This summer at UCLA I was introduced to the idea of performing gender. That is, the ways that we daily act out our assigned – or assumed as the case may be – gender roles. Performing gender comprises many things, ordinary things that many of us take for granted and do not second guess. For women this would be things like shaving your legs, wearing make-up and jewelry. For men this would be things like consistently wearing pants and the grooming of your facial hair.
This idea is neat to me because it shows how fluid gender can be, and how we actively participate in the construction of a social phenomenon such as gender. For instance, although I identify greatly with femininity and act my gendered part in society likewise, I regularly flout certain societal dictates concerning proper behavior for my gender. That is, I do not wear make-up, or rarely any jewelry. I do not wear under-wire bras or shave my legs more than twice a month. I do, however, keep my hair long and regularly wear skirts.
The contradictions and constructions of others are even more puzzling. Some women never wear skirts but consistently wear those ghastly under-wire bras. Some women shave their legs every day and wear stockings and heels. Some women do not carry a purse. Men, while certainly bound to gendered expectations concerning their appearance, seem have more leeway in performing their gender so long as they do not wear attire defined as being strictly for the female form, i.e., skirts, and lingerie.
Halloween has made me think of all this once again because Hubby plans to once again dress up as a transvestite. This is all good and well, but it leaves me at a loss as to a comparably shocking/outlandish costume, for I cannot be a transvestite! I wear trousers regularly; there is no item of men’s clothing that I can wear with similar effect as that which my husband can achieve wearing my corset and slutty-black-skirt in public.
Thoughts? How do you perform gender on a daily basis? Does dressing up for Halloween or other costumed occasions in any way liberate you from the ordinary constraints of your gender?
You can create a five o' clock shadow using makeup?
Other than that you may be stuck looking like a tom-boyish girl
sorry if that disappoints
...
Saint O Nothin' Says
We were certainly uncertain
At least I'm pretty sure I am
We didn't need the water
BUT we still built that good God DAM!
- Modest Mouse
Hehe, I love thinking about how I totally don't perform gender as society expects me to. I wear my hair consistently short. I refuse to wear dresses, heels, make-up, perfume, or any bra that's not a sports bra, as I am spontaneously very active in the areas of dog wrestling, chicken herding, friend chasing and tree climbing. I have never shaved my legs and don't plan to. I wear tees and pants. The only jewelry I wear consistently is my cross. My ears are not pierced. And when it comes to chores, those stereotypically perceived as feminine, such as cooking and cleaning, though I am able to do both well enough to get by, I'd much rather be handling the tractor or mucking out stalls.
I think I'm somewhere in the middle, really... and it might have something to do with a mom who wants me to be the perfect housewife and a dad who pushed me to go to engineering school for four years. ^_^
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
--
Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me!!!
Is he dressing as a transvestite (actually, you technically don't dress as a transvestite, you are a transvestite) or is he dressing in drag? There is a difference - one is assuming the feminine performance role while the other defies the construct of gender.
If you want to try to break the gender performance bounds in a costume, may I recommend a cowboy costume, complete with chaps?
--Mike
I love dressing up like a man for the laughs. I crop my hair up in a cap. I wear the pants and polos and start walking like a guy. At least my friends love it.
Well, as Halloween's already come and gone, I cannot suggest a costume, but this is still a very interesting concept. I never wear skirts or dresses (well, maybe once a year, and I'm not happy about having to) or make-up or under-wire bras, but I have really long hair (I can very nearly sit on it!), pierced ears and will, occasionally, wear heels. I also drag a purse around with me but it's mainly a place to keep pencils and a sketchbook, not beauty products.
This is a really interesting concept and now I want to research it... Thank you for bringing it up!