Den vardaliga maskeringen - kvalitativ undersökning om kläders betydelse och funktion hos socialsekreterare

Consumption of clothing, fashion and shopping has increased and the fashion industry is driven by the constant need for bigger profits while fashion consumption today is a major villain in the globalization debate. New shopping centers and malls are steadily built throughout Sweden, and the craving never seems appeased. But what is it that drives us to continually consume this excess amount of clothes? It is not necessarily the amount of clothing, or even desire. Clothes are symbols and message brokers, which aims to tell something about the person wearing the clothes, to the surroundings. We relate and identify the own identity in the clothes we choose to dress ourselves in. Through our clothes, we feel connected to some people, and belonging to groups, areas or locations. Clothing can often also be chosen based on the own culture or music taste. Clothing is an interesting but complex and context-dependent phenomenon. The purpose of this essay was to highlight the importance of apparel and function, but also to examine the dress codes at social administrations. The study was based on a qualitative study in which semi-structured interviews carried out. The result has been developed following interviews with six social workers in various social welfare departments. The results obtained during our qualitative study has been presented and analyzed based on Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory and the sociological perspective. Based on respondents' statements, we conclude that there is no specific dress code for social workers, however, that there still are rules and norms about what is appropriate. The answer our respondents have given describes a sub consciousness in choice of clothing. We have concluded that there is controlling factors, but which are not always conscious actions. Our respondents' answers showed that though there isn’t a specific dress code within the social well fear there are many governing factors that control their choice of clothing. Many of these factors are unaware and strongly associated with social norms