&quot;Heyyy, Pretty Thing!&quot;: An Ethnographic Study on how Street Harassment influences Women’s Sartorial Choices.

This thesis examines how Dutch female university students perceive and respond to the threat of street harassment via their clothing choices. Using an ethnographic approach that combines participant observation and interviews, this thesis explores the attempted balance between perceived safety, personal identity, and gendered social norms within their sartorial choices. With a specific focus on 18-24-year-old female students and their everyday experiences in public and private spaces. This study demonstrates how clothing choices are not simple, especially for female students. These sartorial choices are driven by fears of harassment and unwanted attention, combined with internalised modesty ideals. Several participants expressed that they chose to sacrifice physical comfort in exchange for mental safety. However, the research also found several acts of resistance to this ideal and how some women are using clothing to reclaim their power. This empowerment is further supported by...Show moreThis thesis examines how Dutch female university students perceive and respond to the threat of street harassment via their clothing choices. Using an ethnographic approach that combines participant observation and interviews, this thesis explores the attempted balance between perceived safety, personal identity, and gendered social norms within their sartorial choices. With a specific focus on 18-24-year-old female students and their everyday experiences in public and private spaces. This study demonstrates how clothing choices are not simple, especially for female students. These sartorial choices are driven by fears of harassment and unwanted attention, combined with internalised modesty ideals. Several participants expressed that they chose to sacrifice physical comfort in exchange for mental safety. However, the research also found several acts of resistance to this ideal and how some women are using clothing to reclaim their power. This empowerment is further supported by group dynamics, which offer a feeling of safety and solidarity. The observations revealed how clothing is used both in risk management and in self-expression, and how it is chosen based on individual preferences and societal perceptions. Adding to the broader conversation on public space, gender inequality and how women attempt to navigate this, combined with the persistent threat of street harassment. This thesis offers an in-depth exploration of the lived realities of female students attempting to balance these complexities.Show less

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"Heyyy, Pretty Thing!" An Ethnographic Study on how Street Harassment influences Women’s Sartorial Choices.