I don't know the answer to the first question. Alex's decision highlighted the choice they had to make just to be recognized for their work and put a real face on what had previously been a hypothetical, at least at the national awards level. I need to read more debate on this, cause this ain't easy.
Sexism is so ingrained within our society, where the gender binary reigns, that if we eliminate gendered categories altogether particularly in judging already subjective art, I fear that male identifying or presenting people will benefit and feminine expression will be deemed less impressive--unless of course, it's a male-identifying actor putting on feminine traits for a role. 💁
Take the Oscars. We can see how it plays out. Best Director? Women aren't nominated. Best Film? Films about women are anomalies and don't get the nods. We know Academy voters operate on the honors system, so they are not made to watch every movie nominated. Some older voters refused to even watch Get Out, saying it wasn't an Oscar kind of film. So, if we move to "Best Performer in a Drama," or "Best Performer in a Comedy," please. We already know how that will play out. Women get recognition for performance because they have a category where men are excluded. Sure, you'd probably get women nominated for performance, but when it comes down to give the awards out, that actress must be undeniably better than the dudes, or she's not getting the award, and Meryl Streep cannot be nominated every year.
Best Actor in a Male Role?
Best Actor in a Female Role?
That feels gross somehow too, but I think it's a little? better? to force characters into a gender binary than it is to force actors to choose which gender best represents them when "neither of those" is the answer. But, ideally, non-binary people will be also to see more representation of themselves in characters who are-non binary. So then??
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For fun, Manny this is hard! My first instinct when thinking about how to cast gender "neutrally" is apparently just to cast all women and make it gay, which...is not. the point. of the prompt.
I barely have dream roles with how little theatre I've read before this year, so dream roles + traditionally played by men? I've got ...?😂 Uh...when I was little I was obsessed with the Newsies. I found the one female character to be pretty boring, so when playing I used to pretend all the Newsies were girls and I was Jack Kelly*. we'll go with that!
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I don't have clear memories of being taught to preform gender, and a smattering of lessons on that I didn't have to. Honestly, the strongest and youngest memory I have of the concept of gender is the rhyme: Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, Boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails.
I do remember protesting being put down for being a girl pretty young, by boys in school. I do remember a few times as a kid where people were surprised I enjoyed traditionally "boy," things, but my parents never encouraged or discouraged any type of play. So that was a silently taught lesson on performance: You don't have to be a boy to enjoy things that boys like. You don't have to change to like what you like. That's probably not an uncommon experience. My parents didn't teach me what girls had to be like, though they silently showed me what girls are like by simple things, like putting me in dresses. I liked dresses fine, so never got the chance to become and issue. I liked being active and playing sports, which for my dad born in 1931, would not have been outside the realm of possibility that he could've objected. But he didn't, so it wasn't
I sometimes think my sisters and I were lucky that we didn't have brothers. My dad always did the activities and sports with us when we were kids since my mom worked more, and they put is in everything-soccer, softball, basketball, dance, skiing, horseback riding, gymnastics, swimming, cheerleading, volleyball, track, etc. My dad always came to the practices and games and would coach on occasion. I've wondered if we would have had all of those things with my dad if he'd had any sons. I think so... I remember a lot of lessons of "girls can do anything boys can do," though I do think that if I'd had brothers, my dad would likely have shut down any traditionally "feminine" play that they could have enjoyed. I was active and tomboyish and that was always ok. But it's generally safer for women to have interests outside of what is considered typical for their gender, because interests outside of their gender are generally thought of as better interests. It's not usually cool the other way.
This went on a tangent!
I can't think of how I use my gender to my advantage, honestly, other than things that are built in to the function of society, like...my insurance bills are probably lower? I've likely benefited from Affirmative Action more than people it was designed to benefit. On an interpersonal level, I can't really think of much. I am proudest of my qualities that are associated with the feminine, like empathy and care-taking, and that gets me more out of my relationships and no advantage, really, from society.
*...improving on Christian Bale was apparently a goal I had set for myself young...Smart, Kaitlin. Smart.
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