Friday, March 18, 2011

Feminist Dress



Cardigan: J Crew
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Tee: Target (men's undershirt)
Scarf: gift from my uncles
Booties: Aldo
Belt: Banana Republic
Sunnies: Puerto Rico
Earrings: swapped

This is me being super late on this week's Feminist Fashion Blogger's post, but I've been thinking a lot about the way I express my beliefs, particularly my feminism in the way I dress, and I do want to talk about it.


I feel like the way I dress does say something about what I believe. I don't think it's obvious, and I don't intend for it to be, but I think that these things are a part of the way I make decisions about what I buy and how I wear what I wear. And now here is where my "Third World feminism"comes into play. One of the things that I believe is really important is the celebration, if you will, of those things that are traditionally feminine.


One of my issues with "traditional" Western feminism is the way that we've been asked to embrace all things that are traditionally masculine and almost disparaging those things that have long been "women's work". As if those things hadn't been the kinds of things on which society was built. And I think that ignoring those things - picking up more of that "men's work" without expecting reciprocal respect and sharing of "women's work" is not the kind of feminism I want to be part of.


And so, when I dress, I like to celebrate that femininity, a shout out to the women of the past. Strong women like my grandmother and my great grandmother. Women who worked outside of the home out of economic necessity, not by choice. Women who raised children who have become productive, intelligent citizens. Women who may not have had the opportunities that I've had, who made choices that I might never make, but who should be celebrated for their strength and their weaknesses, for the lessons they passed on. Women like my mother who stayed home to rear children. And though I may have seen it as a weakness when I was a child, I see it as nothing but strength now.


The thought of being a mother scares me. At twenty-eight, I don't feel my biological clock ticking and pushing me towards that kind of miracle, but I do revel in claiming a lot of traditional roles: wearing skirts, walking in heels, cooking dinner and showing the strength in those things. Seriously, more men should know the comfort of a skirt.

11 comments:

  1. Amen sister!
    I also weary when people mention feminism, I do embrace feminism to a certain point but I don't want to forget about feminity along the way. You look so beautiful and I agree with you on your mom staing at home, it's hard work and I wish my mom could have stayed at home and take care of us, but she had to get out and work to support us, and now so do I. =)

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  2. Totally agree. Great post.
    Love the cardi and that scarf with it.
    https://fashiondivamommy.blogspot.com

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  3. I agree that men should know the comfort of a skirt. It's strange to think that their wardrobes are generally more stylistically restrictive, whereas ours tend to be restricted by references to our sexuality.

    Here's to the tasks upon which society was built!

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  4. This is a great post. I agree with you that in trying to be equal to men, some women end up rejecting traditional women's clothing and work... and that doesn't get anyone anywhere! I think the important things are choice and balance. It's okay to wear skirts and frilly dresses or choose to be a stay at home mom, just as it's okay to wear trousers and blazers and be the CEO of a company. I hate that some choices are regarded as "more feminist" than others, when the movement should be about not letting society dictate what is okay for a woman to do, wear, etc.

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  5. This is so beautifully said. Here's to the women who have made my choices possible.

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  6. You are so right. Sometimes, in an effort to advance feminism, people forget to celebrate women, instead trying to fit in more with the men. Kudos to you for celebrating the women who came before you.

    The Auspicious Life

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  7. The word "Feminism" has been corrupted. The true definition means that men and women are equal. I believe God created all people equal with their place in this world being unique. I have been pigeon-holed before and I never fit in that hole. I love your post and your RIGHT!!! Thanks for standing up for us women while embracing our uniqueness and specialness of being a woman.

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  8. 1st of all I love your post. Well said.

    2nd I love the outfit. The scarf just adds to the outfit!

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  9. Amen sister!
    I also weary when people mention feminism, I do embrace feminism to a certain point but I don't want to forget about feminity along the way. You look so beautiful and I agree with you on your mom staing at home, it's hard work and I wish my mom could have stayed at home and take care of us, but she had to get out and work to support us, and now so do I. =)

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