Through our discussions of Abdellah Taia's Salvation Army, we have begun to confront the ways in which Taia attempts to explore and explode the boundaries of identity, love, gender, and familial relationships. By re-defining the terms of sexuality for himself, Taia makes it possible to think and be outside of the acceptable norms for a young Moroccan man as he traverses the road towards self acceptance. In some form or another we all will have to define our own path towards selfhood. Whether it's through defying figures of authority in order to follow one's passion or filling the original goals we set out for ourselves, this path towards ourselves holds the many joys and pains that comes with living a fruitful life.
For this blog post, explore the queer website dapperQ. This site is dedicate to celebrating masculine lesbian identity primarily through fashion in order to, as Taia does in his novel, explore and explode female gender roles. Fashion has long been one of the way through which we express our identity and dapperQ uses this medium to redefine the accepted terms of feminity---how women should act, think, identify themselves and yes, how they should dress. As the dapperQ states on their site:
"dapperQ is a visibility project that celebrates the inner and outer beauty of masculine-presenting lesbians, gender-nonconformists and genderqueers, and transmasculine individuals of all colors, shapes, and sizes. dapperQ does have a fashion focus. But, more importantly, it serves as a vehicle to explore fashion as a social construct, providing our readers and writers with a safe space to document and discuss how gender role expectations, particularly with respect to gender identity and expression, shape who we are as individuals and as a community."
As you explore the site make sure you read some of the features, watch some of their original videos, and look at the fashion featured on the site. Below you will find some of my own suggestions, but do look over the site yourself, keeping in mind Taia's project of exploring and exploding boundaries. Once you have sufficiently explored the site, answer the following questions: What are the different ways that dapperQ transgress some of the boundaries of female gender roles? How can fashion help foster identity and how does dapperQ show use fashion for this purpose. Your answers should be 2-3 paragraphs long and must be posted on Tuesday, May 20th by 5:00 pm in order to get credit.
Some suggestions:
1) dapperQ's Vimeo page: http://vimeo.com/dapperq/videos
2) Message from the founder of dapperQ: http://www.dapperq.com/2010/01/why-dapperq/
3) Fashion of everyday folks: http://www.dapperq.com/category/video/streetfashion/
4) Features, interviews, etc.: http://www.dapperq.com/category/blog/
5) NOT from dapperQ, but here's a helpful link for LGBT terms and definitions: http://internationalspectrum.umich.edu/life/definitions
DapperQ disobeys the boundaries of female gender roles by promoting and supporting the proud, brave gender neutral people that live in our world. I could have spent hours on this website; it is filled with inspirational videos, style tips, and advice for just about everything. A few stories that stuck out for me is the Time interview with Casey Legler, who is a Ford Male model. In the interview Casey is talking about how she was discovered as a male model, and how it would be a lovely place if we didn’t necessarily judge or jump to conclusion because someone wants to wear a dress or because someone wants to wear pants. When people see her on the men Ford adds, Casey says, “It speaks to this notion of freedom.” In Salvation Army, that is what Taia wants, freedom, and he expresses himself freely even when it is illegal, his sexuality is free and so is his ability to love, he is free, no one owns him and he does not mark anyone as his either. Another interview on DapperQ that was great was The Hollywood Reporter interview with Ellen Page; on Life After Coming Out. The interviewer asks her if she likes dressing up, Ellen replies; “More now, I get to wear what I want and not have conversations about it, I don’t know something about coming out gives you more freedom cause you’re not thinking about those things.” Ellen also feels a sense of freedom; she doesn’t have to hide anything and feels a sense of relief and confidence, an feels good in her skin. She looks happy and relaxed in her photo-shoot wearing her gender blended suit and tie.
ReplyDeleteThe last article I will discuss is from the section labeled style icon, a Swedish brand called Crocker casts Erika Linder as both the masculine and feminine model in their new adds. Linder tweets “I have too much imagination to just be one gander btw.” Such a liberatingly direct statement that gets to the point in saying I am free to be whoever I want. The add tagline for the Crocker campaign is, “Come as you are/ Whatever you are.” The perfect slogan, you are free, express yourself and live your life how you want, whether that is as a girl or a boy, throw on a dress or throw on some jeans. BE comfortable with yourself, and with your style. I believe DapperQ shows us that fashion can promote identity, when you are confident and ready to come out and be who you are, clothes are an incredible outlet to express that. An outfit can make a statement, and Casey Legler and Erika Linder are saying that if they want to model as males then deal with it, they are free to dress and be whomever they choose. It is so much more then picking pink or blue, a dress or pants, express yourself through fashion and be free to be comfortable in your own style.
