The males in the movie "Kinky Boots" play a dominant and leading role in terms of their gender and sexuality. The movie's star Charlie is compelled to save his family's show factory following the sudden demise of his father. As such, Charlie takes on the role of a leader, a savior of their family's fortune thereby portraying leadership as a role men ought to take up. Men also take up the role of protectors. Charlie intervenes to stop some drunken hoodlums from harassing a woman while he is on a business trip (Jarrold).
Men are portrayed as capable of taking up gender roles for males and females. Lola is a female impersonator who performs the entertainment roles that are traditionally played by women. Charlie also takes up the role of an innovator when he plans to produce shoes for drag queens (Jarrold).
Men also take up the role of being supporters. Lola, who acts as a drag queen supports Charlie and gives him ideas into how they could revive the shoe factory. Men are also portrayed in controversial sexuality. Lola plays the controversial role of a drag queen, a theatrical figure often associated with gay men. Lola's song "The sex is in the heel" conveys a message where the wearer of the boots (Lola in this case) targets to appear more sexually appealing in kinky boots (Als). The male portrayal of Lola is one of controversial sexuality.
Jarrold also portrays men's role as resenting and questioning the sexuality of others. The male employees are uncomfortable with Lola's presence at the shoe factory. Don begins to appreciate Lola when he (Lola) becomes gracious to him. Don takes up the gender role of leadership that men such as Charlie took up upon realization that they had to take charge of delicate situations.
Works Cited
Als, Hilton. "The Theatre: “Kinky Boots” and “Detroit ‘67”." 5 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 Dec. 2014. <http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-theatre-kinky-boots-and-detroit- 67>.Top of Form
Dir. Jarrold Julian Bottom of FormKinky Boots.. Perf. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sarah Jane-Potts. Miramax Home Entertainment :, 2006. DVD.
