Jensen Roper, Brigham Young University
The Himba tribe of northern Namibia is currently in an uncertain state as they address the increasing pressures of westernization and modernization against their traditional lifestyle. Their traditional roles and identities in particular are threatened to change by these influences. Himba women, who often lack a voice within their society, use their clothing to visually present and converse about their roles as women. As Himba women are robbed of a political voice and often forced to submission by men, they are without a platform to contribute to the Himba's dialogue to address their roles under cultural change. However, they engage with this cultural issue through their attire. It is important for anthropologists to recognize these women's use of clothing as a conversation medium to fully understand the issue of changing roles for women. In a climate that causes them to reevaluate what it means to be a woman, Himba women use their traditional clothing as a visual presentation of their views of femininity, as well as a visual dialogue concerning their roles as women.