Essay On Fashion Stereotypes

There have been many instances where I am stopped and commented on what I’m wearing. Depending on a single item of clothing, I am either a “certified hippie”, “lesbian”, or “law student”. This has brought me to raise an important social question: How have fashion and advertising built identity stereotypes? Stereotyping can have a strong and negative impact on a person, especially younger generations that are now at an influential stage in their mental development. By subjecting them to these stereotypes based on what they wear, they may begin to think of and see themselves as society claims, rather than who they are or aspire to be. By conducting further research on stereotyping in fashion designs through their advertisements, the aim of this research is to understand the history and social ideas behind fashion. By thoroughly understanding the problem, a solution would be easier to reach. In order to gain further insight on the matter, two practitioners have been selected: Dr. Rebecca Arnold and Dr. Roman Meinhold.

Rebecca Arnold is currently a lecturer in History of dress and Textiles at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Her

publications and research are centred around fashion, its history, and its influences on people. In her book Fashion, Anxiety, and Desire, Arnold describes how the events and ideas of the 20th Century shaped not only today’s fashion, but also identity, power, sex and gender and their relations to fashion, in order to show the contradictory nature of fashion. By elaborating on the notions and events in fashion during the final decades of the most influential century on mankind, Arnold provides information on how identity within the world of fashion became an important aspect, that continues to influence young women and men till this day. Her research is important in understanding how media and culture of the late 20th century impacted everyone during that time, and the generations that followed.

Roman Meinhold is a professor of philosophy at the Graduate School of Philosophy and Religion at Assumption University of Thailand.

His research and publications address environmental thought, cultural inquiry, philosophy of art and culture, holistic well-being, and, applied philosophy and ethics. His book Fashion Myths: A Cultural Critique, discusses advertisements of fashion, and fashion-related goods from a philosophic-anthropological perspective within a contemporary cultural context. In other words, understanding the thoughts of consumers when watching advertisements and making purchases. Understanding the matter from an anthropological perspective, as well as from a design perspective, allows for insight into the matter through an interdisciplinary approach, aiding in understanding the situation from both sides: designer and

consumer.
Overall, conducting research of the past will aid in understanding the present, which in turn will help in shaping a possible better future.