Many popular movies offer examples of performances that bend or play with gender. The list below includes many of them. Choose a movie to watch that you have not seen before. While you watch the film, note your observations about how any of the characters learn gender or perform gender. How does race or ethnicity intersect with gender? How is sexual identity expressed in the performance of gender in these images of women?
Victor/Victoria
Tootsie
Doubtfire
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Switch
The Birdcage
Orlando
Shakespeare in Love
Boys Don’t Cry (trigger warning)
Big Momma’s House
Sorority Boys
The Nutty Professor
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Connie and Carla
Yentl
The Associate
Transamerica
How do the characters learn gender or perform gender?
How does race or ethnicity intersect with gender in the film?
How does sexual identity get expressed in the performance of gender?
