In drag, it’s all-inclusive. Drag shows are produced throughout the country and have become more acceptable thanks to media like RuPual’s Drag Race. When discussing drag, first thoughts normally go to drag queens. But, what about drag kings?
Historically, drag kings have been female performers who wear masculine drag and construct themselves into the stereotypical male image. They perform a variety of shows depicting their art, some even impersonate major male stars, like Elvis or Mick Jagger.
Drag kings emerged in theater and opera in the late 1800s. Annie Hindle was the first popular drag king in the United States, performing from 1868 to 1886. Her skills were labeled astonishing, and she received high praise for her impersonations. Following Hindle, black drag kings, like Stormé DeLarverie and Gladys Bentley, became popular forces in the drag king world. By the 90s, drag scenes were popping up everywhere. However, the drag king craze slowed as drag queens came into the spotlight.
Traditionally, drag kings are represented by wearing facial hair, like a goatee or chin strap. They wear traditional masculine clothing, which could mean anything from a formal suit to leather pants. They may wear a short-hair wig or pin back their hair in a certain way to appear more masculine. They typically aim to represent traditional masculine ideals.
But, the expressionism of drag kings is ever-changing. Ranging from effeminate drag kings to non-binary drag kings, all the variety of kings play with different aspects of gender identity to not only entertain but to tell a powerful story as well.
A drag king’s goals range from transforming masculinity into something new to pointing out toxic masculinity in today’s society. When women transform into male characters, they normally highlight the negativity of traditional roles, attempting to deny the patriarchy. However, this can create a lot of negative outlooks toward the drag community based on the statements drag kings make.
Recently, some drag kings stepped up to speak against programming like RuPaul’s Drag Race for not being inclusive. They want the ability to get into the mainstream media like drag queens but feel as though they are being held back. Balancing representation is complex, but women’s previous societal underrepresentation is believed to be bleeding into the drag world.
Nonetheless, drag kings' masculine representation brings an essential wave of expressionism and storytelling to the drag community. They are determined to get their name and stories out there, so they can share their art with the world.
Written and Curated by: Emmy Bailey
Blog Published and Directed by: Natalia Miller
Comments