Episode 11 | History of Female Impersonation and Gendered Performances in South Asia

Masala History

The act of men impersonating women has had a long history in the performance cultures of South Asia. Our understanding of these enactments in theater, dance, or in religious rituals has, however, remained marginal, often considering these in western modes as 'drag' while discounting complex issues of gendered gaze, sexuality, and social mores in which these performances are embroiled. In this episode, Shilpa Menon breaks down the practice of female impersonation in South Asia providing us the history of the practice as well as its contemporary relevance, while presenting these practices as an important issue when considering rights of marginalized groups in India and other parts of the subcontinent.