DapperQ provides a wonderful resource and community for women who don't want to be restricted by traditional female gender roles in fashion. After looking through a few articles and pieces on the website, I think the article that best exemplifies what DapperQ hopes to be is the message from its founder. In this article, Susan Herr, the founder of the website, explained the hardships that many women who have a masculine style face on a daily basis, hardships that had never even occurred to me existed. The fact that sales clerks would stop women from buying men's clothes, or even shame them for trying the clothes on, was alarming to me, as was Susan's story of being insulted by a man on the street because of her masculine style. The latter story reminded me of Taia's confrontation with the policeman in Morocco; though not as drastic as Taia's experience, Susan's experience demonstrates how the two countries have more in common than we may like to think, and that our country is not quite as accepting as we may believe.
ReplyDeleteBy providing women with a safe place to express their fashion choices, DapperQ is taking an important step to break down the gender barrier that currently exists in not only fashion but all of society. Providing women with the confidence to dress how they please is an important part of gaining self esteem and empowers women to create identities for themselves outside of the traditional barriers made for women, both in fashion and in all aspects of their lives. DapperQ's lifestyle section shows just how strong this connection can be, and within the lifestyle section there is even an entire category devoted to empowerment. This section is filled with articles of women challenging gender norms or reaching successful milestones in their careers (and looking as dapper as even while doing so). Most notably, there was an article on Ellen Page, which had not only a gallery of her style but also a link to her article with her Hollywood Reporter interview about her publicly coming out. This is only one of the many ways that DapperQ celebrates inspiring, independent women through their defiant style and encourages women across the country to not let themselves be limited by the pressures of society.
DapperQ transgresses some of the boundaries of the traditional female gender roles by uploading and sharing videos, style tips, and general advice for people who identify otherwise. The website promotes a lifestyle that may go against female gender roles, but does so by showing the universality of fashion and life choices. DapperQ shows that clothing and fashion do not have to be limited by gender, but instead can be universal and apply to all people of all genders and orientations. The website provides women with a source of identity, and almost a sense of camaraderie amongst a culture that might be discriminated against in today's society.
ReplyDeleteFashion definitely fosters identity, as "clothing makes the man." The clothes that people wear innately are a statement to the rest of the world that shows their lifestyle and the choices that they make. By enabling women to identify with aspects previously unknown, DapperQ is using fashion to help women discover themselves. Clothing inevitably reveals a lot about a person, and DapperQ uses fashion to help people gain confidence in their life styles.
DapperQ is similar to Taio in the sense that it contains a message of universality within its website. It does not discriminate against certain people but instead shows that fashion crosses barriers and can be applicable to everyone. In the same tone, Taio believes that love should not be restricted but instead should be universal and applicable wherever proper.
The dapperQ site is not only a resource for persons who are dissatisfied with traditional fashion constructs, but a place that challenges expectations of female gender roles, both in mainstream society and in the world of style. DapperQ looks to address an everyday problem to LGBT individuals: clothes are for women are expected to wear “women’s” clothing. Susan Herr, the editor and self-pronounced “Transgressor-in-Chief,” explains the gravity of the problem in her impassioned mission statement – fashion is self-expression; women who wish to dress freely are often left without a voice. The site looks to provide such a voice. Through resources, examples, style reviews, and fashion advice, dapperQ gives tools for Lesbians to challenge fashion stereotypes, and to find their own unique style and voice. DapperQ dedicates a portion of its site to empowerment, with articles highlighting the growth of butch style and culture as well as acknowledging individuals who are at the forefront of the movement. One such person is Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who received kudos for giving a coveted superbowl ticket to LGBT fan and female football player, Rae Baum. America’s game is generally regarded as a men-only pastime. Females associated with the sport are relegated to cheerleaders. This article highlights an act by a wildly popular professional football player that challenges this archetype.
ReplyDeleteAt its heart, dapperQ is about fashion – how it looks and how it is a vessel of self-expression. Editor Susan Herr has no qualms thrusting herself into the conversation. In her post “This is what a Dyke Looks Like,” she poses for a camera dressed in an androgynous black tank top, as if challenging the notion that that there is a way dykes are supposed to look. Herr wants to show that fashion should be expressive, not limiting, that gender roles should not define one’s own personal style. This is especially true in the questions and tips sections of dapperQ, where readers ask learned fashion editors for advice on how to dress to express. One reader asks where to find masculine bathing suits that fit their body. DapperQ’s editors provide numerous options, thereby challenging the notion that only bikinis and one-pieces are available for women.
DapperQ encourages women who are lesbians, gender-nonconformists, genderqueers, and transmasculine to embrace their individuality, with an emphasis on fashion. They completely defy the conventionality of what women are "supposed" to wear. They want viewers to realize that they are beautiful no matter what and they don't have to be stick skinny to feel empowered in their own skin. The website provides ample resources for lesbian and gender non-conformist women, such as their forum where they provide people with well though out, genuine answers to questions that real people actually asked. It helps readers understand that they are not alone in this journey of discovering who they are and they are not confined by the boundaries society sets for them.
