The Boundaries of Cleanliness: House Slippers as Symbolic Objects in Popular Culture

Abstract

This study examines the ways in which the concepts of dirt, cleanliness, and hygiene are constructed within cultural contexts, as well as how these concepts influence the organization of domestic spaces. The use of house slippers, which serves to keep the dirt of the outside world away from the private sphere of the home, establishes not only hygiene but also symbolic boundaries. The use of specific slippers for different areas such as bathrooms and balconies reflects the spatial segmentation within the home and the symbolic order of hygiene. Popular culture products emerge as valuable sources for analyzing these practices. Investigating the cultural meanings of house slippers—as designed objects produced through industrial methods—also offers potential insights for design culture. Gülse Birsel’s TV series Yalan Dünya and Jet Sosyete present house slippers as cultural signifiers, humorously opening up discussions around social class distinctions and differing perceptions of hygiene.