As part of her post-graduate work, Parker participated in a symposium located in Leicester, England. The symposium was focused on women’s leisure and textiles, and how to use interdisciplinary methodologies and under-researched archival sources. Her presentation focused on a series of paintings titled “Women at Leisure” by Bengali artist Jayati Bose. Parker argued how Bose used white saris to show women at leisure. She gave an overview of the history of the sari and how in Bengali culture, white was worn by widowed women. Parker argued that Bose wasn’t painting widowed women, but rather woman devoid of the patriarchy. Once free from this strict social patriarchy, women were able to experience leisure. Parker then went onto to explore the sari in contemporary sporting events and how the sari was worn to represent womanhood and tradition, while also representing strength, identity, and independence.
