The Role of Individualism, Fashion and Appearance - Term Paper Example

Individualism/individualization and Fashion and Appearance Name: Institution: Date: “Assess the extent to which contemporary individualization and/or individualism are conditioned by the accentuation of appearance and fashion”. Introduction and thesis statement Fashion and appearance dictates the direction and pace of change in society. People want to be what they feel like and aspire to position that they like but they have to content with the jurisdiction of fashion and appearance within the society that they come from. It will be outrageous and obnoxious for one to totally disregard the dictates of fashion and appearance in society in his quest of exercising individualism or embracing individualization. In an effort of someone to be himself of herself he ends up conforming to fashion and appearance in spite of personal decisions being made. Regardless of this observation, an individual has to have his own stand and perception in life in regard to fashion and appearance so as to be able to present an image of his own personality and be able to stand for some course in life. Wavering and adjusting to every whim of fashion and appearance in the society does not augur well since it makes one lose his identity as an open-minded, objective, and independent thinker. An individual has to make decisions that are best for himself and the society at large. One has to think about himself in the context of the wider society. This essay evaluates the degree to which contemporary individualism and individualization are conditioned by the accentuation of fashion and appearance. It portrays the extent to which appearance and fashion condition individualization and individualism. This essay will discuss the reason behind conditioning of individualism by appearance and fashion and substantiates individual efforts that prove this fact. Attention will be drawn to the use of make-up, face lifts and other fashion accessories in an effort portray a face that is desired in the society. Individualization is very important in society. As pointed out by psychologists, the ethic of individual achievement and self-fulfillment is virtually the powerful current in the modern society (Hooks, 2000). The deciding, the choosing, the shaping of an individual who aspires to be the author of his own life, the composer of individual identity, is the defining character of the modern times. However, fashion and appearance directs the decisions that an individual make when it comes to outside image that he wants to portray. People present themselves not as natural as they are but they build up an image that they want the society to embrace as far as fashion and appearance is concerned. Majority of women and some men, wear make up, at least in some occasions. The social face is the one that is put on through wearing of make up so that to achieve a certain impression (Raquel, 1984). This is the decorated face, the created face, the public face: make up is pure art. This is the same face which is selected from a range of possible options, in regard to self-definition, the person that is desired to be projected, self interest and artistic skills in impression management. Make up is used just like a mask. Most celebrities in the modern society cannot appear in public faces without make up. The same person with make up and without it looks very different. Therefore, there is enough proof that fashion and appearance has conditioned individualism and/or individualization. Personal decisions on fashion and appearance have to be done considering the desired image that has to be projected to the public. Conditioning of appearance and fashion faces an individual to have two faces: social face and physiological face. Make-up serves two key functions which are self-creation and self-expression (Jeanette, 2008). Theorists suggest that the use of make-up portrays that there are many selves within a person and each has a role to play. Make-up is like stage make-up which support people in their various roles through life. Wearing make-up, changing or putting on; changes not only an individual face but also the person. People put on make-up for many objectives like to look older, to look young than someone is, or to hide pimples. Various cosmetics and make-ups are created for this reason: to give someone the desired face. Contemporary individualism is hard to be expressed when people struggle to present a fashion or appearance that they themselves desire. The face is used as a canvas on which the desired image is painted (Hooks, 2000). Men select the type of face that they want to portray in the society. They have an option to select from modern, traditional, debonair, and new faces. Whereas make-up is identity, face is created. The choice of words and faces is very interesting. Looking different is actually being different and in the modern culture is fashionably important for women to be different and look different, to present a various from place to place and from time to time. One can feel tired and sick of looking the same and therefore, he uses make-up to role-play. This is a feeling that goes through the mind of most ladies. Kaczrowski (1989) elaborates that many men traditional do not wear make-up; neither do they change their