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Description
For two years (1965-1966) anthropologist Newton did field research in the world of drag queens--homosexual men who make a living impersonating women. Newton spent time in the noisy bars, the chaotic dressing rooms, and the cheap apartments and hotels that make up the lives of drag queens, interviewing informants whose trust she had earned and compiling a lively, first-hand ethnographic account of the culture of female impersonators. Mother Camp explores the distinctions that drag queens make show more among themselves as performers, the various kinds of night clubs and acts they depend on for a living, and the social organization of their work. A major part of the book deals with the symbolic geography of male and female styles, as enacted in the homosexual concept of "drag" (sex role transformation) and "camp," an important humor system cultivated by the drag queens themselves.--From publisher description. show lessTags
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An interesting anthropological consideration of drag queens in the 1960s. A lot of it the information is dated, but it's interesting to see what parts continue to linger, particularly in the perceived distinctions made between the queens themselves.
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Author Information
7+ Works 610 Members
Esther Newton is currently Term Professor of Women's Studies at the University of Michigan, and Professor Emerita of Anthropology and Kempner Distinguished Professor at Purchase College, SUNY. She is the auditor of Margaret Mead Made Me Gay: Personal Essays, Public Ideas, published by Duke University Press, and Mother Camp: Female Impersonators in show more America, coauthor of Womenfriends: A Soap Opera, and coeditor of Amazon Expedition: A Lesbian Feminist Anthology. show less
Series
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1972
- Dedication
- To Jean F. White and Nancy R. Smith, who helped me grow up.
Classifications
- Genres
- Anthropology, Sexuality and Gender Studies, LGBTQ+, Nonfiction, Sociology, General Nonfiction, History
- DDC/MDS
- 301.41 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Sociology and anthropology Formerly: Social structure
- LCC
- HQ77 .N49 — Social sciences The family. Marriage, Women and Sexuality The Family. Marriage. Women Sexual life Transexualism
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 169
- Popularity
- 194,283
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.07)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 1
