The Role of Fashion in Identity and Self-Expression Within Women, Nonbinary, and Trans Individuals

Description
This qualitative study explores how women, nonbinary, and trans individuals define their identities in relation to contemporary fashion. To gather insights about the connection between fashion choices and the expression of complex identity categories, four 45-minute long interviews were conducted

This qualitative study explores how women, nonbinary, and trans individuals define their identities in relation to contemporary fashion. To gather insights about the connection between fashion choices and the expression of complex identity categories, four 45-minute long interviews were conducted and transcribed using Otter.ai software. A two-stage coding approach was used to analyze the data, and the findings suggest that people intentionally use their clothing to communicate aspects of their identities to others. In particular, the study found that clothing helps individuals learn, perform, and embody their gender. Intersectional feminist theory argues that oppressed identity categories combine to create unique experiences for people who belong to marginalized groups, including those related to gender, race, and sexual orientation. The results of this study contribute to the discussion of intersectionality by highlighting the ways in which people are empowered by fashion to both express and celebrate their identities, as well as to challenge oppressive societal norms. The unique combination of traits to make a different lived experience creates a new and improved understanding of who the person is and the different ways they express their activities.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

“Critical Racism”: Anti-Intellectualism as a Rhetorical Narrative

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Description

Turning Point USA’s “Exposing Critical Racism Tour” website incorporates imagery and language to purport an alternate reality of critical race theory (critical race theory) in opposition to intellectuals in order to incite an ideological war against teachings of intellectuals. In

Turning Point USA’s “Exposing Critical Racism Tour” website incorporates imagery and language to purport an alternate reality of critical race theory (critical race theory) in opposition to intellectuals in order to incite an ideological war against teachings of intellectuals. In order to create a sound argument and analysis of the historical and political framework constituted within their page and advertisements, I introduce a bridge between the largely political theory of anti-intellectualism and the rhetorical theory of rhetorical narrative. I propose Anti-Intellectualist Narrative Theory (ANT) as a new theoretical lens for analyzing the nationalistic and populist rhetorical frame created by an extensive history of oppositions to individuals who purport an intellectual authority over the common people. In constructing ANT, I aim to recognize how anti-intellectualism functions as a rhetorical narrative through three rhetorical strategies: anti-rationality, anti-elitism, and unreflective instrumentalism.

Date Created
2022-05
Agent