Alternative Femininities: Body, Age and Identity

by Samantha Holland, Joanne B. Eicher (Series Editor)

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 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Allison Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not quite the "rah rah weird old ladies unite!" book I wanted it to be, but something far more subtle - performing femininity is time consuming and expensive, whether you're a mainstream femme or punk rocker. And even the oddest women tend to "tone it down" with age, even if that means dyeing their hair 1 color instead of 5. However, most of the women in the book are doing their extreme looks for themselves, not to be conventionally pretty. Very recommended.


8/26/2010 - On loan to D.