Authors

• Ritola, Salli-Sofia (University of Jyväskylä)

Keywords

femininity, gender expression, gender identity, gender role, masculinity, sex

Abstract

The data consists of interviews with Finnish burlesque performers, in which the interviewees talk about their own relationship with burlesque and how gender and embodiment are presented in burlesque.

First, the interviewees were asked about their own relationship with burlesque, asking them, for example, how they became acquainted with burlesque and what burlesque means to them. They were also asked to describe their own burlesque persona or character and what kinds of themes and topics they cover in their performances. Next, they were asked about the gender representation in burlesque. The interviewees were asked, among other things, whether gender is visible in their performances, whether there are challenges associated with gender representation, whether burlesque challenges traditional gender perceptions, and how burlesque deals with toxic representations of genders and bodies. In addition, topics related to embodiment such as body positivity, body criticism, body image pressure, and the significance of embodiment in burlesque were discussed.

Background variables include gender, length of time performing burlesque, and age.