We've all seen them, the kids in black with the liquid paper white faces and the black eyeliner and lipstick. They are goth kids. This movement that is so often discouraged by parents and other authority figures is actually much less harmless than it may seem at first glance. Most Goths are actually well adjusted for the most part and genuinely enjoy their chosen subculture as a form of self-expression. For many who do not fit into the parameters required to gain acceptance in "normal" circles the goth scene is much more forgiving environment.

This is not to say that the scene is an easy place to gain acceptance. As with many other subcultures ones dedication to the culture can often determine the degree to which you are accepted. It is interesting to note that many people who may seem to be a part of this demographic to an observer may be seen as an outsider or "poser" to those with in the scene.

Another reason that the Gothic style has such staying power is that unlike many other groups the Goth culture and clothing industry embraces people (especially women) of every body type. This can actually bolster the self-esteem of girls and women who feel like outsiders in the world of normal fashion. The Goth look empowers people to cast off the unrealistic expectations of the Photoshop age and reinvent themselves in an unconventional way. And since the style reveres voluptuousness, sensuality and sexuality through its reference to eras as well as individuals who valued these qualities, it is easy to see how people without perfect model looks might be drawn to this fashion.

Uninformed outsiders may also mistake metal fashion for gothic fashion because of the similarity in color choice as well as the popularity of "corpse paint" which is popular in the black metal scene. These associations have caused the goth movement to get a bad wrap because of events that have had nothing to do with the goth scene.

So, conservative parents need not beware. If your child comes home donning the black clothes and white face of the gothic movement, try encouraging it. For truly, it is harmless in and of it self and the only thing standing between it and a rapid loss of cool points is your enthusiastic approval.

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