An exploration of gender from the perspective of cisgender male drag queens

ABSTRACT

Scholars who investigate drag performance tend to focus on associations between female impersonation and gender theories or social gender norms. Current conceptualizations of drag and gender identities draw on qualitative studies that either narrowly focus on gender through theoretical lenses or that comment on gender with secondary analyses. We sought to explore multiple psychological and sociocultural dimensions of identity and drag performance using a semi-structured interview protocol. Our participants were 12 gay cisgender male drag queens. We employed Consensual Qualitative Research method to analyse the resulting transcripts and we identified the following four domains pertinent to participants’ perspectives: making sense of gender, gender expectations, female impersonation, and transition through drag. Within these domains, we identified nine categories. In general, participants reported that their participation in the study was the first time they had deeply considered the gendered implications of drag performance and/or their own gender identity. We discuss implications for gender theory and offer suggestions for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Drag queen
• LGBT
• gender identity
• performance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Douglas Knutson

Douglas Knutson, PhD (he/him) is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Douglas also earned a Masters of Theology (M.T.S.) from Boston University School of Theology and a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in Applied Behavioural Studies with Professional Counselling from Oklahoma City University. He serves as the Communications Chair for the American Psychological Association Society of Counselling Psychology Section on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues and on the Standing Committee on Advocacy, Inclusion and Diversity for the Council of Counselling Psychology Training Programs. Douglas’ research focuses on transgender health and affirmative interventions.

Julie M. Koch

Julie M. Koch, Ph.D. (she/her) is Head of the School of Community Health Sciences, Counselling and Counselling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. She is a Licenced Health Service Psychologist in the State of Oklahoma. She serves as a representative from the American Psychological Association to the International Psychology Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Issues (IPsyNet). Her research interests include multicultural competence, training, and development of faculty and counsellors; human rights and social justice; LGBTQ mental health and affirmative practice, especially in rural and international settings; prevention in school settings; and microaffirmation.

Jenilee Sneed

Jenilee Sneed, Ph.D., C-IAYT (she/her) is a psychologist and yoga therapist at Counselling Services in California Polytechnic State University. Her clinical interests include working with trauma survivors, promoting social justice, and integrating embodied interventions into psychological practice. She also has a strong interest in qualitative approaches to research.

Anthony Lee

Anthony Lee, MPH (he/his) is an Epidemiologist for the Laboratory and Infections Disease Services Division at the Texas Department of State Health Services, focusing on data analysis on HIV care in the state. His analytical interests include intersectionality’s impact of HIV care, implicit bias between physicians and people living with HIV (PLWH), and health disparities among PLWH. He has a strong interest in developing and analysing data sets of disproportionately affected people living with HIV within the state of Texas.

Mar Chung

Mar Chung (they/them) is a graduate student in the counselling psychology program at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIUC). They received their BS in Psychology, with a minor in Sexuality Studies from University of California, Davis in 2014. They received their MA in Psychology at SIUC in 2017. Their thesis was an experimental study on masculinity threat and effects on reported transphobia. Their dissertation is focused on nonbinary individuals and influences on disordered eating. In their time at SIUC, they have instructed undergraduate classes of Gender in Diverse Context and Introduction to Clinical and Counselling Psychology. Their research interests and specialties include: intersectional focus on trans identities and queer/LGB identities, with a queer studies lens.