Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedShould Goths be allowed to wear what they want without being judged?
Results so far:
| No | 19% | 183 votes | Total: 952 votes | |
| Yes | 81% | 769 votes |
No
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesLet's face it, if you are going to costume yourself to look like the 'Grim Reaper' there are going to be some people out there in the real world who will have a tendency to look at you with a negative viewpoint. There you are with your hair dyed jet black, your lips painted black, and dressed in black. Gosh how can that not be viewed as a positive mode of presenting yourself to the world? Why would anyone out there not assume that you are a confident, open minded, 'happy go lucky' kind of person? If you are a little confused by the issue, then I suggest maybe that you attend a psychology course, and that just might help you try to figure this one out.
Part One of lessons in learning: The color black represents death, the bad guy, gloom, doom, pessimism, unhappiness, foreboding, evil etc. etc. etc. It is a color that when used in certain contexts gives off a very negative message. White and other light bright colors give off messages of light heartedness, happiness, goodness, kindness, joy and optimism. In other words black is a negative color and white is a positive color. So if a person chooses to totally remake themselves over with a negative image to display to the world, and then is shocked to find out that someone thinks they might have a little bit of negativity in their outlook on life, well lets stop and think about that one. Gosh and golly gee but I wonder why that would happen?
Part Two of lessons in learning: People usually select their mode of dress with the intention of creating an image for the people that they will come in contact with that day. They often choose what they will wear just to enhance their mood or personality on that day but more often it is to present a message to the world. For example if we have some small degree of intelligence within us then when job seeking we dress for the job we are applying for. In doing so we are essentially telling the interviewer through our appearance that we are capable of conducting the duties of that job and encouraging him or her to hire us. Wise choice! Often when we are on our own free time we dress strictly to enhance our mood or for the activities that we are planning on that day. It is almost funny how often the image a person displays just automatically seems to also reflect their personality. This is where most individuals who dress in the Goth theme run into problems.
Every person on this good old Earth has the right to dress as she or he chooses so long as it is done without embarrassing or harming other people. But you do have to bear the consequences and judgments that you receive based on the images that you decide to display to the world we live in. So if you choose to dress in a Goth theme of appearance than just expect to be judged by the image you display.
After all when I dress up in my bright pink happy face T-shirt, I expect to see a little smile on a few faces as I walk by, it might be out of sarcasm, because people think I'm half mad or just because I am 'brilliantly bright' but I do expect to put other people in a good mood as I pass by. I am proud of the image that I portray to others around me, if you are not proud of the image that you are displaying, than just maybe you should consider changing it!
Learn more about this author, Ladymermaid.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Yes
Everybody should be able to go about their everyday business wearing what they want without being harassed, but we live in a superficial society which has restricted ideas about what is considered normal'. If an individual fails to fulfil the criteria ascribed to being normal', then they are judged as being abnormal', as being a freak, as choosing to live outside of society's rules, and therefore worthy of rebuke. Everybody should be free to wear what they want without being judged, but we all are being judged constantly by how we behave in social situations, who our friends are, and what we wear. Goths form just one subculture which is discriminated against for being different.
The Goth subculture is more than just clothes. For those who are members of the subculture it is a lifestyle choice which no doubt impinges upon the decisions they make and they way they choose to live their lives. Often Goths have a taste for the dark side of life, which is reflected in their choice of music, film and literature. Gothic fashion is characterised by diversity; to outsiders it may seem that Goths simply wear black and a lot of make-up, but there are many nuances in the clothes that Goths wear which is obviously recognised by those within the movement. Often members of the subculture have piercings and tattoos and a wild range of hairstyles, which may be regarded as intimidating for those outside of the movement.
This is despite the fact that the majority of Goths are sensitive souls who are more interested in reading poetry and keeping themselves to themselves than getting into any trouble. However, the media likes to create a storm whenever there is a school shooting and teenagers regarded as outsiders' by their schoolmates are the perpetrators. Suddenly all Goths become the devil incarnate, which isn't helped by the religious imagery often associated with the movement, and are therefore regarded as being justly targeted for being different. Instead of trying to understand the nuances of the movement members of the media prefer to utilise a generic stereotype of a disturbed Gothic teenager who plays records backwards and worships Marilyn Manson at the weekends.
It seems to be worse in small-town America
where guns are freely available yet it is believed that the likes of Marilyn Manson and his cohorts are creating' all these disturbed followers of the Goth movement. Maybe belonging to a group gives these individuals a sense of belonging. Being part of a subculture means sharing values and beliefs with other members who judge you by their own criteria, not by that of mainstream society. It is hard for outsiders to comprehend, as they have their own beliefs and standards which is reinforced by the groups with which they associate, therefore confirming their belief that they are normal and anyone who doesn't live as they do is different and worthy of being judged more critically.
Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- Fashion Trends & Styles
- Should underweight models be banned from participating in runway fashion shows?
- The leader in the great denim war: Chip & Pepper or Citizens of Humanity
- Should belt-less pants, showing boxers or a whale tail, be banned?
- Is the Harajuku fashion trend over?
- The lolita look: Cute or creepy?
