This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lynch, A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Expanding the Definition of Provocative Dress

An Examination of Female Flashing Behavior on a College Campus

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

A Foucauldian feminist theoretical perspective was selected to examine female flashing behavior and male audience response within the microenvironment of a college homecoming celebration. Data were collected using ethnographic fieldwork techniques in the midst of sometimes near-riot conditions in a blocked-off street in the bar district adjoining the campus. Additional qualitative research methods included participant observation, interviews with male and female participants and observers, analysis of police videotapes, and interviews with police officers. Interpretive results supported the expanding of Kennedy's definition of provocative dress to include body-revealing behaviors when practiced within social contexts. Analysis further indicated that flashing within this microenvironment served to reinforce patterns of hegemonic male sexuality focused on sexual objectification of women rather than serving to challenge male-centered sexuality through an expression of female sexual agency.

Key Words: flashing • gender • provocative dress • agency

Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, Vol. 25, No. 2, 184-201 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0887302X06298699


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?