Clothing and the Social Organization of Gender Perception: A Developmental Approach

Abstract

Young girls' symbolic associations of clothing styles with behaviors and personality traits were studied in relation to developmental factors. The Measure of Attitudes Toward Clothing for Play (MACP) was used to examine how and why four different clothing styles were matched with play activities in Study 1 and traits in Study 2. Ninety-five girls, aged 2 through 10 years in the initial testing, served as subjects for Study 1; 43 of these girls participated in the longitudinal and trait components of the study four years later. Both the cross-sectional and the longitudinal data from Study 1 revealed an increased tendency with age to associate unisexual styles with physically active and aggressive play behaviors. In contrast, girls of all ages, but especially the older ones, tended to associate the frilliest clothing style with doll play. Data from Study 2 revealed a trend for traits related to interpersonal attraction (e.g., concern with appearance and popularity) to be matched with the frilliest dress, while traits related to aggression, strength, and bravery were associated with the most unisexual style (jeans). Additional data suggested that, by middle childhood, females have not only the cognitive flexibility to develop compromise choices but also the ability to interpret clothing imagery using contextual qualifications. The data are discussed in light of a framework exploring gender and clothing imagery, taking into account symbolic, cognitive, and cultural considerations.