Navigating the Paradoxes: How Ballroom Culture Both Challenges and Reinforces Heteronormativity

Ferocious, Undaunting, and Cunty. These were my initial impressions of the ballroom scene after watching three sessions of POSE, a TV series that nostalgically reflects the progressions of ballroom members in the late twentieth century. I was amazed by the techniques showcased by the participants and stunned by the realization that ballroom carries fundamental meanings and significance beyond winning trophies—it represents a minoritarian society where heteronormativity is reduced but still insidious. Despite my fascination, I hadn’t had the chance to witness a ball in person. Age restrictions and the difficulty of accessing this marginalized group, even within the broader Queer community, were barriers. Fortunately, I connected with a group of friendly community members based in Shenzhen. Through their chat group, a video-game-themed ball piqued my interest, leading me to share my experience and reflections after attending it virtually.

The ball was held in Hong Kong on July 13, 2024. My feelings about the event were ambivalent. Despite feeling thrilled, I also experienced anxiety due to being among unfamiliar people and my lack of experience in such scenarios. The ball was scheduled to start at seven in the evening, so I arrived a bit earlier. The district was mostly residential, with worn-out buildings lining the streets. A funny anecdote is that I initially went to the wrong venue. The buildings were in a row, and after following the map, I wandered around, unable to find the entrance and realizing in hindsight that I had entered the wrong one. However, the iconic costumes and makeup of the ballroom participants helped me find the correct venue on my second attempt as I spotted and followed some of them on the street.

My empirical experience confirms what Marlon M. Bailey writes in his book about ballroom culture: “Balls never start on time.” This was very true, as some interlocutors from the Shenzhen scene told me they “have a problem with being punctual,” and everyone remained relaxed despite the late start. After sitting around for exactly one hour, the “Video Game Ball” finally commenced. In the following passages, I will discuss various aspects of the ball and my reflections on them.

Challenging Heteronormativity in Ballroom Culture

Destigmatizing Gender Expression

Gender expression refers to the process of showing or expressing our gender in an explicit and externalized way. Heteronormativity is the idea that naturalizes assumptions about sexed bodies, gender expression, and sexual identity. It underlies the normative, even heteronormative, structures and social norms dictated to each individual.

The fascination of ballroom culture lies in its ability to empower people marginalized in heteronormative society due to their queer gender expressions and identities. Ballroom creates a quasi-utopian space where gender is not seen as a natural attribution but as an experiment, a social construct, or a performance. This allows its members to cast off the pretended or false personas they present in broader society. Gender, traditionally used in a binary setting, faces multiple forms of oppression, including sexism, cissexism, and heterosexism. Conventional thinking assumes that gender identity and gender expression are straightforward and aligned with the sex assigned at birth. This is the idea of sexism: a baby born with male genitalia is considered male, grows into a man, and is expected to dress and act in a masculine manner. This mindset is perpetuated in society, making us believe it is the normal way for every individual to follow this exclusive standard.

Heteronormativity normalizes common patterns and deems them normal, with anything outside these patterns considered abnormal. For instance, heteronormativity favors males over females and masculinity over femininity. This is a social construct where meaning is assigned to naturally occurring phenomena. It is crucial to distinguish between natural facts and the designated systems of classification and categorization imposed on these phenomena. Gender, gender expression, and gender identity are not exclusive categories with certain features and standards to follow, as gender is a social construct rather than a naturally occurring phenomenon. Ballroom culture to some extent explains what Butler Judith theorizes through “Gender performativity” that nobody is a gender from the start, instead gender is a phenomenon that is produced and reproduced over time.

