Although, now that I am thinking about it, in a way the two books are related. Both deal with how girls are educated and related frustrations, be it in the early 19th century or today. While I had a hard time breaking into Charlotte Bronte's 19th century prose, I found Peggy Orenstein's work very accessible and easy to read on the train. That is very important, since I do most of my reading on the subway, and more often than not if something is too engrossing or heavy, I won't realized I have missed my stop until I am halfway to Canarsie.
I enjoyed that Orenstein broke gown "girlie-girl" culture and the marketing machine that promotes it, but also articulated a desire to not belittle things that are gendered as female and not teach her child that "boy things" are better.
As someone who both studies fashion and feminism, I am often confronted with the way the fashion industry participates in a lot of rather harmful practices. Especially things the promote negative self image in women and girls. But one of the reasons I love fashion, and fashion theory, is that our clothing can be so freeing. Dress has the ability to break so many boundries, mores, and gender norms. I think it is important to remember too that fashion can be a way for girls to express themselves and experiment with identity and gender and not just something the creates an unobtainable idea. I just wish the fashion industry would remember that....
1 comment:
did you ever read flux or school girls? you should keep on the orenstein streak rather than anymore brit lit
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