[1] Fashioning Women’s Empowerment: power dressing and gender

From: Una Pupola, una.pupolainbox.lv
Date: Jul 25, 2023
Deadline: Aug 25, 2023

Session Chair: Una Pupola (Doctoral Student of the Visual Arts and Design Sub-programme of the Professional Doctoral Study Programme in Arts at the Art Academy of Latvia)

In 2016 at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Hillary Clinton wore a white Ralph Lauren suit to accept her party’s nomination for the U.S. president. In an intimate and yet explicit way Clinton fashioned her body to reference women’s suffragette movement and the fight for equality. White was one of the official colours of the National Women’s Party (USA) and Women’s Social and Political Union (UK). Prior to Clinton, white was worn for example in the 1978 march in Washington in support of the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1984 the first female candidate for the U.S. vice president Geraldine Ferraro also wore white. The white pantsuit once again became a power uniform to project empowerment, authority and confidence. The visual politics of fashion articulates ways in which fashion communicates identity through visual cues. ‘Power dressing’ has been a recognised trend in women’s wardrobes. Joanne Entwistle, in ‘’Power Dressing’ And The Construction Of The Career Woman’ (2020) suggests it inspired a redefinition of femininity and generated an alternative ‘technology of the self’. This panel welcomes contributions exploring ways in which fashion re-negotiates societal norms, particularly concerned with gender and class. It invites critical perspectives interrogating factors behind women’s fashion choices in terms of limitations to their freedom of choice and inclusion; and resistance to convey individuality and authenticity. Specific case studies analysing and negotiating the intersections of fashion agency, societal expectations, vestments of power are of particular interest, with a focus on women’s empowerment and their social mobility.

More detailed information about the application and the conference here: https://aaanz.info/aaanz-home/conferences/2023-conference-griffith-university/call-for-papers-2023-conference/

Submit Paper Proposals to this Email: una.pupolainbox.lv

Application Key Dates:
The Call for Papers is open until August 25
Notification of Successful Paper Applications 1st September
Full Panel Details due 15th September