A Feminist in Fashion
Written by Chandler Simpson
Graphics by Jasmine Flora
A feminist in fashion, I shall be label. Coveted in the dark widths of my bedroom, I find myself contemplating the role of feminism in the industry. Dating back to an era of logo mania, graphic t-shirts reading “Feminists” in prissy colored writing ethically contradicts the naked inequality of the fast fashion industry. Big based brands like Forever21, Urban Outfitters, and Zara are persecutors of this remedial mistreatment. As 80 percent of the workforce are women, their hands ache from wrenching labor. Unsupported and unequal they underdog the industry. How do you think these women feel? Spending countless back breaking hours, sweating and perspiring in poor working conditions, taking on extra hours to break the bare minimum of living. How do you think they feel? When they are the puppets beneath this so “advocating” corruption.
It is apparent that we are in the age of the woman. With our first female vice president paving the way, the social acceptance of promiscuous clothing, the thousands of feminism campaigns launching every year. As a young woman, I have the opportunity to be whatever I want whenever I want it. I no longer have to draw from the stray choices of teacher, secretary, and nurse. Despite these modern efforts towards equality, pressures centered around my gender still exist. As I tell my mother I want to write for Vogue, cultivating my dream of living in New York, my admiration is followed by why you don't want that. What about a family? You can't settle down in New York? You need someone rich. It disgusts me. These frugal statements are reimbursements into the idea that women are born to breed. Which is scientifically accurate but there should be some freedom in that. I should be able to choose whether or not to have a family. As the wage gap began to close, the prominent issue that was taken into account was maternity leave. Women are paid less because they are assumed to have children and are assumed to take time off. Men and women both should be granted this opportunity. Caretaking should be taught nationwide. Not only to the one who bears children. Marriage is a partnership, an equally split obligation. Yet for years, women have taken the pressure of being a “good mother” as their obligation while to men it is rather an option.
Now in regards to fashion in terms of feminism. I have hit a crossroads. For one, I believe in the freedom of expression. If I want to wear a short skirt, I can. If I want to wear a slip dress, I can. If I want to wear a bra, I can. But in terms of feminism, what does that mean? Dressing promiscuous and scandalous seems to have always been a problem for the woman. Don't you want to be respected? Don't you want to respect your body? You can tease men, they don't have any self control? By far one of the worst I have heard. Are you trying to get raped? I’m sorry since when is my body somehow your problem. When women look good it is somehow always for men. It never underlines the idea that it is for themselves. As we age I have read there is something beautiful about modesty. When you're young you want to feel beautiful, and when you're old you already have received the security in yourself that you are. Millions and millions of young girls everywhere are suffering from mental illnesses regarding their appearance. When you see close to 100-200 Hot girls a day as an 11 year old, it becomes exhausting to keep up. What really sickens me is the malleable inattention to the male gaze. All throughout middle school I suffered deeply with my body image, I felt that it was my duty as a woman to be hot or to be desired to be beautiful. But beautiful only to men. This top makes me look flat. My hips aren't wide enough. My butt isnt big enough. My bra isnt stuffed enough. All this effort for a worthless reward. The fact of the matter is that as I got older, the attention I was receiving from boys began to bore me. Once I reached what I wanted, I was stuck with the thought of well now what?