Professional Documents
Culture Documents
that is how does cross dressing assist her and how does she use her
new position as a boy to procure what she wants, can we draw any
parallels to modernity’s notion of cross dressing in other words what
commentary is being made about appearance versus reality,
disguises, dressing the part etc.
“…the most general answer, one can begin by stating that cross dressing,
like other disruptions of the Renaissance semiotics of dress, opened a gap
between the supposed reality of one's social station and sexual kind and
the clothes that were to display that reality to the world. As is well known,
the state regulated dress in early modern England, especially in urban
settings, precisely to keep people in the social "places" to which they were
born. Elizabethan sumptuary proclamations list those who could wear
certain colors (such as purple), certain fabrics (such as silk), and certain
adornments (such as spurs, daggers, jewels).” [this is from the journal I
sent you}
Rosalind
Were it not better ,
because that I am more than common tall,
that I did suit me all points like a man? (1.iii.112-14)
Rosalind is going against the norm, and societal expectations, she is giving
up female dress, she is leaving the home without being wed she leaves
home with another women. She acts like a man by taking up the sword
thus, Rosalind’s actions can be seen as a rebellion against the status quo,
and the cultural norms of her time. Today, while women are free to wear
pants and other articles of clothing that we associate as being menswear
out society still has many forms of gender and social and cultural
expectations around dress. For example, men dressed as women outside
of the gay community our outside of theatre etc. will be marginalized,
additionally, women who choose to wear only men’s clothes may also be
marginalized depending up on where they work. We still have a great deal
of social expectations about appearance, for example , in the work place.
Workplace culture brings with it expectations of dress such as bankers on
Bay street would be expected to dress in suits whereas young computer
tech men and women have much more freedom of choice about dress.
Uniforms in schools can serve a number of functions, the uniform can help
to eliminate the eliminate hierarchy amongst peers in modes of dress , but
it can also show status. For example, a child in a private school uniform is
a social marker of his or her parents ability to afford a private school.
Uniforms in the school setting can also act as a form of security, with
everyone looking alike, the sameness of dress can help to keep outsiders
out and add to the security of the school setting.
For example in France women wearing hijab are discriminated against “in
order to protect French culture” Protecting the status quo – protecting the
dominant culture from social change.
Failure to assimilate.
Today, while women are free to wear pants and other articles of
clothing that we associate as being menswear out society still has many
forms of gender and social and cultural expectations around dress. For
example, men dressed as women outside of the gay community our
outside of theatre etc. will be marginalized, additionally, women who
choose to wear only men’s clothes may also be marginalized depending
up on where they work. We still have a great deal of social expectations
about appearance, for example , in the work place. Workplace culture
brings with it expectations of dress such as bankers on Bay street would
be expected to dress in suits whereas young computer tech men and
women have much more freedom of choice about dress. Uniforms in
schools can serve a number of functions, the uniform can help to eliminate
the eliminate hierarchy amongst peers in modes of dress , but it can also
show status. For example, a child in a private school uniform is a social
marker of his or her parents ability to afford a private school. Uniforms in
the school setting can also act as a form of security, with everyone looking
alike, the sameness of dress can help to keep outsiders out and add to the
security of the school setting.
Thus, while gender relations have changed and advanced since
Shakespeare’s time, expectations around dress, gender and clothing in
various societal venues is still subject to scrutiny. Through Rosalind’s
change from woman to man, Shakespeare reveals the true nature of love
when Orlando’s feelings goes from lust for a woman to admiration of a
man. Rosalind is given this magical power, enabling her to explore
different arenas of gender – and still be desired in both of them. By
exploring the masculine and feminine sides of a person, Shakespeare
reveals that love has nothing to do with gender. The deep friendship
between Rosalind and Celia is a fascinating revelation of love between
two women, so refined and dramatic to the point that it is difficult to ignore
the fact that they could easily become lovers.