CCHM Speaker Series "And It Has Pockets! The Battle For Women's Clothing Equality" (Photo) -02/01/24
Vancouver, WA – Clark County Historical Museum, Fourth Plain Forward, and Humanities Washington invite the community to an engaging in-person conversation with Diane Johnston, a member of the 2024-2025 Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau program, on Thursday, March 2, 2024. This month’s CCHM Speaker Series presentation will take place at Fourth Plain Commons (3101 E 4th Plain Blvd Ste.101, Vancouver, WA 98661.)
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Presentation begins at 7:00 pm
How many times have you heard someone wearing women’s clothing exclaim, “And it has pockets!” Comparisons have shown that modern garments designed for women have about half the storage space of clothing designed for men. From their invention, pockets in women’s fashion have represented independence—so much so that in the 18th century, laws were enacted to strip women of their personal liberty by making the contents of their pockets the property of their husband. The right to have pockets went hand-in-hand with the right to vote. And people today are still speaking out about the inequality between men’s and women’s clothing based on this simple storage system.
Join costume designer Diane Johnston to dig into the pockets of the past, tracing the history of the humble pocket to determine if the battle for equality may still be decided by a few inches of extremely influential fabric.
Diane Johnston (she/her) is a theatrical costume designer who has spent the past 33 years creating costumes for productions large and small throughout the region. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Costume Design and is a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Johnston has always been fascinated with fashion history and the historic trends that find their way into our modern closets. She is currently the Theater Teacher at Snohomish High School.
The CCHM Speaker Series season is sponsored by the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission. This month’s presentation is co-hosted with Fourth Plain Forward and brought to you by Humanities Washington and the League of Women Voters of Clark County. Admission is free and open to all.
At a Glance
Who: Diane Johnston
What: And It Has Pockets! The Battle for Women's Clothing Equality
When: Thursday, March 7, 2024 @ 7:00 p.m.
Where: Fourth Plain Community Commons (3101 E 4th Plain Blvd Ste.101, Vancouver, WA 98661)
For more information, contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.
About Humanities Washington
Humanities Washington is a nonprofit organization dedicated to opening minds and bridging divides by creating spaces to explore different perspectives. For more about Humanities Washington, visit www.humanities.org.
About the Speakers Bureau Program
In communities throughout Washington State, Speakers Bureau presenters give free public presentations on history, politics, music, philosophy, spiritual traditions, and everything in between.
Their roster of over 30 Speakers Bureau presenters is made up of professors, artists, activists, historians, performers, journalists, and others—all chosen not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to inspire discussion with people of all ages and backgrounds. Hundreds of Speakers Bureau events take place each year. Find a Speakers Bureau event near you.
To reach as many Washingtonians as possible, Humanities Washington partners with a wide range of organizations, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, community centers, and civic organizations. Qualifying nonprofit organizations are encouraged to host a speaker.
The Speakers Bureau program is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Washington via the Office of the Secretary of State, the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.
About Clark County Historical Society and Museum
The Clark County Historical Society and Museum is committed to responsible collections stewardship, innovative collaboration and inspiring exhibitions and programs that engage the community in an exploration of Clark County’s past, present and future. Our purpose is to share an understanding of the past that will help to build a better future for generations to come.
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