Constructing and Presenting the Self through Private Sphere Dress: An Interpretive Analysis of the Experiences of Saudi Arabian Women
Abstract
In Saudi Arabia, women’s presentation of the self through dress is shaped to a large extent by setting and audience considerations. In the public sphere – anywhere outside of the home where women are in the presence of males who are not considered to be next of kin – Saudi women are required by law to veil. In contrast, in the private sphere – which encompasses women’s interactions in their homes, with other women, or with their next of kin – dress worn by Saudi women is open to individual choice and may include traditional Saudi styles (modest, long dresses with long sleeves), or, in recent years, Western styles.
Keywords: self, Saudi Arabia, women, dress
How to Cite:
Tawfiq, W. & Paff Ogle, J., (2013) “Constructing and Presenting the Self through Private Sphere Dress: An Interpretive Analysis of the Experiences of Saudi Arabian Women”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 70(1).
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