Why People Wear Clothing And Group Identity

Superior Essays
Walk into anyone’s closet, and you might just get a glimpse of their character or personality. What one wears can potentially define who they are. In most cases, this can be seen as true for employees such as businessmen in suits and ties, or construction workers in baggy jeans and t-shirts. Clothing is something that has become a necessity overtime. It not only defines people, but also shows the evolution of history. This begs the question as to why clothing? The basis for why we wear clothing includes cultural expectations focusing on group identity, protection, and individuality.

The first reason as to why we wear clothing is because of cultural expectations, focusing on group identity. The concept of group identity is when an individual links themselves to a certain group, likely influenced by genes and social environments (Weber, Johnson, & Arceneaux, 2011). When referring to clothing, one may wear certain pieces to fit into any specific group. In particular, “Clothing has been used to distinguish among classes from the earliest historical
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For centuries, humans have worn clothing to keep warm in the winters, cool in the summers, and to protect from injuries. According to a study done by the University of Florida, “Following the evolution of lice shows modern humans started wearing clothes about 170,000 years ago, a technology which enabled them to successfully migrate out of Africa” (Torrent, 2011). Similarly, humans that began wearing clothing on a regular basis, were kept warm when first exposed to the ice age (Smith, 2011). Clothing has helped early human civilizations survive conditions that would have otherwise killed them. Since then, humans have found use of animal furs and skins to help them survive even the harshest weather (Viegas, 2011). As time progressed, individuals began covering up in garments that provided both function and

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