Drag - meaning and definition
Alsodrag queendrag kingdrag performancedrag queensdrag kingsdrag artistdrag show
Definition
A performance art in which people exaggerate or play with gender through costume, makeup, character and stagecraft.
At a glance
- Drag is a performance art that plays with gender through costume, makeup and character.
- Drag queens usually perform femininity and drag kings masculinity.
- It is closely tied to LGBTQ nightlife and history.
- Drag is a performance, not a gender identity.
- Performers can be of any gender or orientation.
In detail
Drag queens usually perform an exaggerated femininity and drag kings an exaggerated masculinity, although drag has many styles. It is closely linked to LGBTQ nightlife and history and has become part of mainstream entertainment.
Drag is a performance, not a gender identity. Performers can be of any gender or orientation, and most live out of drag in daily life. Some trans people perform drag, but being trans and doing drag are separate things.
In a sentence
- We went to a drag brunch for her birthday and the host was hilarious.
- He's been performing as a drag king for ten years.
Where the word comes from
Drag was used as theatre slang in the nineteenth century. Its exact origin is unclear, and the popular claim that it is an acronym is not supported by evidence.
Not to be confused with
- Transgender
Drag is a performance; transgender is an identity.
- Crossdressing
Crossdressing is wearing clothes associated with another gender in everyday or private life; drag is stylised performance.
Common questions
Are drag queens transgender?
Not necessarily. Drag is a performance, and most performers live out of drag in daily life. Some trans people do drag, but being trans and performing drag are separate things.
What is the difference between a drag queen and a drag king?
A drag queen usually performs an exaggerated femininity, and a drag king an exaggerated masculinity. Performers of any gender can be either, and many styles of drag mix both.