Pedagogy and Professional Development

When and How Are Men Represented in Fashion Illustration Textbooks? A Critical Analysis of Race and the Body

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Abstract

Using intersectionality theory as a lens, we ask how often men are represented, and then critically analyze their representation in relation to race and the body. As the menswear market is growing, is our academic discipline creating enough tools to teach these techniques and are the tools diverse? This paper sought to answer those questions in order to offer implications to those creating future textbooks. We used the content analysis method, and analyzed 30 fashion illustration textbooks with five categories: gender, race, body size, body position, and skin color. Results reveal that men are significantly underrepresented within the fashion illustration textbooks. Analysis of race reveals that the men of color have the least representation and are even further marginalized in that they are represented in more closed off positions as compared to White men. Publishers and authors can consider findings for future books in order to promote diversity and inclusion.

How to Cite:

Reddy-Best, K. L., Choi, E. & Park, H., (2017) “When and How Are Men Represented in Fashion Illustration Textbooks? A Critical Analysis of Race and the Body”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 74(1).