The power of style in advocacy

Kristine

This week Wisconsin has had major protests about a budget bill. I work next to the capitol so I've seen thousands of protestors and tons of interviews.

One thing that's really struck me is the power of your image when you're advocating for a cause. Maybe it shouldn't be the case, but you really have more influence when you're well put together. The legislators are in suits or business casual/formal. Many of the people coming up to speak are a little disheveled, in sweatshirts or with unbrushed hair. I can't help but think that the legislators probably don't take them completely seriously.

Style isn't frivolous, it can be very powerful!

15 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from crwilson

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Here here!!! Much the same way you run the risk of not being taken seriously professionally if you don't dress the part, whatever that may be. People may take a look at the sweatshirt-clad protesters and think, "stupid hippies," or something equally derogatory. Not fair, but often true.

15 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Good point, Kristine. The power of dressing may be diminished when everybody dresses down - it just becomes the norm. However as soon as you have some well dressed and put together people the difference becomes very obvious.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I really think that you are right. It is the same in a store or a doctor's office, or anywhere I guess. It is very unfortunate. We have attributed dressing well and presumably having money, with good character. How sad, but reality.

And I have been guilty of it...not regarding poorly dressed people, but of young people with lots of piercings and tatoos. In the past, I thought that they were just punks. But some of the kindest, most thoughtful young people that I have met over the years, were those "punks".

I have also been on the other side of it when volunteering for an anti-gang program. It was amazing when the kids and I went somewhere together, how people just paid no attention, much less, listen to them - then when they were with me ( an upper class, middle aged, white woman ) all of a sudden, people wanted to know what the kids were thinking.

Thanks for bringing awareness to this!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I second every word you wrote, Kristine.

15 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

So very true.

15 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I completely agree with you...Ive seen that on the news also and thought the same thing. We went to a city council meeting and nearly everyone who spoke was either in sub-casual or downright sloppy clothing- sharp contrast to those council members who were dressed appropriately in business wear.....

15 years ago

Anonymous

Amen to what you said, Kristine. I've been trying to get this through to one of my young adult sons who works in IT and hasn't had to stop is sloppy college ways of dress. A few months ago the company he works for instituted a dress code and he had to buy suits for work. Yesterday he called to say he'd been given an 18% raise. I credit his better dress for the office. Nothing else had changed.

15 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Great topic Kristine, thanks for bringing it up.

15 years ago

lynne

Veteran

Excellent point, Kristine, thank you for reminding us. In Ohio we are going through the same sort of thing. I will be attending a rally in Columbus on Tuesday in fact. Many demonstrators wear matching tshirts to show solidarity of message, but they forget that you can still look polished by being aware of the rest of your outfit.

15 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I study social movements, so this thread has been very interesting for me to follow (my MA paper is on US TV media coverage of protests). I agree completely that presentation of self has a big influence on how seriously people take you. In fact, that's a major part of why I became interested in fashion and found YLF - as a young grad student I want people to take me and my ideas seriously!

On the other hand, I think that if all of the protesters were wearing the same things as the legislators, the media and people in government might argue that the protesters have "too much money," the unions are allowing workers to live cushy lifestyles where they can afford to care about fashion, these protesters just want more money to spend on clothes, etc. etc. Protesters have historically been the under-trodden masses, and their clothing "choices" display their lack of time and resources. Again, I think it's totally possible to look polished, professional, and put-together on a limited budget, but I think that the majority of Americans would disagree and see such ventures as frivolous.

There have also been situations where protesters have tried to prove a point with their clothing (using costumes) or dressed in ways that expressed who they are and their lifestyle. In these situations, the media ends up talking about more about how people were dressed up as sea turtles or about the violent "freaks" with lots of piercings, dyed hair, and mohawks, rather than taking the protesters seriously and talking about the issues at hand. Basically, when the protesters don't look like "average Americans" the media is likely to focus on that and label the group as others.

As disheveled as protesters in Wisconsin may look, I haven't heard of any coverage focusing on their style choices. I'm afraid that if they made an effort to look more professional it might draw attention away from the issues they care about.

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15 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I believe you are right. I always dress well when I expect to be respected.

Whether that be going to the cosmetics counter in a big department store, going to an interview, or going to see a doctor as a patient.

15 years ago

crwilson

Veteran

Really interesting point Kate - I hadn't thought about it from that perspective. It's amazing how much of a landmine clothing choices can be in these cases. As an activist, then, it's pretty difficult to do the "right" thing, clothing-wise.

15 years ago

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