why did rich victorian women love to steal clothes?

PODCAST
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple...
for extra content every Wednesday 😈
✦ Donate: ko-fi.com/minale
✦ Instagram: / gremlita
✦ TikTok: / gremlita
✦ Letterboxd: boxd.it/7YgX
Sources:
When Ladies Go A-Thieving: Middle-Class Shoplifters in the Victorian Department Store by Elaine Abelson
Gender, Medicine, and Consumer Culture in Victorian England: Creating the Kleptomaniac by Tammy Whitlock
Going on the Hoist: Women, Work, and Shoplifting in London, ca. 1890-1940 by William M. Meier
The Steal: A Cultural History of Shoplifting by Rachel Shtier
www.politicsofp...
www.bbc.com/ne...

[@janiedoie]

"the downside was that your clothes were probably made in a factory by an immigrant child who worked 20 hours a day" ahhhh yes, nothing has changed

[@lenn452]

damn when you say it like that ... 😶

[@aptha6792]

You just called out the whole fast fashion industry.

[@guokfdukknbgjk9416]

this is what happens when you come a country in illegal ways. of course you ain't gonna live like that.

[@janiedoie]

@@guokfdukknbgjk9416 you think there are children in factories in the US today?? Lmfao no. American companies exploit other countries laws and hires ppl for 8 cents an hour/ 20 hour days to the NATIVES OF THOSE COUNTRIES. Please take your ignorance about undocumented immigrants somewhere else. You can't enter stolen land illegally.

[@aornivamasood9606]

@@guokfdukknbgjk9416 Don't you know most of the american fashion brands operate in other less developed countries? please stop this "they knew what they would get" and get educated. Good day!

[@Eggsther]

"Get in loser, we're going Shoplifting"

[@shelby8364]

let's gooooo!

[@laraerikson1423]

Colonials doing colonial things.

[@countesselizabeth]

I'm in

[@lesbiangoddess290]

@@laraerikson1423 pfffft. Sis be my friend

[@notsojharedtroll23]

​@@laraerikson1423 LMAOOOOO

[@mauduran]

and then you have lots of wealthy people avoiding taxes, makes sense.

[@tlowery2074]

Gotta keep that money at all costs

[@kaitlynzuniga]

yep, and in the same sense wealthy people are able to evade punishment (like prison) by buying themselves out of it. if you’re wealthy, rules simply don’t apply to you

[@mauduran]

@@kaitlynzuniga riiight, I live in Costa Rica, here prison overcrowding is a huge issue, but at the same time we see big jail penalties for literally kids who steal a bag of chips. The social inequity is severe, but I'm glad this video is so illustrative and stirs up the discussion.

[@JP-ku5hw]

@@kaitlynzuniga It's still hard to be an ordinary man.

[@leoreth2179]

In my country I see a lot of incredibly expensive cars with covered numbers which means an owner doesn't want to be automatically charged for parking.

[@SYNC4ex]

I misread the title as "why did rich victorian women love to steal children" and wondered why we were discussing clothing.

[@CremeBrulee543]

They did that too

[@leonie2246]

i'd totally watch that video

[@StrawberryMatchaTea]

@@CremeBrulee543 rather the men tho tbh

[@SWEETHEART27997]

PLZ😭

[@ohh7759]

Had a long day, nothing better than relaxing to some victorians being victorians

[@HikariHolic]

i have a white middle class friend that regularly had shoplifting stories and she always seemed so proud of all the things she managed to take. she tried to teach me techniques but i was always like no, I'm a Mexican girl and i may be in my mid 20s but my parents would kick my ass if i even thought about doing it. she acknowledged that her privilege allowed her to escape undetected which just always feels weird when you know that if BIPOC women tried it they would go straight to prison

[@lesbiangoddess290]

My congolese family would absolutely never let me.

[@user-hq6gt6wr9k]

Great point and I love that you used the term BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color for anyone who doesn't know, just found out about the term recently myself lol) 😊

[@tired690]

@@user-hq6gt6wr9k bipoc is actually a really awful term bc it doesn't acknowledge the fact that black indigenous ppl exist bc black and indigenous are put into two different separate terms in the acronym. Poc doesn't lead to such erasure

[@hyejoosbicep8981]

honestly I think any poc who tried it would have bigger repercussions esp if you were living in a place with a white majority. If you're Mexican and live in Mexico then maybe you're the majority and it doesn't apply?

