Fashion From Their Male Counterparts example essay topic

Men's Fashion for Women and Vice Versa Civilizations as ancient as Jericho and as widespread as the Roman Empire have used clothing and jewelry as a form of nonverbal communication to indicate specific occupation, rank, gender, class, wealth, and group affiliation. These same material goods are used today for similar modes of communication. While some modern societies like the Taliban in Afghanistan make such distinctions with utmost conformity (the Taliban of Afghanistan) others like America have proven to be more dynamic. This dynamic nature can be seen in the emergence of crossover fashion within the last 80 years which has correlated with the changing role and social status of women in society. The effect of the gradual increase of power for women during the Industrial Revolution could be seen in the increase of crossover fashion. As a result, crossover fashion is dominate and socially acceptable in today's society.

From the 1700's through the Industrial Revolution, regulating fashion was deemed as a way of preserving social and gender distinctions that were firmly established in the predominantly patriarchal society. During the 1850's, the Victorian Era, there were strict guidelines on how people could behave and dress, and behaviors that they had to conform to their everyday lives. The rules were so strict that there were codes for how certain inanimate objects should be displayed; for example, table covers had to be long enough to cover the table's legs because society thought that it had a sexual connotation. Furthermore, women were not able to display themselves as freely as men -- - hence; female attire was for the most part very static and uncomfortable. Women were constrained by their male dominated society which put them at a lower social level than men: "Men like to display a handsome vest, and nicely plaited shirt-bosom, and why may we not have the same privilege (109)?" Even in the political arena, women had no rights. However, landmark conventions such as the Seneca Falls of 1848 which occurred during the heart of the Industrial Revolution, which were organized to improve oppressed condition of women, helped the advancement of suffrage and women's rights.

Fashion changes reflected this gradual success and acquisition of rights -- - fashion was beginning to emerge as women wanted more social status in society. Females were willing to sacrifice themselves and their reputation to be able to dress and express themselves to the same degree as their male counterparts. Even as women joined the industrial workplace by working in factories, fashion was used not only for comfort but also to get the principle idea of equality heard: "A change is demanded and if I have been the means of calling the attention of the public to it and of leading only a few to disregard old customs and for once to think and act for themselves, I shall not trouble myself about the false imputations that may be cast upon me (100)". This shows that women were franticly attempting to be masculine instead of striving to perfect their femininity. This kind of wrong and radical way of thinking naturally found expression in clothing. Early in the 20th century, women became more active outside the home, and their attire began to reflect their ventures into the society and workplace.

The start of WWII encouraged this transition, as can be seen in political cartoons such as Rosie the Riveter, a masculine depiction of women and a staple for fashion. Explicit magazines of the 60's and 70's such as Playgirl portrayed women independence by exploiting their male counterparts for their sexual pleasure. Furthermore, it wasn't until the mid 1970's that women were being allowed to wear pants. What once was worn by men had now entered in the women's realm; once used by men to show their masculinity, it had now crossed over to the opposite sex and showed equality.

Here, the gaps between the sexes have slowly been disappearing. "Tattoos have also crossed over. 'Once the preserve of mach males wanting to tout their virility, is now part of the teen scene (121)". Even undergarments have transcended the sex barrier: .".. fly front on the boxer shorts Calvin Klein designed for women (120)". Women's apparel has once been dominated by men's, showing little differences among the sexes.

As men and women become more equal, they will begin to have the same clothing needs in the working environment. Pant-suits have become the norm in professional environments, reflecting woman's integration into the business world. Hence, women have been incorporated into society by not only playing a more affective a direct role in business economics, but also by adopting fashion from their male counterparts. As women were beginning to get more equality from the right to vote and the women's suffrage, the fashion began to reflect upon. Equality has broken the boundaries of today's fashion between both sexes. Women's fashion has changed from wearing decorous clothes at home to wearing similar men's clothes as they began to work.

What used to belong solely for men has become a huge part of women's fashion. More and more women got exposed to the working environment, thus contributing to the practical forms of female attire.