https://www.tumblr.com/laf-outloud/700318323601244160/bilosan-what-we-wear-tells-the-story-of-who?source=share
I loved this moment because it felt really important for both Kate and Katie. Katie has talked about how she identifies as a femme person not a female (I believe that's what she said but please someone correct me if I have this incorrect!!) and has been asked about Kate being queer and how she would identify and I think this was a moment where maybe Kate realized something about herself and how she felt in men's clothing vs the typical female clothing she's always expected to be in. This feels like a big moment for Kate and how she identifies (I won't make assumptions about that because that's not my place) and I think that would also be an important moment for Katie as someone who is queer irl. At least that was how that moment and her *look* at herself in the mirror felt to me
That's the impression I got as well when I first watched it. Katie has mentioned in interviews about queer people living in the west and how WIndy is all-inclusive, so I have a feeling we'll see a bit more of that come to light.
As for the character, Kate's current roles in society, Pinkerton detective and manager of Hagan's, are ones typically held by men at the time. It seems there was some longing as she looked in the mirror, we don't know if it's to be seen as a man, but I imagine there was a desire to be as powerful and respected as a man. For as entertaining as her insult to Tom was during the performance, the hotel still got sold out from under her because she was powerless to stop it.
I'm not the best at meta so I'm sure someone could expound on this better than I have, but I really feel there's a a purposeful choice to reverse gender identities, and what it means in the context of the old west, first with Kate, like we've posted, then with Abigail, the strong, female making her way in the world, and finally with Tom showing his emotional vulnerability and his lack of power when it comes to his female relative.
What's fabulous about WIndy is the subtlety with which it's addressed. They don't knock you over the head with modern talking points, or try to push an agenda, it's just good storytelling that makes people reconsider their preconceived notions. I'm interested to see if that undercurrent coerntinues and cant' wait to watch more!
