Body Dressing Work: a narrative review of the use of apparel as camouflage by people with disabilities to enable belonging and inclusion

Kealy-Morris, Elizabeth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2843-1916 and Poage, Jennifer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2028-3892 (2025) Body Dressing Work: a narrative review of the use of apparel as camouflage by people with disabilities to enable belonging and inclusion. In: International Textile and Apparel Association Conference 2024: Making Waves Toward A Sustainable and Equitable Future, 20 November 2024 - 23 November 2024, Long Beach, California, USA.

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Abstract

The researchers of this study live with mobility disabilities. Through autoethnographic study and reflexive inquiry Kealy-Morris (2017) has developed the term ‘body dressing work’ (Kealy-Morris 2022, 2023) to represent the daily stress of getting dressed for people with disabilities who often lack choice of apparel to reflect the selves they wish to present to the world across the spectrum of ‘identity representation through apparel’ -- from standing out to fitting in (Davis, 1992; Entwistle, 2015; Goffman, 1990; Miller and Woodward, 2012; Woodward, 2005). This salon proposal will report on a narrative review (Ferrari, 2015; SciELO, 2007) the researchers are undertaking to develop a cross-disciplinary investigation within psychology, sociology, embodied dress theory, disability studies, human-centered design, and apparel design studies (both normative and adaptive).