Kelly L. Reddy-Best

The relationship of gender expression, sexual identity, distress, appearance, and clothing choices for queer women

The purpose of this research was to explore how queer women today negotiate gender expression and sexual identity through clothing and appearance and its relationship to negative stress or distress. Data related to 20 queer identifying women were collected via an initial in-depth interview, daily diary entries for two weeks, and a follow-up interview at the end of each diary week. In the diary, participants were asked to rate how distressed they were when getting dressed and when wearing their outfits in different spaces throughout their day. Data were coded and the authors looked for emergent themes and patterns. The authors found that identifying as queer influenced how the interviewees chose to dress and style themselves, and that performing queerness in their appearance for a number of women caused distress in both straight and queer spaces.

Critical perspectives on fashion textbooks: representations of race, gender, and body

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to critically analyse the images in fashion design and apparel product development textbooks to determine if they reflect a lack of diversity in fashion magazine, the fashion industry, and other college textbook images. While using intersectionality theory and a feminist lens as our frameworks, we critically analysed these texts for representations of race, body size, and body position. We used visual content analysis to examine 3124 images of women in books published since 2000. Each woman in the text was coded in three categories including race, body size, and body position. The findings from our study highlight the need for more diversity within the discipline’s textbooks. Future studies should examine representations of men and textbooks from other areas in the field such as textile science or dress history.

Overweight boy’s and girl’s experiences with and perception of athletic clothing and its relationship to physical activity participation

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between athletic clothing and physical activity in overweight children. The perceptions of athletic clothing among overweight children were also investigated. The researchers asked: (a) what are overweight children’s experiences with athletic clothing, (b) does clothing impact overweight children’s motivation to participate in physical activity, and (c) are there differences between boys and girls? Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 35 children between the ages of 9 and 14 who were considered overweight according to their body mass index. Literature on social physique anxiety and body image provided the conceptual framework for the study. Four key themes emerged from the children’s discussions of their experiences with athletic clothes and participation in physical activity: (a) body exposure concerns, (b) clothing size exposure concerns, (c) desire to quit because of athletic clothes, and (d) positive experiences with athletic clothes.

LGBTQ Women, Appearance Negotiations, and Workplace Dress Codes

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore LGBTQ women’s experiences with unwritten or formal dress codes at work. I asked: What are LGBTQ women’s experiences in the workplace with appearance management, and what are LGBTQ women’s experiences navigating the written and unwritten dress codes in the workplace? To answer the research question, interviews were conducted with 24 self-identifying LGBTQ women. Six key themes emerged from the data. Themes included (1) expressed sexual identity in appearance, (2) unwritten dress codes in work environments did not always allow for expression of sexual identity in appearance, (3) motivations for pressure or desire to conceal expression of sexual identity in appearance at work, (4) negotiations of revealing or concealing sexual identity in appearance in the workplace impacted levels of comfort and confidence, (5) verbal and nonverbal negative experiences related to appearance at work, and (6) received compliments about appearance at work.

Inequalities around fashioned bodies, style, and beauty: A seminar examining social injustices related to the apparel industry, discipline, and/or personal aesthetics

The seminar was centered around scholarship related to or addressing social justice or social justice issues in the apparel industry, our discipline, or personal and/or community aesthetics and styles. We focused on work examining underrepresented populations such as: (a) people of color, (b) the LGBTQ+ community, (c) people of a variety of abilities, and/or (d) other groups that have a history of oppression, discrimination, or power and privilege inequalities. The seminar had a non-traditional “arrangement” in the room with “exhibits” of scholarly work and “mini talks” from each presenter. Our goal was to initiate and encourage these discussions to go beyond the seminar session and for the participants to engage in dialogue at their home institutions and programs while building a network of people in the seminar to dialogue about in the future.

Queer Women’s Experiences Purchasing Clothing and Looking for Clothing Styles

The purpose of this study is to understand queer womens experiences when shopping for clothing, looking for style inspiration, and if they experience minority distress or discrimination during these processes. Three research questions guided our study: (a) Where do queer women look for fashion style inspiration? (b) What are queer womens experiences with shopping in brick-and-mortar stores for clothing and accessories? and (c) Do queer women experience minority distress or discrimination while shopping or looking for fashion style inspiration? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 queer-identifying females with two follow-up interviews. Four themes surfaced from the data: (a) awareness of or attention to queer styles, (b) frustration with or feelings of alienation with the current apparel marketplace and media, (c) minority distress or subtle acts of heterosexism related to queer visibility and crossing gender boundaries, and (d) interest in an LGBTQ-friendly shopping environment.