Home > STEREOTYPES OF PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ESPECIALLY IN CLOTHING 2004 – 2005 TERM PROJECT Submitted to ZELIHA GULCAT By MERV
STEREOTYPES OF PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
ESPECIALLY IN
CLOTHING
2004
– 2005 TERM PROJECT
Submitted to
ZELIHA GULCAT
By
MERVE AKGUL
SAIME SARIKAYA
TUNA ARABACI
Introduction
The
aim of this research is to find out if there are stereotypes of physical
appearance especially in dressing and to find out what these stereotypes
are. In psychology and sociology researches, different types of stereotyping
people are found. However, these stereotypes generally depend on race,
sex and ethnicity. In this study, existence of stereotyping people according
to clothing styles is tried to be proved.
Before
this study, a thesis called ��Clothing Motives�� was done by Ilhan
Candas in 1985. In that study, Ilhan Candas studied the motives behind
people's selection of different types of clothes. He had a questionnaire
which he applied to nearly a hundred people. He used the figures of
people which have small differences. He tried to find out the effects
of these small differences on people.
However,
in the present study different methods are used and it is about the
stereotypes of dressing not the motives of clothes. Also in this study
the researchers do not study small differences but they focus on different
styles of clothes and the prejudices of people toward these different
styles.
Methodology
The hypothesis of the study is that people
have some common stereotypes about the way people dress. To prove this
claim, two methods are used. These methods are questionnaire and interview.
Questionnaire:
(Appendix 1)
Subjects: 25 people who are the students of Bogazici University from different classes. (13 men, 12 women)
Preparation: It is prepared according to data that is collected, especially from a thesis that is done by Ilhan Candas in 1985. It is generally adapted from the questionnaire that Ilhan Candas prepared for his research.
Content:
It contains twenty five questions whose answers were ��Yes��, ��I
have no idea�� or ��No��. Its questions are about the stereotypes
about people's style of dress.
Interview:
Subjects: 10 people who are the students of Bogazici University from different classes. (5 men, 5 women)
Pictures: For the interview 6 photos are selected. Some are taken by the researchers and some are found from the internet resources. There are three girls and three boys who are dressed in three different styles (Formally, sporty and showy). (Appendix 2)
Application:
Researchers show each photo to the subjects and ask questions about
the life-styles, personalities and socioeconomic status of these people.
Then for each photo, the answers are noted and analyzed.
Results:
Results of the questionnaire:
| ANSWERS | ||||
| QUESTİONS | Yes | I have no idea | No | |
| 1 | The way people dress can tell us a lot of things about them. | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| 2 | People want to look as much like everybody else as possible | 40% | 28% | 32% |
| 3 | The necktie is a sign of discipline, responsibility and traditionalism | 60% | 24% | 16% |
| 4 | The people who use accessories are showy | 40% | 24% | 36% |
| 5 | A fashionable life-style enables females to develop an independent, up-to-date, overall beautiful personality image. | 52% | 20% | 28% |
| 6 | Females spend more time for dressing and hair care. | 88% | 8% | 4% |
| 7 | Males have less interest in clothing and they care less for their physical appearance | 44% | 16% | 40% |
| 8 | A fashionable life-style enables females to develop a relaxed, tolerant, prestigious personality image. | 56% | 24% | 20% |
| 9 | Hiding physical defects and emphasizing beauties are two important functions of clothing | 76% | 16% | 8% |
| 10 | People try to impress others by their appearance | 88% | 8% | 4% |
| 11 | ��Modern independent female�� tries to create a ��fashionable, new, beautiful, exclusive, independent�� self and social image | 76% | 8% | 16% |
| 12 | People have the tendency to conform to the majority | 68% | 16% | 16% |
| 13 | Following the fashion is the sign of belonging to high income groups | 24% | 24% | 52% |
| 14 | When people go to a place important for them, they should make sure that their appearance is immaculate | 80% | 12% | 8% |
| 15 | People try to avoid dressing in a way respected people dislike | 56% | 20% | 24% |
| 16 | People tend to hide both personality and physical defects by clothing | 48% | 12% | 40% |
| 17 | Clothes can be used for several and contradictory purposes | 92% | 8% | 0% |
| 18 | Cloths are identified with some life-styles | 92% | 4% | 4% |
| 19 | It is important that costumes create respect | 52% | 20% | 28% |
| 20 | Aesthetic beauty is important in costumes | 68% | 20% | 12% |
| 21 | When people go to a place important for them, they should consider comfort of their outfit | 72% | 12% | 16% |
| 22 | Personality should be reflected in clothing | 52% | 16% | 32% |
| 23 | A part of good living is dressing-well | 44% | 24% | 32% |
| 24 | There should be no rule in clothing | 40% | 24% | 36% |
| 25 | Dressing should depend on the peculiarities and necessities of the place | 64% | 28% | 8% |
The questionnaire results are treated in different categories such as personality, sex, life-styles and fashion.
