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Shakespeare and Gender
(Because Yes, Yes it Does Matter)
Here's a quick and comprehensive look at the use of gender in Shakespeare's plays, whether it's the performance history of Shakespeare shows, an analysis of gender in Much Ado About Nothing, as well as the messages and context in Shakespeare's shows regarding gender and sexuality.
Trousering and Crossdressing: Not Much of a Drag!
The idea of having individuals of one gender performing as a character of another gender is something that has been present in Shakespeare's work for as long as it's been around. This is mainly because all of the characters in his plays were originally played by men, regardless of the character's gender in the show. This was because of the rules against women performing, since it was seen as "sinful" or "promiscuous".
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