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Material Consumption

Perhaps most important of all in gender presentation is material consumption, i.e. What one wears. To that end, clothing and apparel occupied the overwhelming majority of advertisements found in circulars. The styles shown speak to temporal considerations and the clientele consuming these works. Temporally, from the stigma surrounding gender variance and genderfuck, one would presumably have relatively few opportunities to ‘dress up.’ To that end, many of the advertisements shown were for more formal or club wear. Additionally, though hardly quantitatively sound, the New Woman conference conducted a survey of respondents with them demographically skewing high. (1) With similar demographics being reflected in other circulars and conferences, the emphasis on professional clothes speaks to the age of those consuming.

The actual fit of clothes and how one looks is also important. Tight clothing was seen as potentially problematic, with tight skirts in particular singled out as problematic by one reader due to the possibility of showing a bulge. (2) To that end, advertisements for gaffs, devices which allow one to easily hide their penis are naturally present in periodicals. In addition to how clothes fit, makeup was also of clear importance. Making the face appear more feminine was of clear importance to the beauty columns found in works, with both makeup tutorials and electrolysis being prominent throughout the works.

The act of sizing and purchasing was also of clear importance. Stores which sold femme shoes in men’s sizes were often sought out and reported on, to say nothing of being advertised within the periodicals themselves. (3) This naturally extended to the sale of femme clothing with men’s sizes. Beyond sizing, fit and cut were also of importance. The clothing brands, ‘Suddenly Fem,’ and ‘Affordable Fantasies and Illusions,’ were one of many such brands, offering feminine clothing made with, “wider shoulders, lowered waistlines, longer sleeves, and more narrow hips.” (4) 

Bibliography

  1. Denny, Dallas. “A Word From the Editor.” Rites of Passage. Winter, 1992, 3. Accessed May 5, 2017. https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/h989r323x.
  2. Joy. “Joy’s Saga Continues.” Fanfare, May, 1987, 6. Accessed online April 15, 2017. https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/1n79h429p.
  3. Sinclair, Paula. “Catalog Shopping.” LadyLike. 1988, 27-29. Accessed April 16, 2017.  https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/jq085j98n.
  4. Suddenly Fem. “Formerly Affordable Fantasies and Illusions.” LadyLike. 2004, 33. Accessed April 16, 2017.  https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/gf06g267d.
Material Consumption