lolita, riot grrrls, and feminine expression | video essay + grwm

[@notfound4012]

10/10 amazing points especially about feminine expression. it feels like girls can't do anything w/o people assuming we do it for a guy like i don't paint my eyelids every color of the rainbow for some dude. also yup internalized misogyny sucks, it took me until a year ago to admit that i don't hate pink i actually love it

[@justpeachymomo]

for real! it honestly feels like girls can’t win no matter what we wear, whether it’s more masculine or more feminine, whether we do it for our own enjoyment or not. getting past that internalized misogyny is also soo hard. but it’s so satisfying when you move past it and just enjoy what you enjoy, especially if that’s cutesy pink stuff!

[@juratory8876]

For me, it took me cosplaying for the first time to realize that there's nothing wrong with dressing in a feminine manner or putting makeup on. It's society that makes it seems like anything remotely feminine is "inferior".

[@lynasarus]

hi i have a horrible attention span but i just watched this ENTIRE THING in one sitting. i rarely comment on videos but you are so incredibly well spoken and educated. this is one of the best videos i’ve seen in a long time

[@justpeachymomo]

thank you so much! that means a lot omg :')

[@Ratsonfire]

Same here 🤚!

[@imberribored]

Wow you really gave a educational lecture while putting on make up lol. I love how well spoken you are.

[@justpeachymomo]

thank you so much!! it was kind of hard i’m ngl. my multi-tasking skills are pretty weak 😔

[@Ilsezwarts]

I have been wearing lolita for 5 years. I only wear dresses and skirts outside of it too (I think I look like a typical dutch protestant christian (which I am), but people don't seem to agree with me on that lmao) but I never wear make up. I struggled with it when I started, since people say that it's essential and I didn't want to be ita, but I decided that I just don't like it, but I do like lolita. (I actually might want to make a video about my experiences,, to help other people with this issue) What I think is interesting and in my own experience is that women with developmental disorders, like ADHD and autism (which we don't get diagnosed enough on by the by grr) will be sorted into being "boyish" a lot quicker, I was a tomboy bc of my personality not bc of what my interests really were. (I didnt hang out with boys, i didnt like sports ect. I was just a loud and excited child) When I was a kid, people (mostly women) told me that I eventually would enjoy make up and fashion and stuff, which I hated so much lol. As a teenager I felt like I couldn't indulge in girly stuff bc then I would betray my younger self. I was assaulted as a child so sexuality has always been difficult to me. I was bullied too, o f c o u r s e. Men still scare me to a certain degree and it was hard for me to even have female friendships, because my head would always be relating all interactions that I had to that social pain and humiliation. So I dont know, I kind of hate Freudian shit about the subconscious, because that just isnt a fun mindset to have when your prone to overthinking. For the record, I do understand the last part about the male gaze, but that's also true for most of our cultural baggage imo. For me thinking that hard about it just isn't healthy. I'm not saying I took like some feminist red pill or something lmao, moreso for my own mental health. I hate that I fit into that stereotype of "couldn't be girly as a kid so is alternative nowadays", since I do just want to say "not all lolitas" Sorry for dumping my moderately shitty childhood in your comment section lmao

[@justpeachymomo]

You’re totally fine! I’m sorry you’ve gone through so much.. I definitely agree that the male gaze stuff goes beyond just how you dress/look. I probably should’ve specified that the internal male gaze stuff is more relevant when talking about things like choice feminism, where people believe that anything a woman chooses to do is inherently empowering because she *chose* to do it, since i know that’s kind of a common belief. You’re right, though, it really is no good to overthink it all, especially if it doesn’t really apply to *everyone*

[@Ilsezwarts]

@@justpeachymomo its a good point though! It's definitely relevant to for example that whole "I'm not like other girls" trend. This is a really comprehensive explenation of lolita and feminism btw! Explaining how our western frame of reference differs from the Japanese really makes you understand what we're dealing with.

[@mara-ux4cf]

as a feminist punk who's been participating in the modern riot grrrl resurgence, i really appreciated this video :)

[@izzy4452]

Hey love the video, my style is riot grrrl and u nailed the history style etc. And im really hoping the style/ beliefs can change so it is more inclusive towards trans women and poc women, which I believe it is. I really hate that it is seen as white feminism now and i hope people can now understand that riot grrrl is changing.

[@justpeachymomo]

I'm glad you liked the video! From what I can tell from the punk/riot grrrl creators I follow online, it's definitely (slowly?) becoming more inclusive, as is feminism as a whole. Which I'm really glad to see!

[@Inbaroush]

I love this human. Speaking as an old riot grrrl, (admittedly, I was an old punk by the time riot grrrl came out, ) I think you nailed it. Brilliant video! 🩷

[@janaekelis]

i loved this video! i consider myself punk or riot grrrl bc of my ideologies but the fashion is what peaks my interest. although, as a black person its very difficult to explore these things. its "not normal" for poc to be punk, not bc we are forced out of punk spaces but our upbringings tend to enforce many conformist ideals from youth.

[@rragon7741]

Be punk! Punk is black! POC pioneered the rock genre and punk wouldn't be what it is without our black punks! There's a lot of history to it-go check it out!

[@geekyrobot__7316]

there are tons of punk poc bands, i would recommend the nova twins, for one! they just dont get the same amount of popularity as white singers (i wonder why....)

[@melodyskellington5009]

i used to like riot grrrl until i found about the mitchfest stuff and the exclusivity. i met Kathleen Hanna in 2011 and i really hope she will stand up for trans people in the future since she played mitchfest twice and never apologized. still waiting for her to acknowledge what le tigre did and donate to trans communities.

[@tomandandy0007]

I know this video was a one time thing for your senior project but I would love to see more of these! You're so well spoken and everything you had to say was so interesting!

[@justpeachymomo]

Thank you so much! Right now my channel's mostly k-pop stuff and covers (which I'm definitely still keeping up) but I do plan on making more video essays in the future! I have two planned already, and one of them's somewhat related to this video!

[@quirkyblackenby]

I will definitely be reading your paper because this was fascinating and I need more.

[@---ar]

I absolutely love this video you did an awesome job explaining it!!

[@drmollycules]

Rococo-velution grrl style now!!!!!! 💋🎀

[@crowdpleaser54]

I subscribed before I even started watching 😂 just had a good feeling I guess ☺️ Great video!

[@esme_6369]

this was so interesting, especially as im an afab nonbinary person who is attracted to women. this was so well researched and expressed, so thank you very much for making this :)

[@justpeachymomo]

thank you so much!! i'm really glad you liked it! :^D

[@sweetestcyanide]

First off, awesome video! It's an interesting topic that I can tell you have a lot of interest and passion for! As someone who identifies as belonging to the RiotGrrrl community/subculture, I think everything you touched on was well researched and understood. I think one thing (that I'm sooo glad you mentioned) that people sometimes forget to mention is the exclusion of Women of color from the movement. I think it's very important that, as a new generation who takes interest in past subcultures, that we know the history, philosophies, and core beliefs that founded the movement, and accept that things should have gone differently. It's great to see people reaching out and educating others on how acceptance is important in the community. Also, about that "man in our heads" theory-- It totally makes sense. From a very young age, my first thought when going somewhere was "hmm-- I wonder if there will be any guys there. I better wear something cute" and eventually, it evolved into wearing various swimsuits on vacation, just wondering and hoping that a boy was looking my way. I hated myself for thinking that way for such a long time. And even now-- when I do things "for myself", I really do wonder "am I though?" I'm convinced that half of what I wear, say, and do, is for other people, and not myself, which is a very frustrating and difficult thing to try and reverse. But since getting involved in/researching feminist movements, it may have made me mad that I have these thoughts and expectations built into my brain, but at least I'm aware. And believe it or not, anger is a great motivator. About the "refusing to except femininity" phase-- that was a really big part of my middle school days. I fell for the oldest trick in the book-- society naturally placing women as competitors with each other. Being surrounded by girls who, I believed were self absorbed (a few of them probably were), only cared about looks, boys, etc. I began to hate them for it. I convinced myself that I wasn't "like other girls", and I absolutely refused to associate myself with a skirt, heels, makeup, and other things considered feminine. Sure I enjoyed the style I wore, back then, but I also knew that I was holding myself back from trying new things out. I was afraid of how other people would perceive me. It was only until quarantine hit that I went on the internet, and discovered the RiotGrrrl movement. I saw all these total bad ass, punk rock women, new bands and old, openly mixing things up and wearing whatever the felt was right. It took a lot of thinking and time (and listening to music of course) but I felt a strong need to explore that feminine side of myself that I felt like I was repressing. Flashing back to now, dresses are probably my favorite statement piece in my closet, but a lot of times, I add edge to it. I make it my own. Clothes truly don't have a gender. One day I'll want to wear a super long skirt, and the next, I want a button down shirt from the men's section. It's all about trying what you think you wouldn't like, or in the case that you feel like you've wanted to try something for a long time, go for it. It may sound silly, but I regret not dyeing my hair a million different colors in middle school, or wearing those fake vampire fangs for a week just because, or pairing a fun skirt with rain boots. You have too little time on this earth to care about what people think of you-- I guess that's my advice. Whew-- that's enough from me. Thank you, again for the perspective, and I hope you create more videos on a variety of topics that may interest you. Much love!

[@LPSDirector1]

You are so well spoken! Great video

[@rose-colouredgrrrl812]

THIS IS AMAZING

[@minimoni247]

such a good video!!!! very in-depth look :3

[@uwwr]

super excited to watch this !! the story highlights on your insta were really fun & interesting!!

[@justpeachymomo]

thank you ahhhh!!! ilysm

[@faultier9043]

Really nice video

[@hellisateenagegirl9276]

This was so good!

[@spacealienem]

Keep making cool videos like this n u soon can get more clothes

[@sarahbush4362]

thank you this was awesome

[@kapppaNeko]

love it Izzy!

[@justpeachymomo]

thank you queen!!

[@ccdiamond308]

I've written on the lolita subculture, too, let me know if you want me to send you one of my articles!

[@tudormiller887]

❤

[@arianna-rod]

I loved your video :)

[@SeqZZ]

Great video

[@emilianosintarias7337]

Almost none of this is really true (except some of the fashion observations). It is a good look at how history is recorded, vetted, molded, framed, so that this intelligent, earnest, teen tries to do a school project and there are no serious sources. And there is no way to know that the sources out there are basically revisionist apologetics. Also the pic of the seattle punks-that is not how riot grrrls looked, but just normal punks of the time and still now in some places. People need to put together more serious discussions of this so that the youth can have access to it for these kind of presentations.

[@justpeachymomo]

Hi! The sources in the description are only a few of the 20-some sources I used in my full paper, and actually a few (like the LovelyLor and ScarfingScarves videos) were only included for the video and not my project in order to give viewers some more to look into/show what actual lolitas (albeit Western lolitas) think. I agree that the photo I chose when talking about riot grrrls is maybe not the best example of riot grrrl fashion, but it was labeled as being just "seattle punk scene" and in that part of the video I stated how riot grrrl fashion overlapped with general punk fashion. I wouldn't say there is one riot grrrl look. I don't see how "none of this is really true." What do you mean by that, specifically? I admit I could have gone more in depth, but this wasn't a college thesis, just a high school paper. Most of my sources were well-researched scholarly journals and included information straight from former riot grrrls, current lolitas, and Japanese feminists themselves. There's room to disagree with some of my claims on how exactly both subcultures subvert gender norms, but I wouldn't call them outright wrong.

[@justpeachymomo]

If you're curious, here's some of my more "serious sources": Japanese Lolita: Dreaming, Despairing, Defying from the Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs (in the description) scholar.harvard.edu/younker/publications/japanese-lolita-dreaming-despairing-defying The Modern Girl Around the World: Consumption, Modernity, and Globalization doi.org/10.1215/9780822389194 Plugged In: How Media Attract and Affect Youth published by Yale University Press www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1n2tvjd “I’ll Resist with Every Inch and Every Breath”: Girls and Zine Making as a Form of Resistance. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0044118X03254566 Just Looking: Tantalization, Lolicon, and Virtual Girls. Visual Culture & Gender vcg.emitto.net/index.php/vcg/article/view/92 Riot Grrrl, Race, and Revival from Women & Performance: a journal of feminist theory doi.org/10.1080/0740770X.2012.721082 Gender, Citizenship, and Dress in Modernizing Japan. scholarcommons.scu.edu/history/70/ Harajuku: The Youth in Silent Rebellion. dx.doi.org/10.2752/9781474235327/KAWAMURA0008 Returning in a Different Fashion: Culture, Communication and Changing Representations of ‘Lolita’ in Japan and the West. (in the description) ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/1333 Feminism's growing pains by Ehara Yumiko (published in Japan Quarterly) (in the description) Japanese Feminism in the 1970s and 1980s by Ehara Yumiko www.jstor.org/stable/42772052 The Expansion of Punk Rock: Riot Grrrl Challenges to Gender Power Relations in British Indie Music Subcultures doi.org/10.1080/00497878.2012.636572 Sluts and Riot Grrrls: Female Identity and Sexual Agency. doi.org/10.1080/09589230701562921