1. Emily conducted an experiment where she dressed in a revealing outfit that showed more skin than she normally does and wore heavy makeup, contrary to her usual modest style, to get reactions from friends and classmates. 2. People she knew well commented on how unlike her usual style it was while strangers stared. She felt uncomfortable and had to adjust her movements. 3. Through this experience, Emily learned how much the opinions of important people like her boyfriend and church community influence how she feels about her appearance. She also saw how her style of dress can impact how others treat her. 4. While she enjoyed seeing reactions, Emily was ready to change back into comfortable clothes by the end of the day and doubts she will

1. EmilyO’Rear
Tryingon a NewIdentity
May 3, 2015
Personality Incongruity
I, personally,amusuallyverymodest.Iwasraisedbya somewhatconservative family,andIwas
expectedtodressina waythat didnot overlyreveal toomuch.Iwas notallowedtowearmakeupuntil
certainages(cover-upandfoundationat14, mascara and eye makeupat16, all makeupat 17). So my
viewsondressingandappearance are verymodestandveryreserved.So,formytryingona new
identityproject,Idecidedtogoin the complete opposite directionof myusual appearance.Ishoweda
lotmore skin thanusual (stomachwasout, verylow neckline,etc.),andIwore a tight,brightredskirt
withhighheelsanda blue jeanvest.Iwore somewhatheavymakeupandmyhairwasup ina topknot.
My experimentwasheldona Tuesdayafternoonfrom12-6. Duringthistime Iate lunchwitha friendin
the studentcenter,Iwalkedwithmyboyfriendacrosscampustomy class,andthenI sat througha 2
hour bandrehearsal withpeoplethathave knownme for2 years.
The reactionsI got I tookprettymuch all of themfor positive.People saidthatIlookedgoodin
the outfit,butthat itwasn’tme.In my 2pm classI had several stares,andsome people thatlookedat
me withdisdainastheygave my outfita secondandthirdglance.The responsesIgot frommale and
female studentswere generallythe same.The male people Isaw tendedtouse more nonverbal
responses.Theylookedme overseveral times,several menwhoknew me showedshockontheirfaces
and othershadsmiles.The womenIsawwere typicallymore verbal.Theywouldaskwhatthe heckI was
wearingorif I hadlostmy mind.I got thisresponse alotfromthe girlsinbandwhoknew me rather
well. The peoplewhoknewme betterwere alotmore openwiththeirresponses.Strangersand
acquaintancestendedtohesitate whenIwalkedbyortheywouldlookatme for a longtime until I
lookedback.The waythat I feltwasveryuncomfortable.Ihadto make several adjustmentstomy
behavior(the wayIsat, walked,leanedtogetthings,etc.),andIwas constantlytuggingatmy bandeau
or my skirtto getthemhigher(the bandeau) orlower(the skirt).Ialsohadmajorissueswalkinginthe
heelssince Ineverwearheelshigherthan1 inch.I wasok withshowingmymid-sectionbutIwould
have beenmore comfortable if I hadhad a skirtthat wouldstayin place anda topthat fitme properly
as well ascame higheronmytorso. Asthe dayprogressedIenjoyedseeingpeople’sreactions,butI
tookmy shoesoff anychance I got.I also useda jacketas an excuse tocoversome of the skinIwas
showingwheneverIsat inclass or walkedbya professorIknew.The weatherwasovercastandchillyso
carryinga jacketwasn’toutof place.However,the clothingIwaswearingwasdefinitelysomethingyou
wouldnottypicallychoose to wearinthose weatherconditions.WhenIlookedatthe people aroundme
I was overlydressed.Everyonewasinshortsor jeanswithcomfyandcausal shirts,and I wasdressedlike
I was aboutto headto the club.I was inappropriatelydressedforclass,as well as,interactingwith
professorsof anygender.The time constraintsandthe trouble Ihad walkingdidnotreallyallow for
keepingatime schedule of myrecordings,butIwrote downwhatI could.
AnswerstoQuestions:
1. The reviewsIreceivedwere whatIexpectedtoreceive fromthe wayIwasdressed.Iwas
surprisedthatI didnot hearany rude commentsorcat callsdirectedatme,but I donot knowif
any were made outside of earshot.The otherreactionsIreceived,however,were typicalof
whatI believedIwouldhear,especiallyfromthe peoplethathave knownme fora while.

2. 2. I thinkmypersonal viewswere verychallengedduringthisexperiment.Itwasverydifficultfor
me to not explaintomanypeople whatIwasdoingto save theiropinionsof me.Ihadto hold
my tongue several timestopreventtellingthemwhatIwas doingbefore seeingtheirtrue
reactions.My feelingsduringthe daymovedfromslightlyexcitedtoveryreadyto change
clothes.The factthat I couldnot properlywalkinthe shoes,plusthe weather,andthe factthat
youcouldsee directlydownmyshirtall piledintoone bigtiringmessbythe time Ileftband.I
feltsucha sense of relief tobe back inmy comfortable (non-constraining) clothes.
3. Factors that contributedtomyaccuracy were the wayI felt,the wayI wantedpeopletorespond
to me,and the waythat I perceivedthattheyrespondedtome.Ithinkas the time wore on I
beganto care lessabouthowtheytrulyrespondedandmore aboutgettingthroughtothe time
whenI couldchange.Atthe beginningof the time,however,Iwasveryconsciousof the way
that people lookedatme and the waytheyreactedand I thinkmyuneasinessreallycausedme
to exaggerate several of those reactions.
4. I learnedthatthe wayyou dresscan have seriouseffectonhow people treatyou.Several
friendslookedatme verydifferentlythantheynormallydo,andtheyspoke tome a little
differentlyuntil theyrealizedthatIwas still the same.The onlymeaningIcanthinkof that was
attachedto my dresswouldbe thatI was goingto a clubor thatI was seekingattentionoutside
of mynormal attentionspots.
5. I thinkthat throughthisprojectI reallybegantosee how muchcertainpeople hadinfluence on
the way I feltaboutmylooks.Forinstance,myboyfriendisone thatI reallyrelyontoprove to
me that I looknice or that I lookpretty.Hisopinionof myappearance duringthe experiment
was one that I wasreallyconcernedabout.Iaskedhimmultipletimesduringthe day,andonce
or twice the nextday,whathe thoughtof me.I alsorealizedthatmychurch familyhasinfluence
on me.Runningintopeople thatIwenttochurch withwas somethingthatIwas deathlyafraid
of happeningduringthisexperiment.Iwassoafraidthat theiropinions of me wouldbe
tarnishedif theydidnotfullyunderstandwhatIwasdoing.My momhad that same opinionand
toldme not to postpicturesto social mediadue tothe fact that many people whohave good
opinionsof me wouldnotunderstand.
6. I highlydoubtthatI will everdressthatwayagain.I may decide toweara crop top, butit will be
one withthe neckline ata modestspotandthe shoeswill be onesthatIwill notbe afraidto
breakmy neckin.The makeupandthe hair mayhappenagainat some pointdependingonthe
situationandhowadventurousIam feeling.