Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature
Gender, Performance, and Queer Relations
By Simone Chess | Publisher: Taylor and Francis
About the book
This volume examines and theorizes the oft-ignored phenomenon of male-to-female (MTF) crossdressing in early modern drama, prose, and poetry, inviting MTF crossdressing episodes to take a fuller place alongside instances of female-to-male crossdressing and boy actors’ crossdressing, which have long held the spotlight in early modern gender studies. The author argues that MTF crossdressing episodes are especially rich sources for socially-oriented readings of queer gender—that crossdressers’ genders are constructed and represented in relation to romantic partners, communities, and broader social structures like marriage, economy, and sexuality. Further, she argues that these relational representations show that the crossdresser and his/her allies often benefit financially, socially, and erotically from his/her queer gender presentation, a corrective to the dominant idea that queer gender has always been associated with shame, containment, and correction. By attending to these relational and beneficial representations of MTF crossdressers in early modern literature, the volume helps to make a larger space for queer, genderqueer, male-bodied and queer-feminine representations in our conversations about early modern gender and sexuality.
Editions of Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature
- EBook
- ISBN 9781317360858
- PDF
- ISBN 9781317360865
Read an Excerpt
This volume examines and theorizes the oft-ignored phenomenon of male-to-female (MTF) crossdressing in early modern drama, prose, and poetry, inviting MTF crossdressing episodes to take a fuller place alongside instances of female-to-male crossdressing and boy actors’ crossdressing, which have long held the spotlight in early modern gender studies. The author argues that MTF crossdressing episodes are especially rich sources for socially-oriented readings of queer gender—that crossdressers’ genders are constructed and represented in relation to romantic partners, communities, and broader social structures like marriage, economy, and sexuality. Further, she argues that these relational representations show that the crossdresser and his/her allies often benefit financially, socially, and erotically from his/her queer gender presentation, a corrective to the dominant idea that queer gender has always been associated with shame, containment, and correction. By attending to these relational and beneficial representations of MTF crossdressers in early modern literature, the volume helps to make a larger space for queer, genderqueer, male-bodied and queer-feminine representations in our conversations about early modern gender and sexuality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature about?
This volume examines and theorizes the oft-ignored phenomenon of male-to-female (MTF) crossdressing in early modern drama, prose, and poetry, inviting MTF crossdressing episodes to take a fuller place alongside instances of female-to-male crossdressing and boy actors’ crossdressing, which have long held the spotlight in early modern gender studies. The author argues that MTF crossdressing episodes are especially rich sources for socially-oriented readings of queer gender—that crossdressers’ genders are constructed and represented in relation to romantic partners, communities, and broader social structures like marriage, economy, and sexuality. Further, she argues that these relational representations show that the crossdresser and his/her allies often benefit financially, socially, and erotically from his/her queer gender presentation, a corrective to the dominant idea that queer gender has always been associated with shame, containment, and correction. By attending to these relational and beneficial representations of MTF crossdressers in early modern literature, the volume helps to make a larger space for queer, genderqueer, male-bodied and queer-feminine representations in our conversations about early modern gender and sexuality.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary studies: general
Where can I read a sample of Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781317360858
Is Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Routledge Studies in Renaissance Literature and Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature?
Simone Chess
Who is the Publisher of the book Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature?
Taylor and Francis
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Male-to-Female Crossdressing in Early Modern English Literature is available as ebook(ISBN 9781317360858) and pdf(ISBN 9781317360865)