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Collimator

(2,046 posts)
Mon Nov 10, 2025, 10:15 AM Nov 10

I have a theory that you can really tell how a man feels about women when he dresses as one.

Perhaps this holds true with the genders reversed, though it is a less common trope in entertainment.

Just to establish my bona fides, I am a straight, cis female and I accept that people have differing sexual orientations and gender identities.

The theory mentioned above came into my mind decades ago while watching Monty Python. I just had a gut feeling that those men had an innate sympathy for the women they were portraying. In contrast, equally decades ago there was a player on Saturday Night Live who often performed in drag and something in his manner cut into me. I really got the feeling that he did not like women.

He also had a Gay affect, though he would not have been out publicly at the time-- and no, I don't believe for a second that Gay men in general hate women.

The reason that I'm bringing this up is that I was over at another website called, "Cracked" and images of that past SNL player came up in a small thumbnail on the screen. A quick glance at his face gave me that same unnerved feeling that I had all those years ago when I watched him perform and I had no desire to click on that thumbnail and go down that rabbit hole.

Do any other old-timers remember the SNL cast member that I'm writing about? And what do you think of my theory? Furthermore, how do you suppose it relates to the current moral panic over drag shows?

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I have a theory that you can really tell how a man feels about women when he dresses as one. (Original Post) Collimator Nov 10 OP
As I recall there were two portraying unlikable characters. blm Nov 10 #1
Never got the feeling that Dana Carvey didn't like women. Collimator Nov 10 #2
Terry played Nancy Reagan irreverently overthetop, blm Nov 10 #6
Wasn't there also a kind of gender-neutral character named "Pat?" viva la Nov 10 #3
That was Julia Sweeney. Collimator Nov 10 #5
If you are dressing as a woman because you dream of being ravished Frasier Balzov Nov 10 #4

blm

(114,374 posts)
1. As I recall there were two portraying unlikable characters.
Mon Nov 10, 2025, 10:24 AM
Nov 10

Terry Sweeney was Nancy Reagan. Dana Carvey was “Church Lady”.

Collimator

(2,046 posts)
2. Never got the feeling that Dana Carvey didn't like women.
Mon Nov 10, 2025, 10:30 AM
Nov 10

As for the "Church Lady". . . As a former Fundamentalist, I can't exactly claim that I "like" her, and yet, there is a reason why the character is so enduring.

Terry Sweeney may, indeed, be the player that I am remembering. As I said, I found him so unnerving that I don't feel like looking him up just to confirm.

Thank you.

blm

(114,374 posts)
6. Terry played Nancy Reagan irreverently overthetop,
Mon Nov 10, 2025, 10:54 AM
Nov 10

which made it funny. I never got the vibe that he disliked women, and I have personally met most of all the 70s, 80s, and 90s players.

viva la

(4,409 posts)
3. Wasn't there also a kind of gender-neutral character named "Pat?"
Mon Nov 10, 2025, 10:31 AM
Nov 10

And the main joke was no one was quite sure of their gender, with even the name being neutral.

Frasier Balzov

(4,733 posts)
4. If you are dressing as a woman because you dream of being ravished
Mon Nov 10, 2025, 10:35 AM
Nov 10

I think you might still not be completely understanding feminine plight.

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