Drag Show

Oh No, That man Is Wearing Women’s Clothes!

            This was my first time ever attending a drag show. It was quite interesting to say the least, and after leaving the event 35 dollars lighter, I think it was a great experience. As I was leaving the event, I turned to my wife and asked her what she thought, to which she replied, “We have to go to that next year.” This event exceeded all expectations. I did not have much expectations going in because I had never been to a drag show, but it was amazing. The individuals who performed were all amazing, but Kendra’s three acts were definitely the standout performances. I also thought J Diesel’s poetry slam was simply amazing. It is something that everyone should read. J Diesel should perform read that to everyone campus wide, and maybe, just maybe, our campus might embrace a little more diversity.

            As I pondered how drag is a response to our social constructions, I came to the conclusion that it stands as a major response to our society’s gender roles. It is a way of showing society that there happens to be various genders. Just because a doctor declares that someone is boy or girl does not make it so. Drag is a way of showing society that certain people do not fall into the category of social norms and clearly that category needs to be expanded. Drag also shows that some people refuse to conform to what society tells them.  Individuals who wear drag are showing that they will not be put into a box. They will fight against social constructions.

            With regards to is drag deviant, I say the HELL with people who say it is because they are idiots. Now, with that said, drag would be considered deviant if we are going to define deviance as anything outside of the norm. Working under that definition I would have to say that drag is in fact deviant. However, if individuals from society actually attended a drag show, they would find it quite entertaining. Drag shows embrace diversity, which in and of itself could be viewed as deviant in our society as diversity asks people to be excepting of different cultures and individuals. Drag questions how people define gender in our society, and that would clearly be deviant by the people who make the rules. This semester we have been looking at what is and what is not deviant, and based on the definitions offered up in class, regrettably, I have to say that drag is indeed deviant. In order to change that though, society needs to be more accepting and redefine what is deviant or normal. Once society is able to do that, many things will no longer be viewed as deviant, and we might finally be able to embrace all forms of diversity.