Last Tuesday, Susan Neill of the Atlanta History Center delivered an address to students.
Her illustrated lecture, “Gone With the Girdle: Freedom, Restraint and Power in Women’s Dress,” was open to all interested students and took place in Foy at 12:30 p.m.
The lecture was sponsored by the AU Women’s Studies Program as part of Women’s History Month.
“My specialty is women’s history, and to me, every month is Women’s History Month,” said Ruth Crocker, the director of women’s studies.
Crocker said she thought it would be a topic of interest to many people.
“It’s so important to look at women’s history to see what can be done in terms of improving opportunities for women in this society today,” Crocker said.
Neill spoke on women’s clothing in the 19th century, on fashion and clothing since the days of the girdle and heavy skirts and on the increased freedom of choice women now have in clothing.
As vice president of collections and public programs at the Atlanta History Center, Neill is well-versed in her topic.
In addition to those interested in women’s history, the speech’s topic was also interesting to those in apparel merchandising.
Wi Suk Kwon, a professor of apparel merchandising at Auburn, said women’s clothing “probably says something about our views and values.”
She said these clothes no longer represent the roles of women, as they did in the past.
Instead, Kwon said “these days, probably revealing clothes mean more of the restrictive role of society.”
Crocker said she agreed.
“In a way, we have moved from one type of restrictive dress to another,” Crocker said.
Crocker said things like losing weight and going to the tanning bed are forms of modern restriction women subject themselves to.
Pamela Ulrich, an apparel merchandising professor, said fashion is both a reflection and a result of the time and place it existed.
“You get a feel for the time by looking at fashion,” Ulrich said. “You can see how people lived and moved.”
Ulrich also said the fashions of the 19th century serve as a symbol for the role of women during that time period.
Neill touched on important issues in both women’s history and fashion and drew a direct correlation between the two fields.
According to Crocker, “These issues do need to be discussed,” and now, Neill’s lecture began the conversation.
