Scottish dress, ethnicity, and self‐identity

Abstract

This research focuses on the ways in which individuals play out their Scottish ethnic feelings and on the role of dress in this process. Using the grounded theory approach, participants defining themselves as ethnically Scottish were interviewed for this study. The findings indicate that respondents vary greatly in the emphasis they place on Scottish ethnicity when defining their self-identities. Additionally, respondents differ in the degree to which they feel complete in their Scottish identity. Those who find their Scottish ethnicity to be salient to their definition of self put more effort into the construction of that identity. Oftentimes, ethnic dress symbols play a prominent role in this construction process -the importance of dress diminishes as feelings of identity completeness increases.

Korean Immigrants and their Aesthetic Perspectives on Appearance

“…There are distinct differences between the first or second generation of Euro-American immigrants and their descendants in the United States. While former generations tended to assimilate to the host culture and blend into it, later generations tend to think that cultural differences in society are valuable and express interest in maintaining their own cultures of origin and cultural objects (Crane, Hamilton, & Wilson, 2004). Similar phenomena have been found among other ethnic groups such as Asian immigrants (Tuan, 1998;Le, 2007;Kang & Kim, 1998;Rajagopalan & Heitmeyer, 2005; Chattaraman & Lennon, 2008).…”

“…In the field of clothing and textiles, researchers have investigated the characteristics of ethnic groups constituting American society focusing on their apparelrelated thoughts and behaviors (Kang & Kim, 1998;Rajagopalan & Heitmeyer, 2005;Chattaraman & Lennon, 2008;Crane et al, 2004). These researchers show that the relationship between ethnicity and attitudes and behaviors towards appearance is closely linked, and ethnicity has been considered as a determinant of a certain ethnic group's consumption patterns or decision-making patterns for dress.…”

“…For a variety of reasons, my research benefits from discussing the aesthetic perspectives on dress and appearance with the individual members of the Korean immigrant group. As addressed in Chapter Two, several researchers have shown the influence of acculturative experience of immigrants from various ethnic groups to consumption patterns or decision-making patterns for apparel (Chattaraman & Lennon, 2008;Kang & Kim, 1998;Rajagopalan & Heitmeyer, 2005;Crane et al, 2004). Specifically, some researches that were undertaken on Korean immigrants' purchase behavior showed the dissimilarity of Korean ethnic group from other Asian ethnic groups such as Chinese, Japanese, or Taiwanese (Kim, 1987;Kang & Kim, 1998).…”

The Scottish Highland Games: evolution, development and role as a community event

“…Most of the current literature focused on Scotland considers the social history and traditional aspects of Highland Games. Other research into the Highland Games phenomenon has been undertaken in the USA by authors such as Chhabra, Healy, and Sills (2003), Chhabra, Sills, and Cubbage (2003), Crane, Hamilton, and Wilson (2004) and Ray (1998) which consider the Games from an American viewpoint mainly focused on heritage, authenticity, tartan symbolism and imagery and economic studies, although Ray has also conducted some qualitative research in Scotland. This study will seek to understand these events within a Scottish environment through studying the organisational structure, sustainability, size and scope of these events.…”

Conserving and Sustaining Culture through Traditional Dress

“…This definition is a holistic approach to dress, encompassing everything that concerns the body; body decorations; and disfiguring of the body; which includes tattooing, colouring of the skin, hairstyles, piercing of ears, clothing or garments and accessories. Through social interaction of the individuals and their dress, identities, attitudes, cultural values and beliefs are announced or communicated Trollip, 1995;Ngwenya, 2002;Crane, Hamilton & Wilson, 2004). According to Roach-Higgins and Eicher (1995:14-15), dress characteristics for identities are dynamic, and change in relation to materials, technology, economy, or societal concerns for conserving the natural environment, and/or belief systems that "shape moral and aesthetics standards for dress".…”