Lolita’s been getting an awful lot of press recently. It was only a matter of time before the New York Times discovered it, particularly after their report on steampunk earlier in the year.
First, I have to congratulate the Times on doing such a fantastic job on their report. Although the article itself is fairly sub-par, what caught my attention were the audio interviews with individual New York lolitas. Where the article, like every other media attempt at representing lolita, is little more than an outsider’s attempt to define a fashion movement that she clearly does not understand herself, the interviews allow the lolitas to actually speak for themselves. What becomes immediately apparent through the audio interviews, where text would have failed them, is that these are ordinary, genuine young women. You can actually hear them smiling as they explain their feelings with their endearing East Coast American accents. The immediate message is “these are not random socially inept freaks wearing a bunch of bows. These are cute, well-spoken young ladies who happen to dress differently.”
I wish I could say the same of the inevitable aftermath of the article. The Jezebel article attempting to analyze lolita’s relation to feminism, while well thought-out, generated a shocking amount of hate in the comments. Although feminists would be expected to claim a forward-thinking, open-minded attitude, many comments were no more thoughtful than your average 4chan thread. Somehow, it is considered okay to speculate on a young lady’s mental and social capabilities, not to mention her sexuality, based on a few photos.
I admit that I became particularly irritated by the suggestion that the feminist movement is impeded by what I choose to wear to the mall. But other than the relatively unexpected source of criticism, should any of us be surprised? And moreover, should we be bothered?
The fact is that an alternative subculture is not alternative if the mainstream accepts it. Every time Little Mama shows up in Angelic Pretty, there is a hilarious amount of widespread outcry among lolitas. If lolitas truly want their fashion to remain exclusive, maybe a few insults are to be expected, maybe even embraced. After all, do you really want those girls who sneer at you in the hallway to be flouncing around in Metamorphose tomorrow?
So put on your ruffly armor, ladies and gentlemen, and wear it with pride. You never know when somebody will try to shame it off of you.
