Discussions about sex gender and society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussions about sex gender and society - Essay Example drag queens giving a very conscious illustration of glamorous women that shows security and a sense of belonging within the gay community, showing a type of power relationship that defies femininity. What is interesting is that Paris is Burning tends to show that queers’ bodies have become instruments that elicit hatred and contempt. Gay drag queens appear more comfortable in their skin when exemplifying the ideal of severe femininity and a sense of self-hatred when forced to engage in social activities without costume. It is perhaps because society has constructed norms that applaud heterosexual ideals (the ultra-feminine woman persona), but chastise when gay men give off femininity in their inherent male form. The documentary is an interesting case study of how established social norms regarding gender determine self-esteem for a queer out of costume and when in costume in terms of their perspective on social belonging. When Ru Paul is discussing the drag transformation that the jocks will be undertaking, he says, â€Å"so put some muscle into it†, as though making appeals toward masculinity that underpins the typical jock. He wants the jocks to be comfortable and excited about being turned into a drag queen, using discourse associated with gender stereotypes of masculinity. It is as if the jocks might be shamed or less motivated if he were to use the same feminine mannerisms he uses with other drag queens. This is an interesting idea for representing how gender roles are socially constructed. He must appeal to the stereotypical construction of masculine attitude and behavior to affect a genuine desire to participate in this transformation. Sharon Osbourne, the judge, states that one drag queen looks very vulnerable, yet comments that the male in costume is doing the best he can. In other episodes, judges are very critical of poor femininity and glamour in performance, but here there is a type of social sensitivity for the straight drag queens in order to