Wearing ideology : State, schooling and self-presentation in Japan

Author

• McVeigh, Brian J.

Additional Author(s)

-

Publisher

Oxford: Berg, 2000

Language

English

ISBN

9781847888976

Series

Subject(s)

• JAPAN
• UNIFORMS

Notes

. .

Abstract

Uniforms are not unique to Japan, but their popularity there suggests important linkages: material culture, politico-economic projects, bodily management, and the construction of subjectivity are all connected to the wearing of uniforms. This book examines what the donning of uniforms says about cultural psychology and the expression of economic nationalism in Japan. Conformity in dress is especially apparent amongst students, who are required to wear uniforms by most schools. Drawing on concrete examples, the author focuses particularly on student uniforms, which are key socializing objects in Japan's politico-economic order, but also examines ‘office ladies' (secretaries), ‘salary men' (white collar workers), service personnel, and housewives, who wear a type of uniformed dress. Arguing that uniforms can be viewed as material markers of a life cycle managed by powerful politico-economic institutions, he also shows that resistance to official state projects is expressed by ‘anti-uniforming' modes of self

Physical Dimension

Number of Page(s)

1 online resource (xii, 224 p.)

Dimension

-

Other Desc.

ill.

Summary / Review / Table of Content

Introduction: Approaches and Definitions --
The Dramaturgical Approach: Linking Subjectivity, Self-presentation and the State --
Learning to Wear Ideology: School Uniforms --
Patterns and Practices of Dress Uniformity --
Wearing Ideology and the "Cult of Cuteness" --
Countering the Official Code by "Consuming Cuteness" --
Final Thoughts: The Political Economics of Self-Presentation, Individuality and Individualization --
Appx. A: Surveys about Uniforms --
Appx. B: Uchino Michiko's 1995 Questionnaires about Student Uniforms.

Exemplar(s)

#	Accession No.	Call Number	Location	Status
1.	01545/21	391.043750952 McV W	Online !	Available