Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Lopez-GydoshDilia1997 em.pdf (2.21 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Puerto Rican Women's Dress, 1895-1920: An Acculturation Process

Lopez-Gydosh, Dilia
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1394731295

Abstract Details

1997, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Human Ecology: Textiles and Clothing.
This study investigated the process and extent to which acculturation occurred in Puerto Rican women’s clothing in the twenty-two years following United States sovereignty of the island in 1898. The time period of 1895-1920 represents the pre Spanish-American war years of 1895-1898, when Puerto Rico was under Spanish rule, the post Spanish-American war period of 1899-1917, when Puerto Rico became a U.S. possession, and the years 1918-1920, the time period following granting of U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans. The descriptive historical survey was conducted by the examining photographs of affluent Puerto Rican women during the period of 1895-1920 and analyzing their mode of dress. The photographs were collected from archives, libraries, and museums in Puerto Rico. In addition, primary written sources about life in Puerto Rico (i.e. periodicals, books) augmented the data provided from photographs. Examining clothing worn by Puerto Rican women in photos revealed a detailed understanding of Puerto Rican fashion for the period. The fashionable appearance of Puerto Rican women was then compared with that of U.S. women to determine the extent of acculturation. Similarities and differences in the dress of both groups of women were noted. Puerto Rican women throughout the period of 1895-1920, wore western “fashionable” dress similar to American women's dress. However, notable differences existed, as well. One difference regarded the time of adoption of aspects of U.S. dress. After the Spanish-American war until around 1902, Puerto Rican women delayed adoption of fashionable American silhouettes. Additionally, Puerto Rican women did not begin wearing hats for several years after they became fashionable in the U.S. Another difference regarded the larger amounts of jewelry worn and accessories used by Puerto Rican women, than by U.S. women. Furthermore, the folding fan maintained a continued presence in the fashionable dress of Puerto Rican women. The results of the study suggest that acculturation to American culture occurred in Puerto Rican women’s dress. Positive integration was reflected by the adaptation of U.S. elements of dress and the persistence of unique aspects of Puerto Rican fashion. Puerto Rican women’s incorporation of many aspects of American fashion is interpreted as a symbol of the new “modern” women in Puerto Rican society at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Marsha A. Dickson (Advisor)
Patricia Cunningham (Committee Member)
Nancy A. Rudd (Committee Member)
175 p.
Home Economics; Textile Research

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lopez-Gydosh, D. (1997). Puerto Rican Women's Dress, 1895-1920: An Acculturation Process [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1394731295

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lopez-Gydosh, Dilia. Puerto Rican Women's Dress, 1895-1920: An Acculturation Process. 1997. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1394731295.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lopez-Gydosh, Dilia. "Puerto Rican Women's Dress, 1895-1920: An Acculturation Process." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 1997. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1394731295

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1394731295
710
© 1997, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.