Several weeks ago, a friend of mine vented to Facebook about an uncomfortable experience they had while dressed in vintage attire. Apparently a couple of uncouth cads approached my friend and proceeded to berate her for "celebrating a terrible time in history." After all, it was during the past that we had mass oppression, bigotry, racism, sexism, Nazism, and a whole slew of other offensive -isms. These boorish boobs actually tried to shame her for her clothes. I suspect the irony was totally lost on them.
Now, I have been dressing in vintage and vintage-styled clothing for many years. Not once have I been chastised for it. (Perhaps being a big girl helps here.) It seems that most people recognize that an appreciation of the fashions, hairstyles, shoes, and art (music, films) of an era does not equate to accepting the entire culture without reservation.
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| For all we know, Margie here could be pointing out key points of her Feminist Manifesto |
Lest anyone doubt, let me take this time to put any questions to rest: I am a feminist. I am an open-minded thinker. I am a supporter of equal rights. I am an environmentalist. And, yes, I dress like a woman of the past; a woman who may have struggled had she shared my views during her time.
While I may daydream about how wonderful it would be if folks returned to a few habits from the past, oppression is certainly not one of them! (But while we’re on the subject, might I just suggest that we do make an effort to not look like we’re ready for Zumba class when we are going out to dinner?) I wear what I do for the same reason that you do: I like how I look it them/they're comfortable/they're clean.
My clothes are not a political statement. My hair isn’t meant to suggest that I want to return to an era of segregation, sexism, and oppression. My home decor does not imply anything other than my taste in furniture is decidedly different from the average Ikea shopper. If you want to know what I think about a particular subject, you'll get a much clearer answer by actually asking me versus just assuming based on the sort of frock I put on. ;)
Wonder exactly what those little douches thought their own clothing signified. (It's Athene, btw)
ReplyDeleteWhat kills me is the irony. They were being misogynistic (lecturing her about history) and oppressive (demanding she wear different clothing), because she was "celebrating" a misogynistic and oppressive time in history.
DeleteI think it was a reflection of their modern sensibilities. Today many dress for who we want people to believe we are, not who we actually are. Designer sunglasses, bags, labels and logos project an image that we want people to believe we are wealthy (when often we're not - just going in to credit card debt.) The same could be said for any number of other groups. Our clothes project who we want people to think we are and are an extension of ourselves. They don't look at them as a work of art. They are only speaking from their own narrow viewpoint. Not that it isn't a stupid viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point!
DeleteSo let me get this straight. If we celebrate or appreciate any aspect of the past, we are endorsing everything that occured in that past? So we are celebrating Slavery at every 4th of July parade? We are endorsing the Roman Empire when we celebrate the birth of Christ?
ReplyDelete