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The Influence of Clothing and Race on Our Perceptions of Fashion Subculture
Ferron, Anna Beatriz
Ferron, Anna Beatriz
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Gonzalez, Lupita
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2025
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Clothing serves as an extension of identity, reflecting cultural affiliation, socioeconomic status, and personal expression. Previous research on perceptions and the type of clothing one wears revealed a significant relationship with the wearer's race (Lauren & Pettijohn II, 2011). However, the wearer's physical identity, specifically race, often impacts the social meanings ascribed to their dress. Drawing influence from cases like Trayvon Martin, whose hoodie became a racialized symbol, this study aims to answer: How does one's race and gender impact the treatment they receive when dressing for certain subcultures? Using a survey-based approach, around 117 participants evaluated models of varied racial and gender identities in subcultural attire. Perceptions were assessed based on the Stephen Reysen Likability scale (Reysen, 2005), as well as a modified In-Group Racial Bias Scale (Harvey, Tennial, & Banks, 2017), with a focus on how participants' racial identities influence their evaluations.
We hypothesize that participants of all races will favorably rate White models regardless of substyle due to previous research on racial bias and clothing associations. Simultaneously, participants of other racial backgrounds may either display broader inclusivity or favor members of their own racial group or the subcultural norm. It was also hypothesized that participants would rate more "common subcultures" as likable, rather than more deviating subculture fashions. Results coincided with the later hypothesis, in which Streetstyle and Preppy/Gym subcultures were rated the most likable among each race and gender. These substyles are more popular in media, and is more accessible to the general public. There were no significant correlations among the racial scale, except for two marginally significant findings among Asian participants and Asian, r(34) = -.33, p = .05), and Black, r(34) = -.32, p = .05, subject likability.
Future research is necessary to expand further on this subject, such as including a larger participant pool. Factors such as intersecting identities (ethnicity, gender, disability, etc.) as well as a broader range of fashion subcultures should also be considered for more significant findings.
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