Culture

Taking Up Space in Style: Chef Coats as Sites of Gender Negotiation and Feminist Resistance in Culinary Environments

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Abstract

This paper examines chef coats as material sites where gender, power, and professional legitimacy are negotiated within traditionally male-dominated culinary environments. Historically designed around masculine bodies and norms, the standard unisex chef coat has often marginalized women chefs by limiting comfort, mobility, and self-expression. Drawing from feminist theory, material culture studies, and apparel design research, this paper argues that contemporary chef coat innovations serve not only functional and aesthetic purposes but also operate as tools of empowerment and resistance. As women increasingly assume leadership roles in professional kitchens, uniform design has emerged as a critical mechanism for visibility, authority, and inclusion. The paper advances a call to action for apparel manufacturers, employers, educators, researchers, and policymakers to reimagine kitchen uniforms through inclusive, gender-responsive design practices collaboratively. Proposed future research emphasizes qualitative inquiry into women chefs’ lived experiences, positioning professional dress as a catalyst for equity and cultural change in culinary workplaces.

Keywords: chef coat, uniforms, women chefs, restaurant industry, hospitality

How to Cite:

Chisholm, A. & Sanders, E. A., (2025) “Taking Up Space in Style: Chef Coats as Sites of Gender Negotiation and Feminist Resistance in Culinary Environments”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21918