On the other hand, even Drag Race is not immune from our persistent cultural idea that gender is rooted in biology. The queens typically take all sorts of measures to approximate female-sexed bodies. They shave their facial stubble; they “contour” their makeup to create the illusion of feminine cheekbones; they “tuck” (taping back the penis and scrotum, to eliminate the bulge); they put on fake breasts; and they cinch their waists and add padding to create hourglass silhouettes. The judges critique them when they do these things ineffectively. Contestants are praised for being “fish”—that is,
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