Feminism and Fashion

Fashion is a cultural activity that over time has managed to exclude itself against systematic analysis. Instead it is a more positive thing to say that fashion has always existed as a challenge to be understood as multi faceted. These challenges are exactly what attract people who believe that the meaning behind fashion culture is meaningless or trivial. This approach of fashion as a culture can be related to dealing with the perspective of the views of the extreme feminist. The concepts of how fashion has evolved in the sense of a product and in the sense of a symbol of feminism. Sociologists approach the work of fashion designers such as Coco Chanel and Vivienne Westwood in relation to questions of representation, subjectivity and the construction of sexual identity. A related concept to the use of femininity within the history of the fashion industry is primarily the body within any clothing system.

Many feminist groups view the practice of a woman being able to have the freedom to cultivate her own appearance makes her a collaborator in woman’s oppression. On the other end some of these groups use the issue of a woman’s personal appearance to be viewed as an instrument of power and control within the women’s movement which deals with issues such as class, education, and ethnicity. In every generation women with more education, more leisure and more connections to institutions of power have set examples in fashion as a product to women all over. These are the women that show society what to wear in order to become liberated.

This type of liberation that woman can get from fashion can been seen in every culture throughout history. Women have used fashion as a decorating or grooming process. It is natural for women to want to groom and perfect themselves to the best of their ability. This concept is often looked down upon by extreme feminists who consider the right way to groom is to do as little grooming as possible. They believe the grooming process is something made up by men to demoralize women. This view on feminism and concept of a “less is more” attitudes are more commonly known as the “all natural” way. This concept has been criticized for being somewhat hypocritical considering that most people including men naturally want to groom and accessorize to look their best. What does this say about women who do not take grooming seriously? Are they less feminine than women who love to groom and accessorize?

The answer is no. Feminists have their ways of grooming just like the everyday woman, only the extreme feminist believes that anything advertised as being sexy or girly is only a marketing technique controlled by men who set impossible standards for women that most will never be able to meet. If fashion and product advertisements only picture the most beautiful women in the sexiest clothes, feminists believe that these are unrealistic standards they will never be able to meet. What happens to the women who become fascinated and inspired by these commercial standards of fashion and business? These are the women who embrace high heels, skirts, and the entire feminine culture. Women and men are completely different and nothing will ever change that. I believe women need to move fashion forward and use their feminine side to benefit them to succeed.

Sources:

http://www.jstor.org/pss/1395377

http://news.illinois.edu/NEWS/04/1214fashion.html