Dressed for Freedom: The Fashionable Politics of American Feminism

Fashion was a form of oppression for women, but it also allowed them to express modern gender identities and promote feminist ideas. Einav Rabinovitch-Fox examines how clothes empowered women, particularly those barred from positions of influence due to race or class. She shows how the rise of mass media culture made fashion a vehicle for women to assert claims over their bodies, femininity, and social roles, and how trends in womens sartorial practices expressed ideas of independence and equality. Rabinovitch-Fox's book Dressed for Freedom brings fashion into discussions of American feminism during the long twentieth century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2021
Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Einav Rabinovitch-Fox delves into the transformative power of fashion, challenging the notion that it is solely a form of oppression. She explores how clothing has empowered women, particularly those who have been marginalized due to race or class. Tracing the evolution of fashion from the 1890s shirtwaists to the miniskirts and unisex styles of the 1970s, Rabinovitch-Fox demonstrates how the rise of mass media culture has made fashion a powerful vehicle for women to assert their claims over their bodies, femininity, and social roles. She also highlights how trends in women's sartorial practices expressed ideas of independence and equality. By embracing new clothing styles, women expanded their feminist activism beyond formal organizations and movements, reclaiming fashion as a realm of pleasure, power, and feminist consciousness.

This book offers a rich and nuanced perspective on the intersection of fashion, gender, and politics, providing a valuable contribution to the study of American feminism. It challenges traditional narratives and sheds light on the ways in which clothing has been used as a tool for empowerment and social change. Through its detailed analysis of fashion trends and their cultural significance, Dressed for Freedom offers a fresh and compelling understanding of the role of fashion in shaping women's lives and the feminist movement.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780252086069