Date of Award
Spring 5-23-2021
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department
East Asian Studies
First Advisor
Shawn Bender
Language
English
Abstract
While Japanese queer subcultures is a common topic of discussion within academia, the Japanese drag queen is not. In fact, drag queens in general are often unrecognized in academic literature, let alone the Japanese drag queen. Drag queens consist of mostly gay men who present themselves as women while performing for gay and straight audiences alike. This piece begins the conversation regarding Japanese queens and their connections to queer advocacy work. By interviewing several drag queens from the Nagoya area, this paper illustrates their lived experiences as queer people and how they contribute to LGBTQ advocacy in Japan. In addition, I analyze the life of Furuhashi Teiji, a drag queen from 1980s Kyoto Japan. Drag queens ultimately use their unique position within queer spaces to provide visibility to the larger queer community. Furthermore, their ability to influence straight audiences, drive to create new queer spaces, and position within LGBTQ communities allows queens to have a larger impact on queer advocacy in Japan.
Recommended Citation
Mancini, Julie Elizabeth, "Queens and Queerness: Drag Performers and LGBTQ Advocacy Work in Japan" (2021). Dickinson College Honors Theses. Paper 404.
https://scholar.dickinson.edu/student_honors/404
Included in
East Asian Languages and Societies Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons