The Drag Queen as Cultural Critique: Challenging Hegemonic Masculinity through Performance
Yubo Sun

UIA meihua international high school

Abstract. This study explores how drag queens use performance as a form of cultural critique to challenge and subvert hegemonic masculinity. By examining the performative practices of drag queens, this research seeks to understand how these performances offer a critical commentary on gender norms, power dynamics, and societal expectations. Through a qualitative approach involving interviews and performance analysis, the study investigates the ways in which drag queens engage with, resist, and reconfigure traditional masculine ideals. The findings suggest that drag performances provide a unique space for critiquing and reshaping dominant gender narratives, ultimately contributing to a broader understanding of gender diversity and fluidity.

Keywords: Drag queens, cultural critique, hegemonic masculinity, performance, gender norms, gender fluidity.

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