[@KD-ou2np]

@velvetfawn it's because of racism

[@michelle-zy5mo]

As a black girl who goes to a PWI I’ve always been intrigued when white girls would tell their shop lifting stories. Because there was always an air of privilege and they would acknowledge it without realization. They’d say stuff like “I mean, it’s not like they watch me” or “what’s the worst they can do if they catch me. Ban me? Lol” and that’s why I clicked on this video so quickly. I have a fascination with how often times well-off white women are not thought of or looked at as possible thieves. Edit: misspelled “there” and I am EMBARRASSED

[@squeezie_b8895]

Every shoplifter I’ve ever known has been a white woman tbh

[@vaibh4vi]

^^

[@youwomanyou]

@@squeezie_b8895 yes same, or someone who is in proximity to whiteness and wouldn’t be assumed to be thieves.

[@EmmaGodLovesTruth95]

Im technically a middle class white woman... XP Embarrassingly I used to shoplift as an older teenager.. It's true you feel like nobody would suspect you and that's what makes it tempting. You know you look innocent and have a greater chance of success... Pretty sick mindset though. I would never steal now.

[@user-ok4xb1rd9f]

I live in Eastern Europe, and honestly they suspect any teenage girl (in multiple clothing shops you had to show what's in your bag etc.). Me and friends were even stopped by security just because we carried a luggage. And it's definitely even worse for POC.

[@s.9383]

Can we appreciate how much effort she puts into her videos, i felt like i was watching a documentary

[@ayowmsgs]

I agree’

[@kawaiiblossom3117]

A entertaining one not a boring one 😂

[@JP-ku5hw]

She has a lot of free time, I suppose.)

[@gyro4705]

I love her sm

[@renatarfrazatto1400]

agree

[@savagelucy421]

I've always felt like wealthier people are more likely to steal because they don't know the value of money. I remember being in a conversation where someone had lost $500. They were shocked that a janitor had found and returned it. Like. The custodian understands the value of that money and how important it is. If it had been somebody much wealthier they may not have realized this was somebody's rent or security deposit or pay for the month or whatever.

[@arthistorynerd]

That’s an extremely good point!!

[@GraduateJLN]

Yup, when you don’t work for something you won’t respect it

[@namedrop721]

teen I knew was poorest of his social group, but they were middle class. his friend was messing around and broke the boy's phone and was like, 'oops'. no offer to pay for it, nobody's parent was gonna fix it, just like 'oh I stepped on your toes' That's like $700 what tf's wrong with y'all. The boy himself was like 'I don't want to make it a big deal' it was a big deal for his mom, though

[@semolinalibra]

@@GraduateJLN Who says wealthy people don’t work? How do you think they made that money?

[@GraduateJLN]

@@semolinalibra Read the comment fool, we’re talking about rich kids/ trust fund babies not self-made adults

[@sewchaotic]

The first 30 seconds of this video had me thinking that someone beat a thief with a live chicken, I am relieved it was a cooked chicken 😂😂

[@forgetmenot277]

Same, it was a very amusing image in my head but I felt bad for the chicken xD

[@sewchaotic]

@@forgetmenot277 You need to be a special kind of deranged to use a live animal as a weapon

[@forgetmenot277]

@@sewchaotic oh yeah definitely 😅😂

[@samaraisnt]

Didn't she say dead chicken? You don't call a fillet or rotisserie a "dead chicken" pretty sure it was a corpse? 🥴

[@sewchaotic]

@@samaraisnt She did, but wasn’t revealed for a couple of minutes, so I had assumed the worst until then 😅

[@desanipt]

Truth is that uterus were associated with a ton of psychiatric conditions over time. The most striking example is likely "hysteria", being hysteric. The name itself comes from the Greek word for uterus (and the prefix "hyster-" is used in medicine to name plenty of actual structures, procedures and conditions associated with the uterus).

[@annah7648]

Yes - the most common hyster prefixed uterus word is probably hysterectomy!

[@annah7648]

If anyone is interested, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard has a great video on hysteria and hysteria adjacent stuff!

[@jyon7168]

that’s kinda fucked up tbh, the word nowadays isn’t recognized to have direct association to women but the origin of the word just proves how society in the past always tied women to be “overly” emotional, dramatic, etc.

[@11mazatl]

"my wife is having normal human reactions----- must be hysteria!!"

[@gretatoth8759]

Yes, in Greek the Y is pronounced as Ü (I think, Greeks pls correct me) and that way it's even more obvious that they are connected

[@fishhooksmom1597]

In my opinion, people don’t want to use the money they have to buy something because of their greed. Same reason why rich people don’t want to pay their taxes or pay their employees a due wage... Especially if they know that they can get away with it.

[@ChrisBrooks34]

This is why female garments don't have pockets

[@Hannah_jo25]

😂

[@heathersaxton8118]

💀💀

[@AquaMarino]

Good analysis

[@user-hq6gt6wr9k]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lunix3259]

😂

[@gloriavelasco1609]

Mina! Idk if you’ve seen the “American vs European casual clothing” discourse going around Tiktok.. basically people saying that the American sweater, leggings, and messy bun is ugly and boring compared to Europeans who go everywhere dressed up. Lots of back and forth between classism, style, privilege, and dressing accordingly to situations. I know it’s super off topic with your video but I thought you’d be the perfect person to make a video about it! Love your content✨

[@helenajeyne]

Every time I hear something new about tiktok I am so glad I don't have it lol

[@heatherparisi6686]

I've seen this too! Twice, I believe.

[@lucia-di-lammermoor]

Ah yes, the European privilege.

[@elena.3372]

Europeans dress up everywhere they go is 100% wrong because it's too general. Of course there are some ppl in Italy or France where you see more ppl dressed up but those countrys have huuge high fashion industrys compared to their population. So I guess it just rubbs off a bit. In Germany ppl still think "fashion" means matching your rain coat with your hiking shoes. I think this theory also promotes this american "Europe = France, Italy" theme which is obviously insulting.

[@elena.3372]

But don't get me wrong I would love to hear Mina talk about that 😍😅

[@AgustDsword]

" existence of a uterus made you prone to insanity " I dont know which is worse. The fact that they made excuses to let shoplifter of the hook or them downgrading women

[@carolferreira705]

Downgrading women.

[@edgarallanpoe209]

I think downgrading women is worse but idk dude

[@kaijello]

this just makes me think of how the more money a person has the more likely they are to expect things for free. like the current stereotype of influencers not going or eating anyway unless it's free

[@hockeygrrlmuse]

I was thinking about this & the Bagel Man that I think was in a Malcolm Gladwell book? He kept stats on his bagels & found that richer clients skipped payment regularly while poorer clients always paid correctly

[@kagitsune]

It's because poor folks know they can't afford the trouble they would get in if they don't pay, while rich people know they can. And that they're more likely to get away with it completely.

[@gretatoth8759]

I used to be that one poor student at a rich school, and let me tell you: those girls could not stop stealing from shops and from each other. At the same time (this was 2008ish) my family couldn't afford paying bills but I never even considered stealing anything.

[@miiasaurous]

Yes Mina educate me the way I need to be

[@syren.a]

Woahwoahwoahwoahwoah let's pump it up

[@playdoh658]

Hey!! :) and so true

[@justrandomotaku]

If this isn't miss miia herself 😘

[@pianocookie11]

appreciate the note about "skilled" vs "unskilled" labor! - we should just take it out of vocab entirely

[@pinkpain-ter8412]

One point that caught my attention is Victorian men considering women “being prone to insanity” yet men started every war throughout history. And we’re the ones supposed to be dramatic and insane lol

[@JaesadaSrisuk]

As a side note: though we’ve moved away from “Great Man/Woman” models of history that focus on which person started [blank] because that’s a simplistic way to view the past, the statement “men started every war throughout history” is easily proven false. Women leaders have started wars throughout history. From queens and empresses in ancient societies like Egypt and Nubia to the female regents of Europe such as Isabella of Spain, Maria Theresa, the empresses of Russia and the empress dowagers of China, queens of Madagascar, female rulers of Precolumbian kingdoms, etcetera. It’s just as regressive and ignorant-sounding to say that “only men have been responsible for war” as it is to say that “women are more prone to insanity”.

[@lesbiangoddess290]

Fr.

[@hibiscus752]

Right 🙃

[@LuanaSantos-rl4sb]

its not about that `men were the only leading war`, its about how they were in power for so long and most of then chose war, its not about men nature, its about men culture.

[@judithstormcrow9073]

I think the point here is kinda like... "I spend more time with boys because there's less drama" vs. picking up a history book and opening up a random page.

[@MadiMiso]

I love these seemingly random insightful historic tid-bit topic videos Mina! Really makes you think about the world differently.

[@Stormith]

Really interesting and eye opening! As a teenager I used to shoplift a lot in the midst of my mental instability and it was sort of like a drug for me, as I was too young to even acquire drugs. Stealing chapstick and makeup and earrings from walmart gave me such a rush and half the time I didn't even really want what I stole and I'd give it to my friends. Luckily I stopped before I grew up and never went back.

