Pants and the Feminist

I have to admit to being a little dismayed by the fact that feminism seems to be out of fashion. I’ve noticed this backlash of sorts in the last ten years or so, and realize that some of this may also be generational. Young women who didn’t live through the turbulent 60s and 70s may feel that feminism is either beside the point or irrelevant. Yet they grew up in a period when many battles had already been fought and won for them.

But when searching for the reason why Hilary Clinton’s pantsuits became a flash point of resentment, leading to negatives about her presidential campaign, it seemed like so many people—including big name journalists and pundits—were reliving the same kind of resentment that triggered the women’s rights protests of the 60s and 70s.

Hard-won freedoms should never be taken for granted. Just type the words “feminist backlash” into Google and you will see how the debate still ranges today. Since feminism and fashion are both social forces, the media loves speculating on which force will come out on top. See how academia is beginning to address the issue in Fresh lipstick: redressing fashion and feminism.

p.s. Next week’s posts will be lighthearted and frivolous. Blame it on the continuing heat and humidity…