Men and women in Western societies often look more different than they are naturally because of the incredible amounts of work we put into trying to look different. Often this is framed as “natural” but, in fact, it takes a lot of time, energy, and money. The dozens of half-drag portraits, from photographer Leland Bobbé, illustrate just how powerful our illusion can be. Drag, of course, makes a burlesque of the feminine; it is hyperfeminine. But most all of us are doing drag, at least a little bit, much of the time.
Here’s an example of one we have permission to use for the cover of our Gender textbook:
Many more at Leland Bobbé’s website.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 43
Anna — August 6, 2012
"But most all of us are doing drag, at least a little bit, much of the time."
As poetic license, this is fine. But as a sociological assertion, the meaning of drag is used incorrectly. "Drag" has quite a specific meaning and history. In some historical contexts, it did not only mean dressing as the opposite gender than your own, but it has always, by definition, existed as an affected, non-normative form of dress.
Drag is intentionally affecting a social identity that is in contrast to your own social (sometimes self-chosen, sometimes mandated) identity. Again, poetic license might be apropos here. We all affect identities other than our own, everything we wear contributes to a socially constructed illusion...all perfectly valid things to say and discuss. But sociologically, no, "most" of us are not doing drag, not even a little.
Jamie Roberts — August 6, 2012
This isn't half-drag. It's full drag of two varieties.
Shreen — August 6, 2012
I have to say, though, that those are exceptionally beautiful men. Just pointing that out.
Gitchywitch — August 7, 2012
I told my daughter a long time ago that if she wanted to learn how to do her makeup and be attractive to men, watch a drag queen. She did. She had her makeup done by a drag queen and she looked gorgeous! She also learned to walk in high heals. These were valuable lessons that she uses today in modeling.
I have worn false eyelashes everyday since I was a teenager.
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Ariana Morris — August 8, 2013
The whole concept of drag defines womanhood as a costume. As a 100 percent heterosexual female who never wears a spot of makeup, skirts, dresses, high heels, or even jewelry, I have always been profoundly uncomfortable with female identity being framed like this. These portraits, presented like this, seem to emphasize this negative message to me. To be a man, you just let nature take it's course. To be a woman, you douse yourself in artifice. I am going to make a statement which I am sure will get me flamed, but -- Drag queens are to womanhood what blackface is to black people. It's not a celebration of womanhood. It's not honouring women. It's not gratifying. I feel offended when I see it. Not because society tells me I should be offended but because to my very core it feels like an insult.
On the one hand, you're caricaturing your idea of womanhood. On the other, you're saying 'this glamazon primped up clown makeup is the epitome of womanhood!" Either case, it's an offensive statement toward women.
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