Women and traditional dress.

[LostInTheWoods]

This is something I've noticed over the years.

In many cultures it appears to be more likely that women wear traditional dress than men. I'm thinking about sarees, salwar kameez, kimonos, african-style dresses and head-dresses and probably others I haven't seen. You are much less likely to see men wearing their equivalent traditional outfits.

Why is this?

Back to the use of ethnic,maybe it is a better word than traditional, in that it references her ethnic origins, or maybe culturally relevant, whatever. Traditional isn't really right, it's not trad since it's modern Asian dress. We do have fashions too, you know.

My apologies if I offended, tis never my intention but often, seemingly, is the outcome of my comments. I'm certainly not stupid either and so have little excuse, back to the drawing board.

Posie thank you for your apology here and your extremely thoughtful pm, it was big of you to write what you did, and I'm glad that the comments on this thread are helpful for you.

Feel free to use me as quick cultural reference guide at any point, I can reference great swathes of Asia and the Middle East, also some of north america, but little use at all when it comes to mainland Europe or anything much in south American

and you've made me think a lot about language and how I use it to describe non-western clothing, so pushed my thinking along as well. Everyone's a winner!

Oh, and please keep posting in the feminism section posie, we may not always agree, but it would be a shame to lose you if you left.

Almost bedtime here in Bangkok, catch up in the am

Maybe women want to uphold their culture more then men?

Personally i used to wear western clothes and nor feel more comfortable wearing abayah, i didnt ask/tell my husband for permission before i started wearing it.

actually i now wear shalwar kameese inside the house as well as underneath as i find it very practical comfortable and easy to wear, and it look sbetter then jjogging bottoms and baggy shirt, although during my childhood/teenage years i never wore it and wasnt expected to by family.

I have family who are the same, in fact some went against their parents wishes by wearing traditional dress, when the parents would rather they wore western.

I dont think it is because women have less interaction in this society etc so it is easier for them to wear traditional dress, as where i live you see women wearing cultural/traditional/ethnic dress in all jobs and roeles, and it is considered normal (east london).

i do agree there is a problem with oppression of women that spans cultures and traditions.

yes my husband does wear jeans, ive tried to get him to wear thobe but he doesnt want to, and guess what that is his freedom of choice, im not gonna oppress him by chucking out all his jeans am i?

and one more thing, how can we talk about "their" culture and "our culture" or "their" society and "our" society, ffs i was born, raised and educated here, i am part of
"your" culture and society, how could i be separate, i dont view myself as separate!! i am part of you and you are part of me!! lol as corny as that sounds,