Patriarchy, Patriarchy (Still A Drag)
You know what the problem with patriarchy is?
“Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of dominance and privilege are held by men.” — Wikipedia
Previously I have writ….
Yeah, that’s the shit, I have writ, about Drag.
However, what is Drag?
“Drag is the act of highlighting and emphasizing various feminine and masculine features, and it provides an avenue through which people can both subvert and celebrate gender expressions.” — Business Insider
Again, you would have to have been living under a rock….
No. Not that kind of Rock.
I just said, not that kind of Rock.
Yes. That kind of rock.
….You would have to have been living under a rock, not to have noticed the current popularity of Drag. We’re in the midst of a revival. Ooo, Drag Queen name! Rea Vival!
However, is Drag an existential threat to women?
A wise person, well someone who thought they were wise, once said, “No matter what the question, the answer be, ‘Yes. No. Maybe.’”
Perhaps Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new stage production of The Wizard of Oz, based on the story by L Frank Baum as immortalised in the 1939 M-G-M film musical, might shed some light on this hot topic. Fun-fact: In the film Judy Garland was well into her 70s when she played the tweenage Dorothy. In this new production, The Wicked Witch of the West is played by Strictly Come Dancing’s longest-standing judge, Craig Revel Horwood, and by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner, The Vivienne. One role, two people. Historically ‘job-share’ has benefitted women. It’s almost like some men don’t want women to work.
Alternatively, some might say, “There’s nothing to worry about, ladies.”
Question: Why is this production nothing to worry about? Why is it not having a negative impact on the female job market, and causing women to be Dragged out of work?
The answers:
(A). The names up in lights
The stars are attractive because they are star attractions. It’s nothing-personal, darling, it’s just theatre economics.
(B). Role reset
The Wicked Witch of the West was always a Drag Queen, sweetie, this is simply redressing the balance. Pun intended.
(C). Dame old scene
A pantomime dame is a traditional role in British pantomime, pudding. It’s part of the theatrical tradition of travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. True, The Wizard of Oz isn’t a pantomime, but it’s theatre nonetheless.
(D). Non binding roles
Gender roles are in a state of flux, sugar. It’s perfectly fine for men to play female characters, and for women to play male characters, on the very very rare occasions they get a chance to.
(E). Jobs sharing
Women are well represented in the cast (no, look further down the cast list). Backstage women are also well represented, doing, oh, I don’t know, designing and making costumes, for which they will be handsomely rewarded. It’s 2024 Hon!
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Special thanks to my girlfriend Hen.
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