by Steph Tuma

Created on: June 09, 2009

While it's good and dandy to say it's wrong to judge and vow to not, it's completely unrealistic to expect anybody can do anything without being judged. Our society is judgmental in general. Clothes are one of those things that people will always be judged, categorized, and stereotyped on. It's not about being picky and making fun of people based on brands. It's more of socially acceptable looks. It's expected for certain body parts to be covered, and it's expected that clothes vary in pattern and color without looking gawdy. It's expected that jewelry and makeup are limited.

Society has norms, and when people deviate from those norms they will undoubtedly stand out. However, most of the times, that's exactly the case. Nonconformity is becoming the new trend. If somebody feels the need to dress in entirely black, complete with lace and intensive makeup, they should be pretty confident in the fact that they will be looked at. If they still choose to go out like that, it's really their choice. Sure some people just hate everyone else and unfairly judge, but you take that risk when you do anything.

Really girly, preppy girls, get judged for wearing all pink or all Hollister. It's sort of the same thing, but obviously Gothic attire is far more extreme. Should we make rules that paralyzed people shouldn't be judged. Yeah, but is that something we can monitor or control? NO. People are mean, people are judgmental, and people don't always care about other's feelings. It's a part of life. Everybody gets made fun of for something in their lifetime. When you choose to put yourself out there, there's nothing anybody can do for you.

From the personal experiences I've had, people who dress Gothic are trying to either rebel or get attention. They dress in way too many layers or not enough. They cake on makeup and jewelry way past excess. They over-wear black like they're worshiping some dark lord. It's not a normal look, but that's the point. They don't care that they look different; they want to. They want people to look at them. To wonder what's going on with their style. Under no circumstance do these people accidentally dress like that. It's a CHOICE. A choice to go against the norm.

I think it comes down to the simple fact that no matter what we personally feel, we cannot expect no judgment. Sure it's wrong to judge, but when you can control what you're being judged for and you still do it, whose fault it is?!

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