Cross-dressing and Gender Performance

Unless we consider the occasional fictional example, contemporary females don’t have to masquerade as men to achieve their goals, as did the fictional Almira Paul. However, I do think that women in certain positions have to assume (stereotypically) masculine qualities, at least in their personalities and attitudes. We have a family friend who is a highly successful businesswoman, and she admits that at times her gender has been an issue. Women who climb to the top of the corporate ladder have to be more assertive, stronger-willed, and more vocal than society has traditionally expected them to be. While we accept that men are naturally competitive, women are more likely to be seen as the “peacemakers” given their nurturing nature. But in the business world, women have to take on that competitive edge. Even though we live in the 21^st century and like to think that we are above gender bias, a woman is sometimes viewed as a less capable leader when a man is up for the same position.

As far as men having to “perform femininity,” I can’t think of any great examples, but something that jumps to mind is the fashion industry. Doesn’t it seem that a disproportionate number of popular male designers are gay? I would not say that in order to succeed in that industry, a man has to take on feminine qualities; rather, I assume that a gay man’s sexual orientation simply predisposes him to have greater interest and talent in design. (So bad example, I know.) But it’s interesting to consider that our society still recognizes traditional male and female realms (for lack of a better word), and men and women who cross from one to the other often don’t fit the “traditional” gender mold.