This panel calls for papers that examine theories and histories of the body alongside histories of fashion and modeling. In what ways do contemporary fashion studies or modeling studies build on or depart from foundational texts that interrogate the body? How do fashion and modeling embody or resist ableism, ageism, transphobia, fatphobia, and other forms of oppression that are mediated through the body? This panel is particularly interested in the role of the model, expansively defined as fashion modeling, artist's modeling, instagram modeling or other forms of model-like roles and embodied performances. Papers could focus on the racialized history of beauty ideals, mannequins, history of the spectacle, how value is constructed in a "look," autonomy and agency, and much more! Multi-disciplinary perspectives are encouraged, from theories of dress to performance studies, phenomenology to econimic analyses...

Submit paper abstracts of 100 words maximum to ztadeushuk@ufl.edu by March 26, 2025.

The National Women's Studies Association (NWSA) conference will take place on Nov 13-16, 2025, in Puerto Rico.