Who Wears the Pants? Clothing has long been a medium used to dictate and define gender throughout history.
What women wear has often been regulated by the government or the church. Women started wearing pants during World War II when they were aiding in the war effort by working jobs that were typically male dominated. Though women more regularly wore pants, they were still thought of as masculine attire as shown in the Norman Rockwell’s “Rosie the Riveter” painting, scrutinizing women for acting and looking like men. Though French designer, Paul Poiret’s, Harem Pants grazed the cover of vogue in 1913, it wasn’t until second wave feminism in the 1960’s and 1970’s that designer jeans made a huge impact in fashion. Still, women’s pants remained …show more content…
According to the National World War II museum in New Orleans, unemployment in America essentially ceased. Because the U.S. was rapidly expanding militarily, women were highly encouraged to enter into the workforce. “Millions of women….entered the industrial workforce during the war. They found jobs in….large numbers in the shipbuilding and aircraft industries.” The museum website goes on to mention the impact of “Rosie the Riveter;” an extremely well known icon and propaganda tool during WWII. Widely distributed by The Saturday Evening Post, Norman Rockwell’s version of “Rosie” emphasized the masculinity of women in the workforce. Seen sitting atop a rectangular block, the large, muscular women eats a sandwich while resting her foot atop a copy of Mein Kampf, implying her association with the Socialist leader Adolf Hitler. Easily recognizable by the name “Rosie” written on her lunchbox and the large riveting tool resting in her lap, she wears no makeup and her hair is hastily tied back--illuding to nonconformity to popular standards of feminism and beauty during that time. Jean overall-pants over a button-up shirt imply that “Rosie,” Rockwell’s representation of the industrial working woman, has become exceedingly masculine, in part, due to her attire as a result of her contribution in the workforce. Women adopted wearing pants not only because of safety in the workforce, but also due to rationing of materials to aid in the war effort. Though women wearing pants was still largely socially disapproved of at the time, many bans against women wearing slacks in public were lifted due to the circumstances of war (Farrell-Beck and Lee 27). Though the war was coming to a close and “women were expected to leave the factories to make way for
What women wear has often been regulated by the government or the church. Women started wearing pants during World War II when they were aiding in the war effort by working jobs that were typically male dominated. Though women more regularly wore pants, they were still thought of as masculine attire as shown in the Norman Rockwell’s “Rosie the Riveter” painting, scrutinizing women for acting and looking like men. Though French designer, Paul Poiret’s, Harem Pants grazed the cover of vogue in 1913, it wasn’t until second wave feminism in the 1960’s and 1970’s that designer jeans made a huge impact in fashion. Still, women’s pants remained …show more content…
According to the National World War II museum in New Orleans, unemployment in America essentially ceased. Because the U.S. was rapidly expanding militarily, women were highly encouraged to enter into the workforce. “Millions of women….entered the industrial workforce during the war. They found jobs in….large numbers in the shipbuilding and aircraft industries.” The museum website goes on to mention the impact of “Rosie the Riveter;” an extremely well known icon and propaganda tool during WWII. Widely distributed by The Saturday Evening Post, Norman Rockwell’s version of “Rosie” emphasized the masculinity of women in the workforce. Seen sitting atop a rectangular block, the large, muscular women eats a sandwich while resting her foot atop a copy of Mein Kampf, implying her association with the Socialist leader Adolf Hitler. Easily recognizable by the name “Rosie” written on her lunchbox and the large riveting tool resting in her lap, she wears no makeup and her hair is hastily tied back--illuding to nonconformity to popular standards of feminism and beauty during that time. Jean overall-pants over a button-up shirt imply that “Rosie,” Rockwell’s representation of the industrial working woman, has become exceedingly masculine, in part, due to her attire as a result of her contribution in the workforce. Women adopted wearing pants not only because of safety in the workforce, but also due to rationing of materials to aid in the war effort. Though women wearing pants was still largely socially disapproved of at the time, many bans against women wearing slacks in public were lifted due to the circumstances of war (Farrell-Beck and Lee 27). Though the war was coming to a close and “women were expected to leave the factories to make way for