Judith Butler's Drag Theory, By Judith Butler

1198 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social construct of gender identity

A theory that has taken the world of promiscuous thinkers by storm is one that is loosely called the “Drag Theory” (dubbed by Judith Butler). This basically states that a person performs their gender rather than simply is their gender. Raphaël Lellouche clarifies how this is done in his blog, “’Gender Trouble’ by Judith Butler and the question of ‘performing gender’ decoded by Raphaël Lellouche”. Judith’s writing generally emphasizes on having a more open mindset about sexuality and how this concept is grasped; but this paper is going to pinpoint how social media influences the way a person changes their so called “drag” due to the content on another’s account. Lellouche presents the idea that if a person goes out and plays the role of a house wife then they are, in a sense, a house wife but if the next day that same person wants to play the role of a business man then they are a business man. This is nicknamed the “Drag Theory” because drag queens are men who dress up as women and perform as women; by performing they become. If this concept is true, then it is presumed that people have been preforming their entire lives without even noticing. A little girl knows how to act because she watches her mother; she crosses her legs, conveys a sense of gracefulness and understands a sense of propriety. The child sees these behaviors and starts to pick up on those characteristics and automatically starts performing them in their own life. A social media website that contributes to this theory is Pinterest. This network has many pictures of interesting crafts, hair styles, fashion, traveling destinations and many other kinds of ideas that may sway a person’s thinking on what their drag should be. This realm of ideas has persuaded peop... ... middle of paper ... ...us Listen To Super Mind Music For Free)”. A person’s drag not only effects themselves but others as well. It is only logical to think that if another person’s drag changes one person, then that same person who was transformed will also transform another individual. It is an inevitable cycle that cannot and will not be broken. The reality with this theory is that it’s something humanity thrives off of. It is how our social society continues without failure. The drag theory is one that is applicable to not only performing a gender but also the subdivisions of that concept. It is very obvious that social media has an effect on a large amount of today’s society. It confirmed through almost every aspect of both Pinterest and music and with new fads being thrown constantly at this generation, it is only expected that they would want to take in as much as possible.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of The Fashion Industry: Free To Be An Individual

    1411 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article, “The Fashion Industry: Free to Be an Individual” by Hanna Berry, Berry discusses how for decades women have been told to use certain products and that if they used those products they would be beautiful. Women over the years have believed this idea and would purchase items that promised to make them prettier, thinner, smarter and even more loved. However, in reality it was never what they wore on their bodies that helped them be any of those things; but what it did help with was to empower women to become fearless and bold by what they chose to wear on their bodies as a form of expression.

    Read More

  • The Art Deco Image

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today we can see items of clothing that are commonly worn that have grown out of this initial innovation of freeing a woman’s body. This can be seen in clothing from the Spring 2017 New York Fashion week (see Figure 2), as the model’s bodies are freed by the more minimal use of material. The lowering of necklines and the increase in skin shown in haute couture over the decades is owed to Art Deco fashion and is symbolic of the rise of women’s rights over the years, as the physical discomfort and restrictions that the tight corsets of previous eras could be considered of women’s place in society. The new style being a stance against the oppression. It dictates that a persons own comfort and style is to the upmost importance, not to contort one’s body into something it is not meant to. Today it is shown in loose and cropped pants, shorts, low necklines, cropped tops, and various other clothing that reveals skin that was once covered. Art Deco fashion is also seen today through “chic garçonne” ideal that emerged out of early feminism that made women want to do the same things that men could, and so adopted smoking, sport, an interest in vehicles, a flirty sense of

    Read More

  • Esther Newton's Unrequited Love And Gay Latino Culture

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    Drag can be considered central to queer theory itself since it has ascended in contemporary academic theoretical venues as the singular approach to gay and lesbian studies. Contreras explains that drag symbolizes many important and conflicted questions regarding the modern urban queer identities and gay male identities in particular. The drag queen can represent a lively fixture in a gay parade or a homophobic representation in mass culture. In this book he wrote some statements about drag that function as queer common

    Read More

  • Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - Within the Guidelines of Feminist Discourse

