American Hysteria
Context Clues: Long Live the Queens
Aug 21, 2023
This podcast episode provides historical context on the relationship between female impersonation and American masculinity. It explores the evolution of gender signifiers, the commodification of baby gender, 3D ultrasounds, drag queens in Vaudeville shows, exploitation and empowerment in trash talk shows, societal anxieties around transgender individuals, and the disturbing actions of Ed Gean. It also teases an upcoming series on early drag queens of America.
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Quick takeaways
- Early drag queens faced barriers and moral panics, but later became a staple of queer culture.
- The perception of gendered clothing has been shaped by cultural and political influences over time.
Deep dives
Early Drag Queens: A Historical Overview
This podcast episode delves into the history of early drag queens, exploring their presence in English theater cross-dressing panics in the 1500s, the drag balls organized by formerly enslaved black men, and the female impersonators of the Vaudeville stage. The episode highlights the barriers and challenges these performers faced, as well as the societal anxieties and moral panics associated with drag. It also touches on how the movements for women's rights, gay rights, and transgender rights in the 1970s transformed the perception of drag queens, making them a staple of queer culture.
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