Going back to Alexandra Howson‘s article, she explains a person’s body can be disruptive. There are thousands of cultures with their own unique dress conventions, which are recognisable and meaning full to the culture. A body that does not conform, because of dress that disobeys cultural codes, is likely to cause offence and even outrage. “This is one of the reasons why dress is a matter of mortality: dressed inappropriately we are uncomfortable; we feel ourselves open to social condemnation.” (Howson 2004: 8).
People looked with massive suspicion to me when I walked in a upper class neighbourhood (Tamboerskloof) dressed as a bergie on both Friday and Saturday nights. My dress did not conform to the area’s code and caused them to think I might do something unlawful in THEIR area.
Howson, A. 2004. Chapter 4: The Body in Consumer Culture. In: The Body in Society. Cambridge: Blackwell Press.
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