At the beginning of the semester, I considered fashion to be simply the art of dress. I have come to learn it is so much more, I have learned how much culture has shaped our daily practices (even if we are not made aware of it) and what is taboo and not. Even the act of dressing every day is shaped by our personal subject positions. Being female presenting and living in new york, I feel a certain restriction yet freedom in my dress, I cover my body in a certain way to keep glances from lingering on my body when I walk through the streets, but I also enjoy portraying myself with tailored clothing and colors that allow me to come across as natural and sophisticated. I always thought this was because it was simply my taste, I never realized it could be deeper than surface level. I never thought about it, but every little thing we wear stems from certain cultures and subject positions. Jewelry is completely ancient and dates back as far as we’ve been walking the earth.
“Crenshaw’s “intersectionality” was an instant hit among academics, where it was broadened beyond the scope of black women’s experiences. It showed up in queer theory, feminist legal theory, studies on race and gender and sexuality. It was a useful word, one that provided a framework for discussing broader patterns of oppression, power, discrimination — but one that remained in academia for years.”
I had no idea how a term like intersectionality could relate to the art of dress. I thought it was simply an umbrella term for a type of feminism, and, to be honest, I had no idea what the definition was. I’ve learned so much in this class about the world and how different subcultures relate to fashion and dress.
