Title
Style and Status: Selling Beauty to African American Women, 19201975,Used
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Between the 1920s and the 1970s, American economic culture began to emphasize the value of consumption over production. At the same time, the rise of new mass media such as radio and television facilitated the advertising and sales of consumer goods on an unprecedented scale. In Style and Status: Selling Beauty to African American Women, 19201975, Susannah Walker analyzes an oftenoverlooked facet of twentiethcentury consumer society as she explores the political, social, and racial implications of the business devoted to producing and marketing beauty products for African American women. Walker examines African American beauty culture as a significant component of twentiethcentury consumerism, and she links both subjects to the complex racial politics of the era. The efforts of black entrepreneurs to participate in the American economy and to achieve selfdetermination of black beauty standards often caused conflict within the African American community. Additionally, a prevalence of whiteowned firms in the African American beauty industry sparked widespread resentment, even among advocates of full integration in other areas of the American economy and culture. Concerned African Americans argued that whites had too much influence over black beauty culture and were invading the market, complicating matters of physical appearance with questions of race and power. Based on a wide variety of documentary and archival evidence, Walker concludes that African American beauty standards were shaped within black society as much as they were formed in reaction to, let alone imposed by, the majority culture. Style and Status challenges the notion that the civil rights and black power movements of the 1950s through the 1970s represents the first period in which African Americans wielded considerable influence over standards of appearance and beauty. Walker explores how beauty culture affected black women's racial and feminine identities, the role of blackowned businesses in African American communities, differences between blackowned and whiteowned manufacturers of beauty products, and the concept of racial progress in the postWorld War II era. Through the story of the development of black beauty culture, Walker examines the interplay of race, class, and gender in twentiethcentury America.
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- Q: What is the main focus of 'Style and Status: Selling Beauty to African American Women, 1920-1975'? A: The book analyzes the political, social, and racial implications of the beauty industry targeted at African American women from the 1920s to the 1970s, exploring how beauty culture intersected with consumerism and racial politics.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Style and Status' is Susannah Walker.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: The book was published on February 23, 2007.
- Q: How many pages does 'Style and Status' contain? A: The book consists of 264 pages.
- Q: Is this book a hardcover edition? A: Yes, 'Style and Status' is available in a hardcover binding.
- Q: What themes does the book discuss? A: The book discusses themes such as African American beauty standards, the role of black-owned businesses, racial and feminine identities, and the impact of mass media on beauty culture.
- Q: What time period does the book cover? A: It covers the time period from 1920 to 1975.
- Q: What type of reader would benefit from this book? A: This book is ideal for readers interested in historical studies, African American culture, gender studies, and the evolution of consumerism.
- Q: Does the book include archival evidence for its claims? A: Yes, the author uses a variety of documentary and archival evidence to support her analysis.
- Q: What is the significance of the book's title, 'Style and Status'? A: The title reflects the exploration of how beauty and consumption were intertwined with social status among African American women during the discussed period.