Doctoral Dissertations
Date of Award
5-2022
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Major
Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management
Major Professor
Heejin Lim
Committee Members
Michelle Childs, Stefanie Benjamin, Daniel J. Flint
Abstract
This study utilizes a feminist perspective to share the stories of women in fashion as they navigate their careers in conjunction with intersecting forms of identity and appearance. I seek to understand the lived experiences of the women throughout their obstacles, privileges and perceptions of social structures that uphold a unique horizontally female segregated, vertically male segregated industry. Specifically, this study critiques the systems that inhibit career growth through gender and racial inequity, power imbalance and appearance expectations. A method of in-depth interviews analyzed through a hybrid reflexive thematic analysis approach was triangulated with photo data analysis to unpack gender and based appearance experiences in fashion. The three themes revealed in this study include: (1) The Impact of Gender Inequality in Leadership on Organizational Culture, (2) Brand Standards and Industry Norms Influence Appearance and Dress, and (3) Gender Inequality is Not Equal for All Women.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Domenique E., "PLAYING THE GAME: UNPACKING GENDER, RACE, AND APPEARANCE INEQUITIES IN CORPORATE FASHION. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2022.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/7155
Included in
Fashion Business Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons