Calling Lolitas and Feminists!
Calling Lolitas and Feminists!
Lolitas - Lolitas who are feminists and non lolita feminists - I'm rather stumped, and thus wish to gauge a wider opinion before I try and write a little more about it on my blog Doll Part.
What I'd like to know is how do feminist women and men read lolita fashion?
As I see it, (at the very least for myself) Lolita was a style in which I could take control in what I wear and how I look and yet still be feminine in appearance.
How do you see the misconceptions? (The mistake of seeing it as Fetish/Costume instead of day wear/Japanophillia).
Consider - that larger populations of Lolitas tend to be 99% girls in Lolita clothing, along with them sometimes are significant others and sometimes amateur/pro photographers who document them. I've noticed that most girls who come along in non lolita say something to the effect of feeling under dressed and like they are not part of the group in a way. Can the only legitimate experience be that of the "I am/was a Lolita and my experience is ___" or do those who look outside in have a viewpoint to be expressed (shock? interest? embarrassment? anger?)
The difference between Japanese lolitas' experience (100% Brand saturation, easier to get to shops, as well as a better chance of being able to fit into the clothing) and the growing Western Lolita experience (Off brand, DIY being more viable for some - Japanese sizing compared to Western. What plus size Lolitas are doing about it ect)
The internal conflict within Lolita groups. People who never felt that they were 'fat/big/large' suddenly feeling so after comparing the measurements of Japanese garments ect. The more extreme "lifestyle" Lolita ideology which tends to glorify "Victorian' etiquette - most of the time misguidedly so - thinking that the Victorian etiquette code means "Proper", "Neat", "Restricting what you do because it's not /elegant/lolita" and "Always Passive" without truly knowing how repressive, restrictive and passive, submissive it forced women to be. Lifestyle things include crafts, homemaking and cooking - but you dont have to be a lifestyler to enjoy those things regardless or be repressed or toing the line of gender roles to like cooking, craft ect.
YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE!
Lolitas - Lolitas who are feminists and non lolita feminists - I'm rather stumped, and thus wish to gauge a wider opinion before I try and write a little more about it on my blog Doll Part.
What I'd like to know is how do feminist women and men read lolita fashion?
As I see it, (at the very least for myself) Lolita was a style in which I could take control in what I wear and how I look and yet still be feminine in appearance.
How do you see the misconceptions? (The mistake of seeing it as Fetish/Costume instead of day wear/Japanophillia).
Consider - that larger populations of Lolitas tend to be 99% girls in Lolita clothing, along with them sometimes are significant others and sometimes amateur/pro photographers who document them. I've noticed that most girls who come along in non lolita say something to the effect of feeling under dressed and like they are not part of the group in a way. Can the only legitimate experience be that of the "I am/was a Lolita and my experience is ___" or do those who look outside in have a viewpoint to be expressed (shock? interest? embarrassment? anger?)
The difference between Japanese lolitas' experience (100% Brand saturation, easier to get to shops, as well as a better chance of being able to fit into the clothing) and the growing Western Lolita experience (Off brand, DIY being more viable for some - Japanese sizing compared to Western. What plus size Lolitas are doing about it ect)
The internal conflict within Lolita groups. People who never felt that they were 'fat/big/large' suddenly feeling so after comparing the measurements of Japanese garments ect. The more extreme "lifestyle" Lolita ideology which tends to glorify "Victorian' etiquette - most of the time misguidedly so - thinking that the Victorian etiquette code means "Proper", "Neat", "Restricting what you do because it's not /elegant/lolita" and "Always Passive" without truly knowing how repressive, restrictive and passive, submissive it forced women to be. Lifestyle things include crafts, homemaking and cooking - but you dont have to be a lifestyler to enjoy those things regardless or be repressed or toing the line of gender roles to like cooking, craft ect.
YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE!