ABSTRACT
People do challenge the dominant rules for dress, but again this is not necessarily a personal decision. The expectation to challenge the dominant rules of dress can be part of being a member of a social group that faces alienation from and discrimination within the dominant society. Studies on clothing in the gay community find that both gay men and lesbians often challenge the gendered rules for dress: gay men can openly care about how they dress and lesbians can reject uncomfortable, constraining, and exposing clothing like heels and short skirts. Styles that challenge the gender rules of dress have been a defining part of the gay community for a long time. Clothing is used to express attraction and attractiveness to others. This is true whether attraction is to the same or opposite sex. Dress becomes a means of challenging the dominant assumption of heterosexuality within American society and symbolizing membership to the gay community.
