event write up

I was planning on writing my second event reflection on the WGSS department’s affiliated faculty’s interdisciplinary talks, but I had the most surreal experience a few days ago that I much more eager to share. When I got home for Thanksgiving, in Chicago, my family announced that we were all going to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus this weekend (“The Greatest Show on Earth!”). I thought it might be kind of fun; I like cotton candy and tigers, so I was optimistic. The last time I went to this circus was at least 10 or 15 years ago, so I just remembered having fun.

The Ringling Brothers Circus is more of a traveling arena show; it was located in the United Center (whether the Bulls and Blackhawks play). I was feeling giddy and silly as it was about to begin. But, from the first moment, I could NOT take off my “feminist glasses.” The circus decided to begin by—seriously—talking about the troops and the War in Iraq and having the ringleader lead the crowd in the national anthem. I was just very surprised that the circus, of all things, was being made into a nationalistic space. There wasn’t really a need for it; I don’t think anyone would have noticed if they hadn’t done it. Immediately, I felt the space become militarized and masculine.

Next, I become hyperconscious of the role of the ringleader. The ringleader, which thinking back I’ve never in any representation of circuses seen as a woman, is actually this strange hyper-masculine and hyper-white character. (At the same time, and because of that, it’s pretty hilariously campy). He’s got the deep voice, dashing good looks, walks around in a suit and top hat, and is in charge of everything (and even explains so in a song). And, infuriatingly, he was also accompanied by a throng of scantily clad women whose role it seemed to be to dote over the ringleader.

Speaking of women, I felt like women’s rights took a huge step back in this space. I would approximate that at least a third to a half of the skilled performers were women. They showed a wide range of talents; animal trainers, acrobats, clowns, etc. However, despite the fact that the women performers were doing just as much as the men, the women were relegated to wearing elaborate-yet-skimpy costumes, and often, acted as decorations or accessories for the male performers.

I was truly shocked (though maybe I shouldn't have been) at how this seemingly benign space of the circus was actually an arena for representations and performances of the most extremely polarizing masculinities and femininities. It was just so striking to me how many children were watching these performances—including my younger siblings—and in addition to absorbing the neat acrobatics, they were absorbing just uncritical gender roles.