance their appeal to the audience. There are different types of drag performers that include; drag queens, drag kings, and faux queens. Drag queens are men who act and dress like women with femininity exaggeration. On the other hand, drag kings are female performers who dress like men and impersonate the male gender by displaying masculinity aspect. Both men and women use drag to impersonate each other, although in different dynamics.
Drag has been used in the history of performing arts for a long period in artistic and cultural traditions. In theatre arts, drag exhibit two forms of occurrences. These occurrences include; when artists are cross-dressing during performance, and when the artists practice cross-dressing. The use of drag in dramatic action was highly influenced before the 20th century. Societies that were dominated by men had active roles done by men, which allowed women to dress up like a man only when they were pushed to the wall by the predicament of a drama. Men dressing like women were not considered serious, and the audience did not receive their comedy with zeal. However, drag performers personal sexual and gender identities can affect their performances. The perspective of the drag changed in the 20th century due to erosion of gender roles in the society. Use of drag has developed since then and has attracted a huge audience as well as performers.
Clothing and make-up play a significant part in the performance and construction of a drag character. The most important aspect in drag construction and performance is the appearance of the character (Rupp & Verta 34). Perfect outfit, make-up, and a wig are the most relevant things in the drag work because they create the required audience attention. Drag performance always requires exaggeration of the outfits. When constructing a drag character, the selection of the wig should match with the facial structure, shape, and color of the eyebrow, clothes, and the opinion of the public. A wig that matches all the aspects ensures that the character being performed comes out perfectly. Make-up is another essential feature when constructing a drag queen. Make-up can make the difference between a character looking like a man, and a sexy woman. It covers the masculine aspects on the face and brings out the feminine features that create an appealing female character. Comfortable clothes are essential for a drag role to ensure that the character is at ease throughout the performance. Unfit heels, chaffing inner wears and itchy wigs can highly affect the drag performance.
Drag queens and drag kings have differences and similarities in their drag performance. The styles and contexts of their shows vary, but have similar hegemonic gender critique appearing in their performances. The phenomenon of women being in drags gained momentum in the United States in the 1990s. Drag queens are involved in the translation of gender during early life and come to practice dragging to identify their gender issues. On the other hand, drag kings reassess their gender issues after participating in drag performances. The practice of drag performance tends to provide resistance to the gender roles that are given to individuals by nature. The performance assumes the link between gender, sex, and sexuality that naturally exist in people.
Drag queen is mostly associated with the gay culture and mainly performs in gay bars and nightclubs. Majority of the drag queens do not wish to become females, but they use drag clothing to impersonate the females to make performances (Rupp & Verta 97). They acquire the transformation to female through body suits, costumes, as well as exaggerated wigs and make-up. Some communities consider drag queen illegal because they view it as impersonating the female gender and a violation of the law of nature. Drag artists differentiate between female impersonators and drag queens by asserting that female impersonators imitate certain females while drag queens construct their unique female character. Drag queens use drags to entertain and express themselves; therefore, they are different from transvestites. Characters that perform as drag queens do dislike being referred to by their original names. The characters prefer the name of a female character that they are assigned. A few drag artists have no problem being referred as ‘he’, such as Ru Paul who said that he does not care being referred to either.
The way in which sexual identities and personal gender of drag artists affect or are affected by their drag performance enhance understanding the similarities and differences between gay drag queens and drag kings. The gender and sexual identities of drag queens and drag kings are determined by the expression of the drag performers. This means that drag affect their gender, sex, and sexuality nature. Same sexual desire and gender transgression plays a significant role for doing drag queen. The aspects of early gender transgression are acquired through experimenting on make-ups, wearing feminine clothes, and playing with toys that belong to girls. Most of the drag queens practice drag because of their desire for their fellow men and do not regard the tradition that men should be masculine. Unlike drag queens who experience the transformation of identity before doing drag, the drag kings experience identity transformation when performing drags.
Drag performance contributes to identity change by males and females. Many people desire to transform their identity because they believe that the one that the nature has given to them is unsuitable. Drag offers individuals the option to choose their gender identity through performing as a drag queen or a drag king. Drag is relevant to the society because it provides a comic platform for the people and creates new sexual and gender possibilities. Drag shows how gender performance is capable of changing the identity of the audience as well as the performers through creating a self-reflection on one’s gender. Femininity and masculinity performances enable people to understand the relevance of gender, sex, and sexuality.
Works Cited
Rupp. Leila J. and Verta A. Taylor. Drag queens at the 801 Cabaret. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. Print.