ReplyDeleteThey also have gift idea pages for significant others and I really liked that they had an Eco-friendly section of gift ideas that are made with organic products and are produced sustainably for all the environmentalists out there :) They reach out to people from all different avenues ensuring that anyone can find helpful and encouraging information on their website. Their 'About Me' section is very genuine and states that they welcome and include everyone. They want to encourage women to express themselves however they want and create change in a world where it is needed. It is very social media based with things like twitter and Facebook directly linking to their website, which is a very good technique on their part because it makes their information very widespread and accessible.
I also like how they share stories from celebrities like Ellen Degeneres and Ellen Page to encourage women to embrace their own unique individuality and show that they are not alone. One their Vimeo, DapperQ provides viewers with unique fashion tips and advice like how to tie a bow tie, which I'm sure is intimidating if you've never done if before. Just as Taia wants to break socially and culturally accepted boundaries in relationships, DapperQ servees to break the boundaries of gender roles in society and show that lesbians, gender-nonconformists, genderqueers, and transmasculine women are free to wear whatever they want and be whoever they want. Fashion is a great medium for expressing individuality because it helps women embrace their own uniqueness and beauty. Fashion creates connections between people, just as it does on their website. It was very enjoyable and encouraging to see this website! Thanks for sharing!
Using universal medium of expression, DapperQ breaks the gender role boundaries and strives to change some negative views on gender minorities. Not only queer models, but also famous celebrities, such as Ellen Page, are introduced in the blog, drawing people’s attention since people tend to get interest when there’s issue related to famous celebrities. In “Masculine Spring Florals,”the editor directly mentions about queer style: “The best thing about queer style is that it takes risks, breaks boundaries, and isn’t afraid to blur gender lines.” Adding to this, there are some pictures and posts that are related to men-women relationship, such as marriage and prom. Surprisingly, in the picture, two lesbians are kissing each other, wearing a tuxedo and a wedding dress. I think this picture depicted the editor’s strive to break the gender roles through blurring the boundaries of fashion. Normally, people have stereotype that a tuxedo is only for man and a wedding dress is only for woman. However, the editor of DapperQ breaks this stereotype by expressing that there’s no gender distinction in fashion, but rather telling the readers that there’s one’s true identity in expression of fashion.
ReplyDeleteExperiencing how DapperQ also changed some of my stereotypes on queers, fashion is a great tool to break gender boundaries and foster one’s identity. These days, fashion industry is enormous since most countries support human rights to be free from suppression on expression of oneself. Therefore, as a universal medium for communication, people all around the world know how to express themselves through fashion and how to view other people's expressions through outward appearances. Moreover, since there are some distinctions that divides genders through fashion items, fashion became a noticeable way to express minor preferences, such as genderqueers. Overall, like music, people can read one’s true self and preferences through fashion, fashion opens the best way to foster one’s true identity.
DapperQ is fashion-oriented site that uses clothing and style as a way for minority groups, such as homosexuals, transgenders, and bisexuals, to express themselves in a safe space without being judged. In a way, DapperQ makes lesbians look "cool" by portraying their awesome fashion senses! One of the main issues DapperQ tries to address is the fact that girls are supposed to wear feminine clothing and are supposed to stay away from garbs such as bowties and suits. However, this site successfully promotes the freedom of expression for females who want to dress more masculine. I, for one, thought the the females wearing different types of male-related clothing looked completely natural and I wouldn't judge any of them if I saw them strolling down the street. Even though DapperQ uses fashion as its vessel for change, I feel as if the main point of the site is to help females come out of the closet to embrace who they truly are. Our society has looked down upon and scolded homosexuals for centuries and DapperQ tries to change our viewpoint through fashion.
ReplyDeleteFashion is a main part of one's identity for most people. DapperQ embraces this fact and pushes the boundaries of what women can, and should, wear. By showing the world hat it's okay to wear non-genderconformist clothing, DapperQ essentially argues that the freedom of expression is more important that one's personal comfort. Anyone, despite sexual orientation, should be able to wear what they want when they want and no one should be able to stop them or judge them. I believe DapperQ is successful in using fashion as a vessel for change and societal acceptance!
Resistance can also be portrayed through the expression of fashion, a concept in which the site dapperQ demonstrates. The site states that “gender representation does not equal one’s sexual orientation,” an idea that society often rejects because of judgment and unwillingness to break free from conformity. Fashion, much like other forms of art such as music, allows for an individual to freely express one’s personality and character based on the type of clothing one enjoys wearing. In a sense, fashion should be limitless and free of judgment or stereotypes, but society and media, especially, have undermined this form of expression. The site dapperQ features women who break traditional gender roles through the clothing they wear, and some even combine masculinity and femininity into their clothes. It is no longer just black and white, but a wonderful blurring of gender representation that enforces the need to divert from what and how society deems as “fashion.”
