Analysis & Discussion

Analysis of the responses show that 22 or 55% of the respondent identified as feminists while a whopping 80% agreed that women should have total say on how they dress and the dresses they wear. 100% of those who identified as feminist also supported the women’s right on their dressing choices. This shows that feminists are more likely to use fashion to advance and protect women’s right than those who do not consider themselves feminist. On question three 95% of the respondents who identified as feminist described their fashion taste as either provocative, rebellious, or controversial. On the other hand, 65% of the respondents who identified as non-feminist described their fashion tastes as either conservative or conforming. These findings confirms that feminists are likely to choose dresses that are non-conforming as a way of protesting social rules and norms that degrade or limit women’s freedoms and rights.

Responses two question four showed that 48% of the respondents had dressed to protest anti-women dress codes or rules while 52% responded in negative. 77% or 17 of the respondents who identified as feminist admitted to have dressed to protest anti-women dress codes compared to 0% non-feminist respondents. This finding also serve to show that feminist are more likely to use fashion as a tool to react to anti-women rules or laws. On dressing to support feminism or women causes, 60% responded in affirmative while only 40% responded in negative. All the respondents who identified as feminists admitted to have dressed to support a feminist/women causes compared to 11% of the non-feminist. The findings confirm that fashion is a strong instrument that have been used with feminist and their collaborators to protect and promote women’s rights and freedoms.

On question six, analysis of the responses shows that 91% of those who identified as feminist purchased fashion items because they either represented whom they are, they were worn by female celebrity, they are feminist symbol or a famous women’s right activist recommended them. Only 40% admitted to purchasing fashion items because they are allowed by the society. On question seven, 85% of the respondents admitted that they purchase their clothes anywhere while only 20% admitted to purchasing their clothes mainly in fashion stores that promotes women’s rights/causes; 100% of these respondent identified as feminist. In this case, it comes out clearly that feminist are likely promote fashions products and house that also promote their causes. Responses to question eight reveal that even those who do not identify as feminist are likely to protest violations on women’s rights at least through fashion. This is seen with the 90% of the respondents who admitted that they cannot shop at a fashion store that stifles women’s right. Only 10% of the respondents who also identified to be non-feminist admitted that they would shop at a fashion store that violates women’s rights. Against these findings confirm that feminist would protest fashion or fashion houses that violates their rights.

On the brand labels 60% of the respondents and all the feminist identified Birdsong, Rebellion, and Ready to Share as their favorite brand labels. 5% did not have any favorite brand label while 10% did not find their labels in the list of choices. Another 5% of the respondents, mainly made up of non-feminist, noted that they have never heard of these brands. Only 10% of the respondents identified Birdsong, Rebellion, Ready to Stare, Wildfang and Outrage as their favorite brand; 100% of these respondents also identified as feminists. Birdsong, Rebellion, Ready to Stare, Wildfang and Outrage are some of the popular feminist labels in the current market and this is why they are identified as favorite brands by nearly all the respondents who identified as feminist. Lastly, all the respondents who identified as feminist picked Janelle Monáe, Keira Knightley, and Miuccia Prada as their fashion icons. In contrast only 20% of the respondents who identified as non-feminist associated with these feminist fashion icons. Interestingly, at least 80% of the non-feminist identified Kim Kardashian and Naomi Campbell as their favorite fashion icons. Interpretation of these results indicate that feminists are tend to associate with fashion icons who also promote their causes. Popular fashion icons such as Campbell and Kardashian have not come out as feminists and this explains why many respondents who identified as feminist did not identify them as their favorite fashion icons.

Conclusion

Fashion has been used and continue to be used as a tool to advance women’s rights. As seen from the data, women who identify as feminist consider fashion as one of the way they can use to express themselves and their sexuality by bringing the retrogressive norms and charting new ways to freedom. Feminist and their collaborators therefore are very likely to support and promote fashions and fashion business that support women’s freedoms and rights. Feminists and women in general are also likely to use their power to reject and boycott fashions or fashion business that they may deem to violate or promote violation of the rights and freedoms of women. Fashion houses and businesses should thus be keen and identify the fashion trends that promotes women rights and ride in the wave by producing such fashion tastes. This will not only help in the women’s right advancement but also serve as new streams of revenue.

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