Betty L. Feather

Attitudes Toward Clothing and Self-Concept of Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied University Men and Women

The purposes of this study were to ascertain the extent to which students with physical handicaps have clothing attitudes that differ from able-bodied students, and to investigate the relationship between self-concept and clothing attitudes. Data were collected from 35 handicapped and 76 able- bodied university students. Handicapped students were defined as those who had orthopedic dis abilities and were confined to wheelchairs. The clothing attitude variables were appearance, fash ion, management, comfort, and durability. There were clothing attitude differences between hand icapped and able-bodied students for all variables except appearance. Handicapped students had consistently lower clothing attitude scores on all variables studied. There were significant differ ences between men and women students on all clothing attitude variables regardless of physical condition, with women indicating a more positive attitude on each of the variables. There was not a significant difference in self-concept scores between the handicapped and able-bodied students, nor was a statistically significant relationship identified between the clothing variables and self- concept scores.

Perceived Risk and Information Sources Used by Wheelchair-Bound Consumers in Clothing Purchase Decisions

Disabled consumers confined to wheelchairs represent a special consumer group for clothing manufacturers and retailers. They have special clothing needs and may perceive different risks associated with clothing purchases than do able-bodied consumers. The purpose of this study was to examine information seeking behavior, types of perceived risk—economic, performance, physical, psychological, and social—and the relationship between information seeking and risk associated with clothing purchases of 75 wheelchair-bound consumers. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the five types of risk and overall risk and the relationship between types of risk and information sources used. Perceived physical risk ranked highest and perceived social risk ranked lowest for the respondents. Performance and social risk were significantly correlated with overall risk at the.05 level. However, the correlation of various types ofrisk with the use ofspecific information sources was not significant except for a negative correlation between social risk and neutral information sources. Information sources most often used by respondents were mail order catalogs and family members. Those with cogenital disability perceived higher overall risk than those with acquired disability.

Mastectomy and Related Treatments: Impact of Appearance Satisfaction on Self‐Esteem

According to the symbolic-interactionist perspective, how the self is presented to others in social interaction provides critical cues that affect how others perceive an individual. Thus evaluations of ones own appearance, including body image, influence feelings about the self as presented to others. In addition, the integra tion of societal values, cultural imagery, and life experiences influence womens perceptions of their bodies. A model of appearance satisfaction and self-esteem was developed and tested through path analysis using quantitative data reported by 933 post-mastectomy women in a statewide survey. Qualitative data from follow-up interviews with 27 of the patients were used to supplement the quan titative analyses. Clothing importance was perceived as less critical than medically related issues, but more critical than social issues. Findings indicate that age and whether or not one had undergone reconstructive surgery significantly contrib uted to satisfaction with appearance. In turn, appearance satisfaction had a sig nificant effect (p < .001) on self-esteem and accounted for 12 percent of the variance in self-esteem. Compared to the attitudes of older, non-employed women, the appearance satisfaction of young women who were employed tended to be influenced more by medical treatments than by reconstructive sur gery.

Social Concerns of Post-Mastectomy Women: Stigmata and Clothing

This paper explains post-mastectomy womens use of clothing as a method of coping with the negative social connotations of malignancy and disfigurement. We suggest that to avoid being stigmatized, post-mastectomy women employ techniques of “covering/passing” as described by Goffman (1963). The data on clothing concerns and strategies were obtained from post-mastectomy women using mail questionnaires and personal interviews. Attributes of clothing that were problematic included bust emphasis, shoulder bareness, and lack of sleeves. Respondents also reported difficulties with back closures. Attitudes to ward sexuality and concealment were examined along with attitudes toward ap pearance satisfaction as related to the most problematic garments-swimwear and nightwear. Attitudes toward sexuality were significantly related to concerns about presenting a good appearance in both swimwear and nightwear, whereas atti tudes toward concealment were only significantly related to concerns about nightwear.

Breast Reconstruction and Prosthesis Use as Forms of Symbolic Completion of the Physical Self

Self-completion theory helps explain the striving toward wholeness associated with the use of an external prosthesis or breast reconstruction. This paper ad dresses variations in post-mastectomy womens perceptions of physical com pleteness, as revealed by personal strategies of breast reconstruction and pros thesis usage. In the present investigation, women who had had reconstruction tended to be younger, employed, and to have more years of education compared to women who did not. Women who had had reconstructive surgery were more concerned about their sexuality, appearance, and social relationships. They were less satisfied with their appearance than those who did not have reconstruction. Prosthesis use and satisfaction were related factors, with younger and better educated women more likely to use the prosthesis. Greater satisfaction with ones prosthesis related significantly to the expertise of the prosthesis fitter.

Design Characteristics and Inspiration Sources of Depression Era Quilts

One hundred and fifty eight Missouri Depression era quilts were documented and analyzed to characterize the design components and to substantiate design sources. The typical Missouri quilt made in the 1930s can be described as one which was pieced with scraps and purchased coordinating solids. It was moderately to heavily quilted by hand in more than one style to accent the different design elements. The whole design was contained by borders and was bound at its edges. Over 84 % of the quilts were traced to distinct pattern sources which included newspapers, magazines, catalogs, companies that sold quilt-making products, books, and exhibits. The Kansas City Star newspaper was one of the most influencial pattern sources.