First
of all, 100% of subjects think that the way people dress can tell us
a lot of things about them (Q1). Also generally people think that people
have the tendency to conform to the majority (Q12, 68% yes, 16% no idea,
16% no) and want to look as much like everybody else as possible (Q2, 40%
yes, 28% no idea, 32% no).
In
addition, the subjects think that males have less interest in clothing
and they care less for their physical appearance (Q7, 44% yes, 16% no
idea, 40% no) and they refer the necktie as a sign of discipline, responsibility
and traditionalism (Q3, 60% yes, 24% no idea, 16% no).
On
the other hand, the subjects prove that females spend more time for
dressing and hair care (Q6, 88% yes, 8% no idea, 4% no) and the people
who use accessories are showy (Q4, 40% yes, 24% no idea, 36% no). Also
they think that ��Modern independent female�� tries to create a ��fashionable,
new, beautiful, exclusive, independent�� self and social image (Q11,
76% yes, 8% no idea, 16% no).
Furthermore,
people want to use their clothes in different areas and for different
purposes. One of these purposes is emphasizing their beauty and hiding
physical defects (Q9, 76% yes, 16% no idea, 8% no). It is important
for people to hide both personality and physical defects by clothing
(Q16, 48% yes, 12% no idea, 40% no). According to the questionnaire,
other functions of clothes are impressing others (Q10, 88% yes, 8% no
idea, 4% no), creating respect (Q19, 52% yes, 20% no idea, 28% no) and
of course reflecting personality (Q22, 52% yes, 16% no idea, 32% no).
In the same way, it is thought that people try to avoid dressing in
a way respected people dislike (Q15, 56% yes, 20% no idea, 24% no).
In
addition, according to the subjects of the study, clothes can be used
for several and contradictory purposes (Q17, 92% yes, 8% no idea) and
dressing should depend on the peculiarities and necessities of the place
(Q25, 64% yes, 28% no idea, 8% no). Also people give importance to aesthetic
beauty in clothing (Q20, 68% yes, 20% no idea, 12% no).
The next thing that people are careful in clothing is that when people go to a place important for them, they should make sure that their appearance is immaculate (Q14, 80% yes, 12% no idea, 8% no) and they should consider comfort of their outfit (Q21, 72% yes, 12% no idea, 16% no).
Certainly
the last thing people consider is fashion. Especially females give importance
to fashion. People think that a fashionable life-style enables females
to develop an independent, up-to-date, overall beautiful personality
image (Q5, 52% yes, 20% no idea, 28% no) and a relaxed, tolerant, prestigious
personality image (Q8, 56% yes, 24% no idea, 20% no). On the other hand,
conforming to fashion is not limited with the females. If thought generally,
people agree with that clothes are identified with some life-styles
(Q18, 92% yes, 4% no idea, 4% no) and a part of good living is dressing-well
(Q23, 44% yes, 24% no idea, 32% no). However, it is not thought that
following the fashion is the sign of belonging to high income groups
(Q13, 24% yes, 24% no idea, 52% no). It may be because of the opportunity
to be able to find a product in very different prices from expensive
to cheap.
