Transvestism, Drag Queens and the media
TRANSVESTY/DRAG Q.
anyone who wears the clothes of their opposite gender, for
whatever reason.
T: enjoys dressing up in womens'/mens' clothes, may not want to
be seen in them
DQ: dresses up for entertainment and/or to satirize gender
roles.
It doesn't have to do anything with your sexuality.
MEDIA
Minga y PetracaRuPaul's Drag Race
TRANSVESTY/DRAG Q.
For many years cross-dressing has been occurring in the media,
and most of the time it is seen and interpreted as comical. For
example: Minga Y Petraca
TRANSVESTY/DRAG Q.
It is at best comical, because society still has such a negative
reaction when a man cross dresses. It seems as if their sexuality
is always called into question. When will it be clear that men in
women's clothing does not always equal gay.?
VERNAN COLEMAN
Myths of Transvestism according to Vernon Coleman
transvestites are homosexuals
Men/women who wear the sort of clothes normally worn by the
opposite gender do so because they get a sexual thrill out of
it.
transvestites are closeted transsexuals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY6waTN3_oc
What is transvestism saying to society? What is the media
exposing out there for society?
RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA7-RSHOP5M
As information, MOST cross-dressers (90% by polls and surveys)
are totally heterosexual and have no aspirations of ever being
anything otherwise. The cross-dressers portrayed on Ru Paul's Drag
Race are being presented in a way that is detrimental to gaining
any societal acceptance for those cross dressers in the majority
(that 90% mentioned above). Since the vast majority of most
cross-dressers are deeply closeted, those presented to the public
by the program are definitely NOT representative of that majority.
If he wants to promote a better understanding about what
cross-dressing is - and of even greater importance what it ISN'T -
at least part of his programming should be devoted to doing just
that. Cross-dressers have a difficult time being accepted, even by
their wives, girlfriends, family, etc, as it is without having
negative images being presented to them in the way it's being done
now. - Vernon Coleman
CONCLUSION
I believe that a vast majority of society is against this
behaviourism mainly because of the essentialists. People need to
realize that gender and sexuality are not congruent at all times.
Its our job as society and the mass-media in particular, to come
forward with a positive attitude towards the socially-excluded
people for their existence in society with a decent livelihood.
