Mariah Carey makes headlines as a man
Mariah Carey sticks on a fake beard and a hoodie and people can't stop talking. Of course, she is Mariah Carey, so whatever she does is probably going to make headlines. According to PopEater, it seems that Carey's gender bending is related to a feud with rapper Eminem, who recorded a song insulting Carey and her husband, Nick Cannon. Carey has come back with a response in the form of a new song and video where she gets back at Em - and so it goes.
But while the beef between Carey and Eminem might be the most interesting aspect of this whole 15-minutes-of-masculinity, that's not what the headlines are focused on. Instead, the fact that Carey put on men's clothing, supposedly to imitate the rapper, in "Obsessed", her music-video response to his attack, is what's causing all the fuss.
Obviously, Mariah Carey is not trans. Her male persona is simply a vehicle in order to make a video and a point, and to mock Eminem in the process. But what, exactly, is so fascinating about a woman - even Mariah Carey - taking on a male persona, if only for the purposes of a video? Why are we so "obsessed" with gender that Carey's gender role in "Obsessed" is more important than the music - or the message - itself?
Certainly, Carey's new song will get attention no matter what. But our overblown fascination with the strict divisions between male and female genders, and how Carey is supposedly transgressing them, will certainly not hurt its success.
There's no problem with Carey dressing in male garb to get her point across. It demonstrates that anyone can transgress gender norms. But for some serious and entertaining gender transgression, check out the Drag Kingz of Tranzcend, a local drag king troupe that performs at various events.
While Carey's statement has to do with her beef with Em, the Kingz make a statement about the folly of strict gender norms every time they perform. (Examiner)
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