But is it Monogrammed? Culture, Class, and Gender in Southern Student Housing

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine dorm décor at predominantly White institutions in the South as a site of cultural negotiation, identity performance, and class signaling. Grounded in the frameworks of Bordieu’s cultural capital, Veblen’s conspicuous consumption, West and Zimmerman’s “doing gender,” and conducted through critical visual analysis, the study considers 118 dorm rooms posted in the “Dorm Rooms of Mississippi and Beyond” Facebook group and evaluates décor trends, symbols, and class/gender markers. Key findings indicate that décor often reflects parental influence, class aspirations, and regional aesthetics. Student affairs practitioners should recognize the role of dorm décor in shaping policies and structures for student belonging.