Last week, I talked about my position on skin-lightening creams. Even as I wrote that post, I was bursting with contradictions. Some include:
Is it a woman's right to do that to her body?*
Are people using these products uninformed about the consequences and the societal expectations informing their choices? If not, what makes them choose to use it?
And, most importantly: Are fashion choices sanctioned by feminism, even when they are considered destructive?
Thinking of fashion from a feminist perspective is a tricky feat. There are feminists on both sides of the burqa debate; there are those that find mini-skirts and booty shorts just as offensive or progressive. In many senses, fashion can be liberating or constricting.
As we go into a season where people come out of their thick layers and begin using their clothing to express all different messages, I want to explore this single question:
How does feminism intersect with fashion and what are the consequences?
More after the jump.
*I know that men also use skin-lightening creams, but for the purposes of this post I would like to restrict it to women.