ReplyDeleteBarneys ad campaign features trans-identified models. It is through this public expression of fashion that trans-equality is advocated. Ryley Pogensky, one of the models, explains that he also experienced times of struggling to become a high fashion model because he refuses to conform to the mainstream perception of a model. Being a trans-gender, African American model limits him from receiving job opportunities, but Pogensky emphasizes the fact that resisting and revolting against the ideal concept of high fashion will break not only gender but also racial barriers. Another example of the way in which dapperQ uses fashion to widen the boundaries of female gender roles is through the article featuring style blogger Rachel Tutera and her blog The Handsome Butch. Within her blog, Tutera uses fashion to break the limitations of how females should dress in society. She urges others to not follow “the rules” but embrace ones’ body, shape and form. Tutera goes against the way in which media correlates weight loss (the emphasis on being skinny) with being beautiful. Both Tutera and Pogensky illustrate the power of fashion in producing a resistance against gender portrayal and representation in society.
As the website’s caption “transgressing men’s fashion” indicates, dapperQ is an online community that explores gender roles and boundaries with a primarily fashion-related focus. With articles ranging from personal tips to articles of queer celebrities, the site is abundant with images of individuals who seek to use fashion as a means of self-expression and to challenge existing notions of gender. For one, dapperQ showcases a variety of articles that are about individuals from different communities and different parts of society. As such, personal concerns of a teenage gay woman would garner similar attention compared to pictures of celebrities; readers of the site access countless representations of queer identity. Is there a distinct way in which homosexual women act? Do they all dress and behave identically because of their gender or sexual orientation? – through depicting the multitude of ways through which queer individuals can go beyond conventional means of self-expression, dapperQ enriches the general public’s perception of queer and successfully counter common assumptions (often misconceptions) of the LGBTQ community.
ReplyDeleteJust as I mentioned before, from a quick browsing of the website, it becomes evident that it uses fashion as a tool to foster unrestricted expressions of identity. While it is broadly speaking clearly a LGBTQ friendly platform, dapperQ’s main focus is on gender nonconformists, particularly in the case of masculine-presenting lesbians. In this case, women who opt to dress in a way that is perceived to be masculine challenges rigid gender boundaries because it goes beyond the traditional assumptions associated with genders. As women are traditionally expected to wear more form-fitting clothes, by donning male clothing, individuals show that they exist beyond the limited male-female binaries and that they have emerged as a new state, unrestrained by society’s gender-based expectations on the way they dress and act. Through dressing differently in whatever style they wish, they express their selfhood and also supports the idea that individuals should have the freedom of expression, of finding whatever spot it is that they fit most comfortably on the gender spectrum. As such, dapperQ normalizes noncomformity to promote positive images of the queer community, further broadens existing notions of gender and provides a platform on which individuals from different backgrounds can interact while connecting to each article on a more intimate level. Therefore to conclude, dapperQ portrays unconventional, noncomforming examples of fashion on both personal levels and mainstream media to transgress existing rigid boundaries regarding female gender roles (such as assumptions on how to present oneself or behave), thereby encouraging free self-expression, or the emergence of new communities to comfortably and confidently identify oneself with.
Jenny Chim
DapperQ was created to serve the lesbian community, a demographic that has constantly fought against socially set boundaries for female roles. Without making too many assumptions, the lesbian and the rest of the LGBTQ community have their differences, but are united in that they face similar oppression. They have been misunderstood, stared at, rallied against, and limited in their forms of expression, whether it be through marriage or, in this case, fashion. The dapperQ community refuses to be restricted only to women's fashion, and believe they should be able to proudly wear men’s clothes as well. They refuse to be a submissive minority of women, subject to the bare-skin desires of men as portrayed in magazines such as Vogue and GQ. Rather, dapperQ depicts empowered and "dapper" women who do not serve merely as sex objects, but as human beings with a personal identity worth expressing.
ReplyDeleteI believe that fashion has a negative connotation, and is often associated with vanity. Although fashion is a form of pride, it is not as an expression of vanity, but one of identity. These people are not compromising their outfit for what others might expect them to wear, and would rather face social disapproval than wear outfits that they don’t want to. DapperQ allows these oppressed people to come together and support each other when the rest of the world does not support them. Putting limitations on what they can wear is putting limitations on their self-expression. I believe that fashion is strongly associated with identity because what you wear is how people see you. By conforming in your outfit, you demonstrate that you are too ashamed to be seen as who you are. Dapper Q serves as a community that allows the oppressed to defy their socially imposed limitations on clothing by sharing ideas that would otherwise not be shared.