In conclusion, people really have preferences in clothing and they are careful in different subjects such as fashion or hiding physical defects while choosing dresses. In addition, they really have some common stereotypes in the way they regard the way that other people dress. However, they think that there should be no rule in clothing (Q24, 40% yes, 24% no idea, 36% no).
Results of the interview:
For
the interview, 6 photos are used. These are sportive girl and boy, formal
girl and boy, showy girl and boy. Questions about the life-styles, personalities
and socioeconomic status of these people are asked to the subjects.
1.
Sportive Girl (Picture 1): The findings show that the sportive girl
in picture 1 is perceived as an 18-25 old, single, university student.
Generally people identified the girl as a member of a middle or a high
income group. It seems that posture of the girl also gives different
messages to people such as calmness, dignity, soberness and coolness.
Furthermore people pointed out that the girl does not follow fashion
because of the way she dressed in a relaxed way. Also people generally
thought that the girl lives with her family or in the dorm.
2. Sportive Boy (Picture 2):
Sportive boy in picture2 is thought to be aged between 20 25 by the
subjects. As people said about the sportive girl in picture 1, people
generally described the boy as a university student. This person is
generally perceived as a member of a high income group. Due to the clothes
in fashion and brand named accessories on the boy in picture, people
identified the person as a "clubber" who likes "the night
life��, pubs and bars. Also from the disposition of the man, he was
depicted as a creative job holder such as a musician, advertiser or
a sportsman. Also people claimed that he is single and lives with his
friends not with his family
6. Showy Boy (Picture 6): He was generally thought to be aged between 25 30. Most of the subjects said that he was a famous actor, composer or a singer. All of the subjects agreed that he is rich and member of a high income group. Also all of the subjects share the idea that he is a car or motor sports fanatic. In addition, generally people said that he follows the fashion and likes flirting with girls and due to his posture he is perceived as selfish and prig by the subjects
.
Conclusion:
In this study, it is aimed to find out that there are certain stereotypes relating to physical appearance especially in clothing. All the subjects in the experiment have made nearly the same comments about the people in the pictures. For example, they all identified the formal boy (picture 4) as a serious, disciplined and choosy businessman or they identified the showy girl (picture 5) as an 18-25 year old fashion model or a singer. Even though, some people have made eccentric comments such as their horoscopes, eye color or hair color of the subjects in the pictures. This shows that all the clothes they wear are perceived nearly same by the subjects.
Furthermore, the questionnaire results
also supported the hypothesis. Especially in question 1 which is that
the way people dress can tell us a lot of things about them, all the
subjects shared the same idea and agreed with the claim. In addition,
in the questions 6, 10, 17 and 18 more than 90% of the subjects answered
them as ��yes��. On the other hand, for question 13 which is following
the fashion is the sign of belonging to high-income groups, there is
high rate for the answer ��no��. As it is mentioned before the questionnaire
results proved the idea that there are definite stereotypes of clothes.
To sum up, both the questionnaire results
and interview results supported the hypothesis of the research. The
research would lead people to conduct more studies about the stereotypes
of accessories, beard, and moustache or hairstyle in the future.
Bibliography and References
APPENDİX 1
Name:
Surname:
Stereotypes of Physical Appearance
Yes I have no No
idea
��Modern independent female�� tries to create a ��fashionable, new, beautiful, exclusive, independent�� self and social image.
Following the fashion is the sign of
belonging to high income groups.
Yes I have no No
idea
When people go to a place important for
them, they should make sure that their appearance is immaculate.
People try to avoid dressing in a way respected
people dislike.
Cloths are identified with some life-styles.
Aesthetic beauty is important in costumes.
When people go to a place important for
them, they should consider comfort of their outfit.
Thank You for Answering
Our
Questions!
Picture 6
Picture 5
Picture 4
Picture 3
Picture 2
Picture 1
APPENDİX 2
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