hair-styles from time to time, nor do they wear much in terms of fashion accessories, and if they choose to wear gold chains or rings they wear the same ones although. People hate to look ugly and they therefore present an image that is likeable to the public. By wearing make-up women want to look good or beautiful and feel good. The effects of fashion and appearance have driven people to even go as far as involving plastic surgery to improve their appearance. Make-up is just temporary but plastic surgery is permanent (Lipovetsky, 2002). In the United States plastic surgery is one of the fastest growing specialties in medicine. Many women have gone for these operations with the aim of face lifting. The health implications of these processes make individual decisions very important. The individual differences that exist in society are the ones that are knotted together to form the perception of culture and tradition of the entire society. Despite increase in fashion and appearance, contemporary individualization and individualism cannot be suppressed (Pleck, 1995). The norms, traditions, values and culture of society provides a general direction that has to be followed by personal identity in regard to individualism is manifested in individual decisions that are made. Accentuation of appearance and fashion in the modern society serves to broaden the available choices and alternatives and provides a framework within which individual decisions are made in regard to appearance and fashion. Personal values cannot be erased with the growth with the mere of fashion and appearance (Synnott, 1987). The society values are preserved through individual identities of the members of the society who choose to make their decision in consideration of the set values and norms. The changing trends and globalization, however, has reduced the dictates of the society on individual decisions particularly in regard to appearance and fashion. Something outside the traditions of the society is regarded as different rather than outrageous or deplorable. There is a greater sense of acceptability and embracing the effect of increased technology, globalization, and connectivity. Schmitt & Simonson (1997) suggests that the society serves as a mirror to an individual for his own self reflection. Most of the decisions are shaped by interactions in the wider society and past experiences particular in regard to fashion and appearance. Nevertheless, someone who goes against the dictates of fashion and appearance in the modern society risks being isolated. A man cannot wear a wig or a dress to a job interview. This is where the general appearance and fashion rules over individualism and fulfillment of personal desires. As stated by John Stuart Mill the path chosen by many is not necessary the right path (Welters & Lillethun, 2011). An individual can be right when the whole society is wrong. According to Entwistle & Wilson (2001), Suffragist movement in the middle of 19th century criticized female dress since it was detrimental to their health and hindered physical mobility of women. The dress was criticized in the 20th century since it was impractical and ornate and showed wasteful indulgences. It also emphasized the economic dependence of women on men. This criticism of fashion was carried on in the 1940s. The critics of such forms of apparel supported more functional modes of dress which carried the adornment designed in the enhancement of the sexual allure of the wearer. Hume (1985) explains the tradition conception of dress it leaves unchallenged the relegation of self-identity to image that fashion and advertising industries now promote and endorse. Rationality has to be applied in the mode of dressing. Davis (1994) concludes that the pursuit of self-interest which is individualism was conditioned on the assumption that self-interest is rational. This demonstrates that the prevailing trends in not necessarily the best to every individual in the society. In such circumstances, individualism helps one to choose his own best decision that will not be detrimental. Furedi (2004) observes that Low self-esteem is linked to almost every ill that affect the society. Therefore individualism boosts the realization of self esteem that is portrayed through fashion and appearance. An individual wants his own identity that is distinct from any other person in the society. He wants to be in control of his destiny without not only conforming to the norms and traditions of the society. The self is refashioned and constituted via the reference to a person’s own opinions, understandings, cognition, emotion, and stock of knowledge (Furedi, 2004). The self cannot be expressed independently of such practical consciousness and knowledge because self-interpretation gets into fabrications of the self and identity in a chronic manner. If this did not happen, the self could not survive or even adjust to changes in the social world. In spite of the individual having his own right of choice he has to consider the social trend in the modern society. The conditions of fashion and appearance have to be considered but the person is not at under any obligation to conform to everything that is presented to him without questioning. Individualization has been presented as a double-edge sword which can mean indifference