Quick and Easy Illustrations by Mai Manaloto
I remember coming across a critical discourse by Ellis and
Symons (1990) when I was still a clothing technology student. The academic
background of Ellis Bruce and Donald Symons were in evolutionary-development
psychology and history, respectively. They came up with a comprehensive study on
differences in sexual desires between males and females. I encourage readers of
this fashion blog to have an open mind in understanding how human sexual
desires paved the way for the existence of business in fashion (ever wonder how
fashion makes money?).
"Ellis and Symons (1990) found that 'men are more likely to view others as the objects of their sexual desires, whereas women are more likely to view themselves as the objects of sexual desire'."
Men and women play a complementary role in the system of
fashion. Men have a tendency to view other people as objects of desire while
women, on the other hand, have the tendency to perceive themselves as objects
of desire. Or in other words, women want to be seen as desirable while in turn,
men want to perceive women as objects of desirability. Thereby the two sexes
complement each other.
Clothing is used to mark or accentuate one’s sensuality
which drives the perception of desirability. The need to be desired leads to
the continuity of fashion.
Fashion driven by desire evolves because it can maintain
curiosity through clothing.
The constant change in design aesthetics such as the colors,
silhouettes and ornamentations build curiosity further fueling our curious
nature through the simple process of concealment.
Hence, fashion exists because there is a deep wired need for
individuals to be gazed upon. And it is this need of feeling desired that has
given rise to many fashion labels and enterprises we have come to recognize
today.
No comments:
Post a Comment