This week we will learn the construction of gender. Actually, I feel interested after I read Girls Find Safety Posing as Boys on Tehran's Mean Streets by Elaine Sciolino with Nazila Fathi. In the article, it said “ Some girls have taken to disguising themselves as boys. They cut their hair short, wear loose-fitting clothes and speak as little as possible. It is a growing phenomenon mainly among lower-class runaways who believe that the disguise gives them a degree of freedom and protection they could not enjoy as girls. Posing as boys on the streets makes it easier to avoid rape and falling victim to prostitution rings.” As female, we definitely do not want to pretend as a male. However, I believe, the girls in Tehran’s have no choice. In order to be in safe, posing as boys is the only way to protect themselves. Male plays a dominant role all the time. Sometimes I wonder, can boys understand the pain that girls suffer? Do they willing to pretend as a girl everyday?
On the other hand, I remember back there’s a film “ It’s a Boy Girl Thing”. It talked about sworn enemies find themselves in each other's bodies, and use this to ruin each other's lives. They had to learn how to control an opposite gender’s body. They need to imitate each other’s acts, gesture, the way they speak, and so on. It is funny and worth to see! I recommend it.
Tomorrow, we will have a little “Drag King” party. As an international student, to be honest, I have no idea about what “Drag King” is when I heard it first time. But now, I am kinda get the idea about drag king. I am looking forward about it.
Girls Find Safety Posing as Boys on Tehran's Mean Streets
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/19/international/middleeast/19IRAN.html
It’s a Boy Girl Thing
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482527/
Huixian,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I love how you make connections with pop culture and the media. Now that you've experienced the Drag King Workshop, what do you think? I found it to be a really interesting experience. How is dressing in drag accepted/rejected in your culture?
I like that!It's really cool and i had a lot of fun. In my culture, i think it's basically the same feeling as in the U.S. when people see someone else dressing in the opposite gender. If a girl is dressing like a boy, people may think she's a tomboy or even lesbian. It is a very funny and unforgettable experience. I love it!
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