    1847 Words  | 4 Pages

    Travis, Cheryl Brown, Kayce L. Meginnis, and Kristin M. Bardari. "Beauty, Sexuality, and Identity: The Social Control of Women." Sexuality, Society, and Feminism. Ed. Cheryl Brown Travis and Jacquelyn W. White. Washington: American Psychological Association, 2000.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Gender Essay by Myra Jehlen

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    perspective on the concept, arguing that gender is a cultural performance. Her careful reading of

    Read More

  • Sexualization Of Sexualization

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    A Study Conducted by the American Psychological Association Task Force concluded that sexualization occurs when a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics; a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness (narrowly defined) with being sexy; a person is sexually objectified- that is, made into a thing for others’ sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making; and/or sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person. The APA Task Force reported many example of the sexualization of girls, such as toy manufactures duce dolls wearing black leather miniskirts, feather boas, and thigh-high boots and market them to 8- to 12-year-old girls. Clothing stores sell thongs sized for 7– to 10-year-old girls, some printed with slogans such as “eye candy” or “wink wink”; other thongs sized for women and late adolescent girls are imprinted with characters from Dr. Seuss and the Muppets. In the world of child beauty pageants, 5-year-old girls wear fake teeth, hair extensions, and makeup and are encouraged to “flirt” onstage by batting their long, false eyelashes. Journalists, child advocacy organizations, parents, and psychologists have become alarmed according to the APA Task Force, arguing that the sexualization of girls is a broad and increasing problem and is harmful to girls, and I for one agree with their proposition.

    Read More

  • How Sexuality and Faith Are Essential to a Person's Life

    1817 Words  | 4 Pages

    Seidman, Steven, Nancy Fischer , and Chet Meeks. "Transgendering." New Sexuality Studies. North Carolina: Routledge, 2011. . Print.

    Read More

  • Hegemonic Masculinity By Micheal Kimmel

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Flight from the Feminine” explained by Kimmel demands separation between mother and son as the son develops the “fear of castration.” This meant that if a young adolescent male allowed his mother to show affection or nurture him growing up, he was going to be the splitting image of his mother and become dependent on her which went against the hegemonic masculinity theory that his father so importantly suggested because men were independent dominant beings. This resulted in the development of sexism which Kimmel describes to be the “systematic devaluation of women- in the efforts of the boy to separate from mother” (13) Men would risk the belittlement of women behavior which would represent sexism, to maintain their masculinity and keep themselves included in the male social circle. Sedgwick proposes that another form of masculinity was through femininity and explains how women who express any signs of masculine characteristics run the risk of being less feminine and therefore “butch.” This expresses how masculinity ideals are as well expressed in womanhood or the lack of which argues the patriarchy influence on women’s feminine

    Read More

  • Drag History

    1885 Words  | 4 Pages

    Funnily drag did not n’t start out as a form of expression but as a necessity. In Ancient Greece, women could not n’t perform in plays because it was considered deemed “too dangerous”(Conger). In the middle ages, Europe’s Christian church continued the ban

    Read More

  • Final Paper

    1825 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Judith Halberstam’s piece “Female Masculinity,” she offers the audience a few potential definitions of the term ‘masculinity’ and how the term applies to “feminine masculinity.” She states that “although we seem to have a difficult time defining masculinity, as a society, we have little trouble recognizing it” (935). Halberstam suggests that female masculinity is often blatantly ignored in culture and studies due to the indifferent feeling often associated with the topic. Halberstam uses her essay to explain a variety of aspects associated with female femininity like tomboys, queer methodologies, and the bathroom problem. Halberstam’s description of the term ‘Tomboys’ is reminiscent of the character Emily Fields from the Pretty Little Liars book series by Sara Shepard. Progressing through middle school with a group of ‘girly’ friends, Emily is easily labeled with the term ‘tomboy’ due to her sporty exterior. Her overly conservative Christian family and classmates see no ‘threat’ or meaning behind Emily’s tomboy appearance because they believe it is just a stage in her life. As soon as Emily enter tenth grade and starts hanging out with a homosexual female, her family and classmates grow concerned about Emily’s masculine looks and behaviors. In the book titled Prettty Little Liars, one of the liars, Emily’s evident masculine ways raises concern to her thesis-go back and fix it .