or individual differentiation. Choi (2004) observes that Innovation and development of new product can be realized when individual differentiation is encouraged. If things were to be done in one particular conformity then boredom and repetition will be the order of the day. Fashion and appearance provides a general direction but do not chat the way for individual decision making. Indifference can be disastrous while individual differentiation leads to development and growth of the society. An individual has to reflect on his own decisions with regard to fashion and appearance trends in the society. Being indifferent is choosing to ignore the reality and live in the past. Absence of purpose leads to inner emptiness. Individualism makes someone to seek his own identity and choose what interest him the most. People seek paid employment and become extremely busy; they seek social recognition from a stratified position that they occupy. The development in society is pegged on individualism and the course of people discovering themselves. Jeanette (2008) contends that an autonomous person has to reflect of the values of society in an ethical way before making individual decisions. Aspects in the society that need to be considered include age, gender, religious orientation, and cultural beliefs and norms. An individual is the proprietor of his on capacities and person which is a feature that is demonstrated in his possessive quality. There is no credit that the person has for the society. Fashion and appearance gives the general trend of what is common in the society; it may not be necessarily be acceptable. Conclusion This essay has dwelled on the effects on individualism in regard to the accentuation of fashion and appearance in the modern society. It holds that the dictates of trends in form of fashion and appearance gives a general picture of what is going on in the wider community and assist an individual in marking his opinion based on his past experience and dynamics. The aspect of individualism being a double-edge sword has been explored as it can be result into total indifference or individual differentiation which brings about variety in society. The essay discussed the degree to which individualism and individualization are conditioned by fashion and appearance in the modern society. Despite having one’s beliefs and convictions, an individual has to reflect on what is acceptable and embraced in the modern society. A person projects an image that he desires to be associated with and therefore fashion and appearance are greatly emphasized. Individual decisions cannot be made regardless of the norms and beliefs of the society. Whereas individualism encourages individual differentiation which is important for innovation and new product development, fashion and appearance takes into consideration the general trend in society. The general trend does not necessarily mean that it is the right trend and, therefore, individuals have to make their own decisions basing on their past experiences and accumulated knowledge. Individual efforts to uplift their image through use of make-up and plastic surgery show the importance that people places on fashion and appearance. Therefore, fashion and appearance has made people to choose the face that they want the public to perceive of them and behave different in different circumstances. Make-up and other facial uplifts help individual to play their roles in the modern society. Fashion and appearance a large extent has conditioned contemporary individualism and individualization so that people have to stage manage an appearance. Women want to look good and feel good. Contemporary Individualism is only depicted in the choice of roles that one plays. References Choi, N. (2004). Sex role group differences in specific, academic, and general self-efficacy. Journal of Psychology, 138, 149–159. Davis, F. (1994). Fashion, Culture, and Identity, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Entwistle, J. & Wilson, E.B. (2001). Body Dressing, Berg. Furedi, F. (2004). Therapy Culture, London: Routledge. Hooks, B. (2000). Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, Pluto Press. Hume, D. (1985). A Treatise of human nature, Penguin Classics. Jeanette, K. (2008). Definitions of Uniqueness in Terms of Individual Appearance: Exploring Vintage Clothing and New Clothing Wearers, New York: ProQuest. Kaczrowski, J. (1989). The Good, the average and the ugly: Socio-economic dimensions of physical attractiveness, M.A. Thesis, forthcoming, Department of Sociology, McGill University, Montreal. Lipovetsky, G. (2002). The Empire of Fashion: Dressing Modern Democracy, Princeton: Princeton University Press. Pleck, J. H. (1995). The gender-role strain paradigm. In R. F. Levant & W. S. Pollack (Ed.s), A new psychology of men. New York: Basic Books. Raquel, L. (1984). Face Value: The politics of beauty. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. Schmitt, B.H. & Simonson, A. (1997). Marketing Aesthetics: The strategic management of brands, identity, and image. New York: The Free Press. Synnott, A. (1987). Shame and Glory: Sociology of Hair, British Journal of Sociology 38 (3): 381-413. Welters, L. & Lillethun, A. (2011). The Fashion Reader: Second Edition, Berg. 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