June Monthly Theme: Citizenship and Belonging
The concept of “citizenship and belonging” is one that we are closely examining for the month of June, as its tentacles continue to reach into everyday aspects of society.
Who gets to qualify individuals or groups as citizens within the parameters of nationhood? The concept of “citizenship and belonging” is one that we are closely examining for the month of June, as its tentacles continue to reach into everyday aspects of society. In fact, now more than ever, key signifiers of ethnic, cultural, religious and/or racial identity–such as dress, hair, skin color, adornment, language–remain critical when it comes to negotiating citizenship and belonging. The pressure to fit in or blend into a society within the bounds of a nation can include acculturation and assimilation **(example: styling one’s hair to reflect dominant social norms). Yet we can also consider tactics of resistance, with examples of going against the grain, in terms of dress and physical presentation (example: wearing a scarf that symbolizes nationhood or sovereignty).
– Kim Jenkins
Founder & Principal Researcher, The Fashion and Race Database #fashionandrace