Alternative Femininities: Body, Age and Identity (Dress, Body, Culture)

Imagine a world where the oppressive, over-feminized images of women from advertising, television, films, and magazines have re-armed themselves with army boots, body modifications, and flamboyant hair. Is this just another fairy tale, and if so, why can't it be a reality? In Alternative Femininities, Samantha Holland unpacks the myth of model womanhood and considers how a particular group of real women define and practise 'femininity'. These women, who see themselves as 'alternative', modify and subvert popular images of femininity. The choices they make in clothing, appearance and body modifications enable them to construct a personal look that is intimately tied to self-identity. Getting the balance right between over-femininity and not being feminine enough is a frequently voiced concern. Holland also addresses head-on the much-neglected issue of how ageing impacts on notions of femininity. What do these women think about fashion, gender and appearance as they grow older and less visible in our media-dominated society? Do they choose to tone down or stay 'out there', and what motivates their choice? A revealing look at contemporary femininity, Alternative Femininities gives voice to a previously silent group of women who struggle to resist sexist gender stereotypes, yet age with style, individuality and creativity. By looking at how real women negotiate self-image in an increasingly appearance-conscious society, Holland has provided a much-needed corrective to theoretical accounts of gender and femininity lacking in real data. In Alternative Femininities, Samantha Holland Unpacks The Myth Of Model Womanhood And Considers How A Particular Gorup Of Real Women Define And Practise 'femininity'. These Women, Who See Themselves As 'alternative', Modify And Subvert Popular Images Of Femininity. The Choices They Make In Clothing, Appearance And Body Modifications Enable Them To Construct A Personal Look That Is Intimately Tied To Self-identity. Getting The Balance Right Between Over-femininity And Not Being Feminine Enough Is A Frequently Voiced Concern. Holland Also Addresses Head-on The Much-neglected Issue Of How Ageing Impacts On Notions Of Femininity. A Look At Contemporary Femininity, Alternative Femininities Gives Voice To A Previously Silent Group Of Women Who Struggle To Resist Sexist Gender Stereotypes, Yet Age With Style, Individuality And Creativity. By Looking At How Real Women Negotiate Self-image In An Increasingly Appearance-conscious Society, Holland Has Provided Corrective To Theoretical Accounts Of Gender And Femininity Lacking In Real Data.--book Jacket. Growing Up But Staying 'freaky' : An Introduction. Methodological Framework. Theoretical Position. A Brief Overview Of The Empirical Chapters -- Background Reading. Femininity. Fashion Theory. Subcultural Theory. Identity And 'self.' The Body -- Negotiating Fluffy Femininities. What Is Femininity?. 'i Am Not A Bit Fluffy.' Describing Traditional Femininity. The 'tools' And How To Use Them -- How To Be A Fairy Princess. Fairies At Play. 'my Hair Is Everything.' Commitment : Time And Money -- Categories Of Unconventional. Bohemian Dress. Black Clothing. Anti-fashion And Feminism. Defining 'alternatives.' To Compromise Or Not To Compromise -- 'more Like Torture Than Love'? Bodies/image. 'this Is Me!' -- Defying The Crone? Age Catches Up With You. Policing Yourself ... And Others. 'toning Down' Your Appearance. You're As Young As You Feel. Marking The Occasion -- Reflections And Conclusions. Tensions And Paradoxes. Strategies. How To Do 'girly.' -- Resisting 'girly.' Women Getting Older. Shifts And Changes. Samantha Holland. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 165-178) And Index. Holland unpacks the myth of model womanhood and considers how a particular group of real women define and practise femininity. These women, who see themselves as 'alternative', modify and subvert popular images of femininity. The choices they make in clothing, appearance and body modifications enable them to construct a personal look that is intimately tied to self-identity. Getting the balance right between over-femininity and not being feminine enough is a frequently voiced concern. Holland also addresses head-on the much-neglected issue of how ageing impacts on notions of femininity. What do these women think about fashion, gender and appearance as they grow older and less visible in our media-dominated society? Holland gives voice to a previously silent group of women who struggle to resist sexist gender stereotypes, yet age with style, individuality and creativity. By looking at how real women negotiate self-image in an increasingly appearance-conscious society, Holland has provided a much-needed corrective to theoretical accounts of gender and femininity lacking in real data Imagine a world where the oppressive, over-feminized images of women from advertising, television, films, and magazines have re-armed themselves with army boots, body modifications, and flamboyant hair. Is this just another fairy tale, and if so, why cant it be a reality? In Alternative Femininities, Samantha Holland unpacks the myth of model womanhood and considers how a particular group of real women define and practise femininity. These women, who see themselves as alternative', modify and su bvert popular images of femininity. The choices they make in clothing, appearance and body modification Annotation Alternative Femininities gives voice to a previously silent group of women who struggle to resist sexist gender stereotypes, yet age with style, individuality and creativity. By looking at how real women negotiate self-perception in an increasingly image-conscious society, Holland provides a corrective to accounts of gender and femininity lacking in real fieldwork experience Unpacking the myth of model womanhood, this book portrays a group of women who subvert the popular images of femininity. In the choices they make in clothing, appearance and body modifications, they are able to construct a personal look that is intimately tied to self-identity