    Read More

  • The World of Drag

    2015 Words  | 5 Pages

    The intention of this research is to clearly define the roles that drag performers fill in our society. With that objective, the key issues that must be clarified include offering what the distinction of a drag performer is compared to other individuals that may be mislabeled or misrepresented by such a title, and what education is lacking by those who challenge the concept of drag. In society it is a common theme to fear or demonize an idea we feel is taboo, even when we have a very weak understanding of what we fear. This research seeks to ease fears surrounding drag, and allow cautious individuals to approach the topic without feeling threatened. The further fear and apprehension is reduced, the more open to honest fact and interpretation people will become, which will lead to a more comfortable and open exchange of ideas regarding drag. Ultimately, this will allow for a stronger platform for drag queens themselves to utilize as ambassadors of their cherished art form.

    Read More

  • Feminist Theorist Judith Butler and Gender Transformation

    2388 Words  | 5 Pages

    “a person does not ‘inhabit’ a static object body but is subjectively embodied in a fluid, emergent, and negotiated process of being. In this process, body, self, and social interaction are interrelated to such an extent that distinctions between them are not only permeable and shifting but also actively manipulated and configured”

    Read More

  • Feminism In Pop Culture

    1934 Words  | 4 Pages

    The most trending music genre gets a lot of listeners because of its the discrimination. As the songs and advertisements gain followers, it starts to become realized by the citizens. Pop culture artists sing about drugs, alcohol and women. The portrayal of women by these composers is dreadful because it degrades the significance and importance of their existence. Pop culture has always been a home for gender domination and discrimination. It is becoming increasingly “pornified.” As Valenti quotes, “After all, while billboards and magazines ads may feature a ripped guy from time to time, it’s mostly women who make up what sexy is supposed to be. And it’s not just sexy-it’s straight-up sex” (Valenti, 44). The pornography has been a part of the culture and has been accepted by younger women. Feminists have argued that this has increased the inculcation of “raunch culture” in the lives of younger women who fall into it as they feel it empowers them. However, it is a kind of faux empowerment. This illustrates that the media is promoting and utilizing pop culture to change the social norms in an attempt to instruct women on their role in the society. In essence, pop culture with its propaganda desires to change women’s view on nudity until it can become inherent in American culture, and thus eliminating opposition to benefit pop culture in the long run. Valenti persuades her readers by saying, “ the ‘show’ is everywhere. In magazines like Maxim and Playboy. And in the insanity of Girls Gone Wild, with teens putting on fake lesbian make-out sessions so guys will think they’re hot.” Levy also mentions a character, influenced by raunch culture and a reader of Playboy magazines, named Erin who is piqued her curiosity and provided her with inspiration because of this culture. Erin says, “There’s countless times in my life where I know I’ve turned people on just by showing off (by putting on a

    Read More

  • How Sexuality is Socially Constructed

    2048 Words  | 5 Pages

    Gender is a socially constructed phenomenon, and how acceptable one’s relationship is determined by society’s view of gender roles. Because the majority of the population is characterized as heterosexual, those who deviate from that path are ...

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Transformation of Intimacy by Anthony Giddens

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    How does 'sexuality' come into being, and what connections does it have with the changes that have affected personal life on a more general plane? In answering these questions, Anthony Giddens disputes many of the interpretations of the role of sexuality in our culture. The emergence of what he calls plastic sexuality, which is sexuality freed from its original relation of reproduction, is analyzed in terms of the long-term development of the modern social order and social influences of the last few decades. Giddens argues that the transformation of intimacy, in which women have played the major part, holds out the possibility of a society that is very traditional. "This book will appeal to a large general audience as well as being essential reading for those students in sociology and theory."(Manis 1)

    Read More

More about Judith Butler's Drag Theory, By Judith Butler

Open Document