Reflection on Theme Map
Reflect on the experience of making your Theme Map. What new connections and ideas surfaced as you sorted the images? What sub-themes are most interesting to you? Why?
While I was doing my Theme Map, the idea of how size limitation on women fashion has been a way of social oppression on women rights and power becomes extremely interesting to me. The constant disregard and discrimination of plus size women in the mainstream fashion has put a strong stereotype on modern female body shape and form. Instead of giving all womankind the power to define what is beauty and choose the way they look, the society stresses one perfect body image that women has to follow. Everyone expects attractive women to be at size 2, with a slim waist, and a fullness in the chest and buttocks tight. It was irritating how this judgmental eyes have always been with female body form, especially in 18th and 19th century. I find the invention of corset in history to be extremely offensive to female liberty rights and social role in general. I believe to be able to achieve full feminism, the 21st century fashion world should incorporate women fashion ranges in different ages and sizes. The Theme Map research made me broaden my view of feminism in fashion. It’s not just about women can wear men’s suits and exhibit street style clothing in their closet nowadays, but also female body shapes cannot be judged in any kind of circustances in a sophisticated way. All women should find themselves within fashion, and be recognized as not only acceptable but also beautiful in the way they are in the society.
What research questions have you drafted in seminar? List possible questions.
Focus—Female Physical Form/ Feminist Issues of Ideal Female Body
-How does general social stereotypes lay on women body form in the 19th and 20th century?
-What does this expected female physical forms symbolizes and how does it change over time?
-What’s the public view on the distinct group who carries unexpected and unwanted female physical features （for example, obesity)?
-Does the revealing of the female physical form indicate a correct projection and perception on woman?
-What elements, styles campaigns in 21st century’s fashion world that indicates as rise of woman power in society？
-What does exposing female physical form and features in clothing make woman more easily to be associated with? Power or fragility and vulnerability?
-What’s the role of the unisex and oversized clothing in nowadays market? What does it symbolize?
