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It's OK to look: an endorsement of communal dressing rooms for women by Therí Pickens (2 Comments)

Written by Theri Pickens
Thursday, 18 October 2007
I used to not be a fan of women's spaces. I thought they were a crock. If it was a way to bond, I was covered. I've got a mom, several comadres (Spanish: co-mothers) & female best friends. If women's spaces were a way to get a leg up on the battle of the sexes, it seemed absurd. There is no winning the battle of the sexes; there's too much fraternization with the enemy. Advertisements However, I found one that was quite affirming – in positive and, I would add, productive, ways. Nestled next to the Beverly Center (in LA) is Loehmann's. Inside, there is a communal dressing room: a large room where the walls are covered in full length mirrors and benches are positioned at convenient spaces as are hooks for hangers. I'm not sure if the designers saw this as a way to cut down on building costs (one room versus several cubicles), but I see it as meritorious for several reasons. As I stood there, in the center, the room was teeming with this wondrous female energy. Women were nervous, anxious, pleased, frustrated and, yet, affirmed. Most of us had the requisite anxiety that trying on clothes precipitates, but many in the room seemed more affirmed while in the midst of the group. It wasn't just about seeing that no one else's body was perfect. That was part of it. It wasn't about getting compliments and style advice from complete strangers. That was part of it. It wasn't about being in a women's space. That was part of it. It was about all of these parts working toward several purposes: affirming self, affirming the group, segue into bonding, and realistic understanding of body image. Other women's spaces do not do that. They sometimes affirm the self at the expense of another. They affirm the group at the expense of men. They, at points, create needless competition between women and celebrities or regular women. They also promote poor understanding of the body one has as a stepping stone to the paragon that people believe they should want. This goes for hair salons, manicure/pedicure shoppes, some girls' nights out, and locker rooms. It was here that I saw women involved in a non-erotic, non-competitive appraisal of each other. They recognized that each of us were lovely and that loveliness was not mutually exclusive. Finally, it was a space where the self and the body – like the pants I eventually tried on – were a perfect fit. Comments (2) ... written by she said , October 18, 2007 Mutual vulnerability...exposure, certainly can take over the energy of a space. What a lovely observation and experience. ... written by andrealuquetta , October 18, 2007 Check out Olympic spa on Crenshaw and Olympic. Women of all cultures, races, sizes, ages, income levels, etc. hang out in communal tea baths, steam rooms, etc. for $15 entrance. There you can relax, get pampered if you want, and reflect on all the many different kinds of beauty we have. I can't tell you how many different languages I've heard there (really, cos some I didn't recognize!) Write comment Name Email Website Comment Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 18 October 2007 )

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