Bat wings, bunions, and turkey wattles

Body transgressions and older women's strategic clothing choices

Bibliographic Data

ID11201501
AuthorsLaura Hurd Clarke, Laura Hurd (0000-0003-1913-348X, University of British Columbia, corresponding author), Meridith Griffin (0000-0001-5475-7672, University of British Columbia), KATHERINE MALIHA (University of British Columbia)
Year2009
Volume29
Issue5
Pages709-726
Publication date2009-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x08008283
OpenAlexW2103392084
LanguageEN
Citations received38
References cited22

This paper examines older women's experiences and perceptions of clothing prescriptions for adults in later life. Using data from in-depth interviews with 36 women aged 71 to 93 years, we investigate the stringent, taken-for-granted social norms that older women identified with respect to appropriate fashion for the ageing female body. Specifically, the participants argued that older women should refrain from wearing bright colours and revealing or overly suggestive styles. Expressing a preference for classic or traditional styles, the women also reported that they used clothing strategically to mask or compensate for bodily transgressions that had occurred over time as a result of the physical realities of ageing, including weight gain, altered body shapes, wrinkles and sagging or ‘flabby’ arms and necks, referred to respectively as ‘bat wings’ and ‘turkey wattles’. In addition, the women contended that they consciously chose their clothing styles to compensate for age-related health issues and/or to present a competent, healthy self to others. Finally, the women talked about the ways in which their clothing choices were influenced by their changing lifestyles and constrained by a lack of desirable and affordable clothing options for the older female body. The findings are discussed in the light of Erving Goffman's concept of stigma and contemporary theorising about ageing, ageism, beauty work and the body

Aesthetics · Art · Beauty · Clothing · Human physical appearance · Lower body · Perception · Political science · Preference · Sociology · Stigma (botany) · Aging and Gerontology Research · Crafts, Textile, and Design · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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