Feminism & the Power of Fashion

The Clothing Choices That Influenced the Liberation Movement in the 1970’s

Presenter: Casey Fabbri

Co-Presenter(s):
Hunter Petretti, Nicola Duffy, Caroline Morales

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Department: Communication & Media Studies

Funding Source/Sponsor: SYRCE Symposium

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=15dnVWiKZb7wfANCVHvwhBQfzUUSnGyvX

Abstract:
The Women’s Movement of the 1970’s called for equality, restructuring of the association between power and gender, and increased employment opportunities. Although women sought for legislative change, they wanted society to culturally accept and support their efforts as well. Fashion became the easiest way for women to defy societal norms because it was already a part of their day-to-day lives. Prior to the 1970’s, women were confined to wearing more modest, proper clothing items such as long dresses and skirts, and long sleeved blouses. However, in the era of liberation, women transitioned to much more comfortable and expressive outfit choices. Fashion is a way that women expressed themselves and made statements against men, the government, and the media. Some examples of fashion trends for women in the 1970’s are bell-bottoms, pantsuits, sneakers, tracksuits, and miniskirts.The fashion changes that women were making at the time, defied societal expectations and became a tell-tale sign that our society was rapidly transforming. If it hadn’t been for the strong women that fought for equality in decades past, our world would be much different today. Women can now where whatever they please, have job opportunities in nearly very field, are granted educational scholarships, and are given paid leave in the workplace for maternity or illness. This sketchbook is full of fashion trends in the 1970’s and how they worked hand-in-hand with the liberation movement. All sketches within the book are drawn by Hunter Petretti, Caroline Morales, Nicola Duffy, and Casey Fabbri.