"Cunt vs. Cunt": A Challenge to Heteronormativity

The challenge to heteronormative norms is evident in the ballroom category called “Cunt vs. Cunt.” In this category, participants express their most ferocious "cunty" energy and the beauty of being feminine, often through male-figured bodies. This poses a direct violation of heteronormativity. In this Kiki ball experience, four Butch Queens, who are very tall—a trait often associated with masculinity—wear hot and extremely short skirts to perform (meaning to take on, or enact something instead of entertaining others) and compete. Given that masculinity is what heteronormative society prefers and treats as default, violating it by taking an opposite approach is a powerful challenge to the notion of normality and abnormality. Two important concepts, patriarchy and misogyny, further explain the power of this category to challenge social norms. Patriarchy suggests that males hold disproportionate power in the world, privileging them, while misogyny reveals femininity as demeaning or degrading. By adopting feminine gender expressions while holding privileged social positions, these Butch Queens exert significant power to challenge and subvert problematized heteronormativity, also bringing potent critiques of standardized gender norms generated by heteronormativity.

The Influence of Heteronormativity in Ballroom Culture

Despite the progressive and inclusive nature of ballroom culture, the influence of heteronormativity remains insidious. This is evident in categories such as “Tag Team Realness” in Kiki balls. The Realness category is a prominent feature in ballroom culture. Instead of pursuing literal reality, ballroom members aim for "realness," meaning the ability to present themselves in a way that is unclockable by outsiders, often to blend in and avoid discrimination (e.g., a femme queen passing as a cisgender woman).

In the “Tag Team Realness” category, participants are required to “come as a pair of Sims (a video game) Couple.” During one scene, I was particularly impressed by a pair who dressed up in wedding attire in a highly formal manner. While this display was striking and elegant, it also assimilated elements of heteronormativity, particularly heterosexism. The representation of opposite-sex marriage and monogamous relationships, as naturalized by broader society, was evident.

I am not negating the meaningfulness of the Realness category. In fact, it provides ballroom members with a safe space to rehearse what is preferred by normative society. By following these norms, members can face far fewer oppressions related to their intersectionality, leading to safer and happier real lives. However, it is essential to recognize how these categories can unintentionally reinforce heteronormative ideals, even within a subculture that seeks to challenge and subvert traditional norms.

The Dual Nature of Realness: Empowerment and Conformity

Empowerment Through Realness: The Realness category empowers ballroom members by allowing them to navigate the broader societal norms safely. It offers a form of protection, enabling them to blend in and avoid the harsh realities of discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. By mastering the art of realness, members gain confidence and skills that can help them in their daily lives. This ability to conform temporarily provides a strategic advantage in a society that often marginalizes those who deviate from the norm.

Conformity and Its Implications: However, the emphasis on realness also raises important questions about conformity and its implications. While realness provides immediate safety and acceptance, it can also perpetuate the very norms that ballroom culture seeks to dismantle. For instance, the portrayal of traditional heterosexual relationships in the "Tag Team Realness" category can inadvertently validate heteronormative ideals. This dual nature of realness—offering both empowerment and reinforcement of normative structures—highlights the complex dynamics within ballroom culture.

Conclusion: Navigating the Complex Dynamics of Ballroom Culture

Ballroom culture stands as a vibrant and empowering subculture that provides a sanctuary for those marginalized by broader societal norms. It challenges heteronormativity through its unique categories and performances, allowing members to express their identities in ways that defy traditional gender expectations. The categories such as “Cunt vs. Cunt” and “Tag Team Realness” illustrate the community's capacity to subvert and critique standardized gender norms, while also highlighting the dual nature of empowerment and conformity within the ballroom scene. However, the insidious influence of heteronormativity persists even within this progressive space. The Realness category, while offering safety and acceptance, can also inadvertently reinforce the very norms it seeks to challenge. This duality underscores the complexity of navigating identity and expression within both ballroom culture and broader society.

Recognizing and addressing these contradictions is crucial for the continued evolution and resilience of the ballroom community. By maintaining a critical awareness of how heteronormative ideals can infiltrate even the most inclusive spaces, ballroom culture can further its mission of creating a truly transformative and empowering environment. Ultimately, the ongoing dialogue and reflection within the community will ensure that the ballroom remains a powerful force for social change and personal liberation, continually redefining what it means to be real.