This is a project about “How can empowering strategies support Chinese women in improving their body image and boosting self-confidence?” The project theme was developed from body image. The main area is fashion and body. It consists of four stages: knowing the body and accepting it; learning how to use the body; becoming more confident in their body and being reduced in their focus on external comments. I decided to use the word ‘empower’ in research question. Because the project will help to promote women’s empowerment, to break the stereotypes and standards of the body and to develop positive body image perceptions, to change society’s perceptions and judgments of women’s bodies, thus promoting gender equality and inclusion. Additionally, I want to explore the answer about when people want to be fashionable, do the clothes themselves dictate the matter or does our sense of self dictate the matter? By raising awareness of fashion as a tool and empowering individuals to use it, rather than allowing fashion to fix our bodies.
In the process, I implemented an intervention with a living room seminar on the theme Positive body image for women in China. I invited six Chinese women, one of whom was in China, to participate in an online discussion. During the discussion, five reasons emerged about why Chinese women struggle to develop a positive body image, which is external comments, negative feedback in the family of origin, a sense of competition caused by the education system, the lack of sexuality, and restrictions of the work system. This helped me to work through the research in a more specific direction. The participant gave feedback on this, the conversation had a healing effect. I interviewed a stakeholder, a young fashion designer, to find out how she understands the body image of Chinese women and the underlying issues. Based on the summary of the event, I had a clearer choice of stakeholders to work with in the future. Firstly, my target audiences are 25–30-year-old Chinese women, with perhaps a more defined group as
the project develops. Secondly, it is about organisations such as KnowYourself1, Maylove2, WOW3, GGI4, Wearers coterie5 and fashion education organisations and fashion media. They cover psychology, sex education, women’s organisations, educational institutions and the media. Thirdly, regarding individuals, there will be influencers, fashion designers, artists and family members of Chinese women, especially parents and partners. Regarding experts, at the moment it is hoped to have access to Young – Jin Hur6 and Jennifer Heinen7, and Jinxian Yao8, experts from psychology and fashion psychology and Chinese sex education.
The impact and potential power of my project includes boosting women’s confidence, promoting positive body image, shaping diversity and inclusive aesthetics, and fostering female advocacy. For stakeholders, it is about providing more relevant content reference and support to students in educational institutions; providing more accurate guidance and advice to counsellors; and promoting a greater focus on diversity and inclusion in the media. In the future, I will build communities, organisations and fashion brands to drive the impact of the project. I will act as an advocate and inspiration for the project, promoting the spread of positive body image by sharing information, providing guidance and inspiring women to get involved. This also means that the project may develop into a culture of empowerment.