Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

The History of Drag Queens

Apr 11, 2024

Jacob Bloomfield, author of Drag: A British History, discusses the origins of drag dating back to the 1870s, its evolution into a cultural phenomenon, societal perceptions of drag in relation to sexuality and class, and the historical significance of drag performances during wartime. The episode delves into the censorship faced by drag performers and the changing attitudes towards drag throughout history.

42:12

Creator website

Episode guests

Jacob Bloomfield

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The term 'drag' originated from soliciting sex in women's clothes, evolving into a queer subcultural term associated with sex work and cruising.

Drag shows faced suppression, censorship, yet played a crucial role in servicemen's entertainment during WWI and WWII, highlighting evolving societal attitudes towards drag.

Deep dives

Origins of Drag Terminology and Meaning

The term 'drag' originated from the coach carriage drag where 'dragging the dress' referred to wearing women's clothes to solicit sex from men. Drag began as a queer subcultural term associated with sex work and cruising. The first instance of 'drag' in newspapers happened in 1870 in reference to the Bolton and Park case, shedding light on subcultural terms.

Introduction

2min

From Molly Houses to Mainstream: The Evolution of Drag Shows

15min

Perceptions of Drag in Relation to Sexuality and Class in the 19th to 20th Century

6min

Commerce Platform Advertisements and Historical Podcast Promotion

2min

The Evolution of Drag Culture: From War Zones to Theatrical Stages

20min

Closing Conversation and Podcast Credits

4min

The word drag is synonymous with flamboyant, fun performances. But where does the term come from and what does it mean?

This more modern story of playing with gender identity’s dates back to the 1870s, and it’s a history that takes in the wars, censorship and fears. Heaven forbid!

Taking us through this fascinating history of drag as we know it today is Jacob Bloomfield, author of Drag: A British History.

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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