Drag Queens and Drag Kings: The Difference Gender Makes

Abstract

In this article, we use case studies of two different drag performance collectives, the 801 Girls, a drag queen troupe in Key West, Florida, and the Disposable Boy Toys, a political feminist collective in Santa Barbara, California, to explore the differences between drag queens and drag kings. We argue that, despite their divergent routes to performing drag and the different contexts and styles of their shows, a similar critique of hegemonic gender and heteronormativity emerges from their performances. As the first systematic comparison of drag queens and drag kings, this article enhances our understanding of the gendered dynamics of drag.