I know a few blogs have already touched on this subject, but I felt like writing about it. There have been a lot of talk about how during Halloween, non goths will dress like goth as a costume. The amount of people hurt by it, and the amount who are alright with it, seems to be split right down the middle, with a small percentage on the fence.
Against it:
I can see why one would roll their eyes when a non goth is walking down the street during Halloween, dressed to the nines in goth wear. What a goth wears everyday isn't a costume, it's them expressing their fashion sense. Having a non goth wear something that a goth would wear everyday for Halloween, can stir up some hurt feelings.
The main point of this argument, is that if a goth would to dress in American Eagle clothing for Halloween, and explain to people that it was a costume, non goths would feel offended and hurt that someone would be wearing their fashion like a joke, or think that the goth is making fun of them. Now, if a non goth did the same to a goth, the goth would feel the same way, and feel like the non goth was making fun of their way of life.
Ok with it:
On the other hand, many goths feel that everyone has the right to dress how they want to, even if it means to dress goth for Halloween. No one wants to be the costume police, and no one wants to get told what costume they should wear, or how to wear it. Is the non goth going to ruin Halloween, just because they are dressed like a goth? Most likely not. It's Halloween, and one shouldn't let what another person is wearing, ruin their time.
My two cents:
I'm on the fence with this one. I can see both sides of the debate, and why it can be an issue. I do agree that what I wear on an everyday basis, isn't a costume, but how I express myself. However, I also agree that everyone should have the right to wear whatever they want to.
Something to consider is that some people like to wear costumes of a certain profession. If someone wears a nurse costume, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are making fun of nurses. Some people like the sexy factor, and others might wear the costume because they respect them, or even wanted to be one at one time. Another thing is during Halloween, goth is accepted, and even encouraged. Maybe someone felt like they want to be goth, but are afraid of what their friends and family will say, so they wear a goth costume for Halloween, and that way they can be what they want, without getting judged. On the other hand, maybe someone isn't a goth, but has an appreciation for the subculture, so during Halloween, they dress in a goth costume, to show their appreciation. There are a lot of factors to why a non goth would dress goth for Halloween, and not all of them have something to do with making fun of the subculture.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I agree that everyone has the right to wear whatever costume they want for Halloween, without persecution, or ridicule, even if their wearing something that you don't agree with.
I love Halloween, it's nice to see a post this early!
ReplyDeleteI don't feel that goths and preps are as segregated as they were in the early years of goth subculture (say the 80s or 90s, where if you were goth you were a total "fag"). In fact, after that wave of skull fashion a few years back, the barriers between goth and non-goth seemed to be broken down. I think most people have a quiet respect for gothic fashion, provided it's tasteful. There are those who take goth to too far of an extreme, like deliberately going out of their way to offend the general public. If you go out saying your a nazi, and Jesus Christ is your slut, and so forth, then yeah you should pretty much expect to get ridicule. Most ordinary people are civil and just dress differently, and I don't think much of anyone gets harassed about it after high school is over. In respect to non-goths putting on a gothic costume, I really don't think it's negative, or at least not anymore. I would find it rather humorous to see a goth dressing as what they consider "normal" for Halloween. Sort of like Wednesday Addams going out as a serial killer, because they look like anybody else. Halloween is all about freedom to dress up and be someone different. In truth, there's always going to be someone who makes it suck, but it's best to just ignore them and not let it spoil such an awesome holiday.
I agree with you, goth is starting to be more accepted (though, there are still quite a few instances where people show their dislike for goths in a rather aggressive way). I also agree that goths should know when to dress to the nines in fishnet and club wear, and when to dress down for work, or at an event that going over the top isn't appropriate.
DeleteAs for people going out of their way to be rude to others, I think both goths and non goths are the blame (some, not all of course). You have rude goths, elitist goths, and misinformed baby bats, being nasty to others, just because the goth isn't 'goth enough', or because the non goth isn't a goth. At the same time though, you have non goths rude to goths because of how the goth chooses to dress, or how they choose to express themselves. There will always be rude people in every subculture.
I completely agree, there are jerks in every subculture, although I have noticed a tendency in the goth subcultures towards more aggressive behaviors (particularly in males ?). Perhaps they're trying to compensate for a lack of self confidence? I guess I'll never understand it. I remember in my psych class we were discussing stereotypes and a girl had described goths "that they like are promiscuous and smelly." I had never heard that before, and kind of wanted to punch her. They never talk about those girls, the ones who wear Lululemon, and Uggs, are sluts, look like clones, and some how have made it into University even though they're completely idiotic...
ReplyDeleteAll in all, it's always best to surround yourself with positive, intelligent beings. Regardless of what they wear XD