The Feminist in the Workplace: Applications to a Contextual Study of Dress

Abstract

Selected attitudes toward career-related apparel of employed women differing in feminist orientation and work status were investigated. A three-part questionnaire was mailed to 1000 panelists of a national consumer mail panel who represented women between the ages of 25 and 45, employed full-time in either professional, managerial/administrative, or clerical occupations. Multiple regression analysis of data revealed a significant relationship between feminist orientation and six of the eight clothing attitudes investigated. Whereas no significant relationship was found between work status and the clothing attitudes, significant interaction between feminist orientation and work status was found on three of the attitudes. Findings indicate that feminist orientation, as one measure of personal values and interests, and occupational situation, as an example of an environmental factor, are both influential in determining attitudes toward dress.