No Evidence Of Return To Hegemonic Masculinities
"Aitken and Lukinbeal in Disassociated Masculinities and Geographies of the Road argue that the potentially libratory aspects of the road for masculinities in Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert are suppressed by a return to the logic of hegemonic masculinity." Overall, I do believe that there are pressures from the outside society that did encourage the group to act within the logic of hegemonic masculinity however, their ambitions are not ultimately suppressed by oppressions.
First, we must define what hegemonic masculinities is. It is basically the belief of society of how a male should behave. In this particular movie, we can see an abundance of societal pressures that alienates the group for being who they are. For example, we see the group being discriminated by some bigoted woman in the bar. The group's bus is painted over with offensive words. Also, Adam Whitely / Felicia Jollygoodfellow is chased by a man who disagrees with their practice as a drag queen. These are all examples that Aitken and Lukinbeal can use to support for their thesis that the potentially libratory aspects of the road for masculinities in Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert are suppressed by a return to the logic of hegemonic masculinity. The question to ask is whether the characters themselves are really suppressed or are they able to fulfill their ambitions to being the best drag queens.
Bernadette Bassenger is certainly the beacon of strength in the group as he comes to the rescue of the members whenever anyone threatens them. For example, he is able to stand up and defend his friend, Adam Whitely / Felicia Jollygoodfellow when some people chase and threaten him. He defies any societal suppression with courage. Adam Whitely / Felicia Jollygoodfellow similarly follows his ambitions even with jeering crowds at his drag queen shows. The character that would come to mind to most people as being an example of potentially libratory aspects of the road for masculinities being suppressed by a return to the logic of hegemonic masculinity would be Anthony "Tick" Belrose / Mitzi Del Bra. Anthony seems to become a "real man" again when he finds his son and his son accepts him for who he is. Although Anthony does hide his profession for a while, he is ultimately undeterred and strengthened when his son accepts him for who he is. Anthony was not necessarily concerned with what society thought of him. Anthony continues to do the things that he loves so as long as his son accepts him. Overall, the drag queens are being suppressed by society throughout the movie however, the suppression does not change who they are and what they want to do.
張惠妹