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

As someone who works at Walmart, I think I could have told you that people don't shoplift because they're poor. We don't put anti-theft devices on bread or Tylenol. We put them on earbuds and mascara.

[@HankaAAR]

I mean, poor people do steal expensive shit to sell to a middleman, so I wouldn't say that the kind of product indicates who's stealing it. Isn't this kind of shoplifting-as-a-job from places like Walmart a huge problem in the US?

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

@@HankaAAR Oh, I wouldn't be surprised. But, seeing how much of this stuff is being ripped out of its packaging right in the store, I doubt it's being taken for anything other than someone's personal use. Besides, if someone's really stealing just to make ends meet, it's not like they'd balk at grabbing a jar of peanut butter while they're at it. (Don't do this, btw. At least where I work, we have a good piece of our budget set aside specifically to give away. If you're that hard up for food or other necessities, you can just ask a manager for help -- I'm sure it feels weird, but that way we're getting to see how our otherwise thankless job is helping people, instead of just feeling disrespected and walked on.)

[@nuthinmuffins5073]

I’m calling B.S. on most of this, based on both common sense, my own experience and the experiences of people I’ve known. These conclusions are pure assumption, for one thing. I’m not saying people who can “afford stuff” don’t steal it sometimes, but this absolutely does not mean that poor/er people don’t also do so, including from Walmart. Also: do poor people only need food and should be expected to forego things wealthier people can afford, like, as you say, mascara and earbuds? Who are you to say what someone needs? And I’m not even going to begin to explain all the reasons it’s absurd to suggest Walmart is some angel of mercy that’s giving away food to anyone who asks for it. I have NEVER heard of this being a commonplace practice, nor would it, if it were true, excuse the role Walmart plays in creating disparity and a wide variety of other systemic problems. Actually, this is the first time I’ve even encountered a supposed employee praising the company like this (given their horrendous track record of labor practices). What do you do there: work in loss prevention? If so, you can try to defend yourself all you want, but you’ll get little sympathy from me. Either way, your statements are obtuse, and Walmart is now and forever shall be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

@@nuthinmuffins5073 Same energy as trashing a McDonald's lobby 'cause you don't like their business model, but okay I guess.

[@pearlsupremacy3901]

@@eyesofthecervino3366 no, not at all. One is destroying a place, and one is stealing food to survive.

[@laurenmwoodard]

I had a roommate who would steal “gifts” for her friends, even a huge North Face jacket! She loved the challenge of bigger and bigger heists and would come home and just start pulling shit out of her purse right next to the bags of stuff she HAD bought. And yes, was upper middle class and white. I just never understood, I always got so much pride out of finally being able to afford things I wanted.

[@samaraisnt]

damn i wish i was that good at stealing a North face jacket that's big af lol

[@lesbiangoddess290]

Me too. Joy is what I felt when I got my first raise in my pocket money.

[@notreallyici]

and yet when POC particularly BIPOC get caught stealing necessities they are sentenced to prison. thanks for this piece Mina, really packed a punch this time (though often times you do)!

[@draalttom844]

White people too? Not a race thing, a class thing

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

So you mean when White people steal they don't go to jail....?

[@crow1247]

​@@draalttom844sorry for such a late response, but one of the biggest stereotypes of black people (and just poc in general) is that they're all criminals/theives. Because of these stereotypes shop workers and police officers are more likely to suspect/accuse poc shoppers rather than white shoppers.

[@draalttom844]

@@crow1247 thats what I keep saying

[@crow1247]

@@draalttom844 sorry but I'm confused? Are you agreeing with me or ? I'm very tired rn, sorry -×-"

[@abbyl4621]

In the Victorian study, I imagine poor women were also more likely to see the affect shoplifting had on the store owners compared to wealthy women. This could've had a preventative effect

[@crystalgalvez6446]

This reminded me of the episode of I love lucy where the storyline was lucy was accused of being a kleptomaniac and everyone thought she had some mental disorder. She finds out they all think she crazy, even thought shes not stealing just holding things for a party shes planning. so she plays on the fact everyone thinks shes losing it and convinces everyone she actually repressing emotional trauma which is causing her to to be a klepto. She eventually reveals she only hammed it up because they all accused her of stealing with no legit proof. I really feel this episode demonstrated a lot of what Mina was talking about.

[@JP-ku5hw]

I've never seen that episode, and I got bogged down in your explanation).

[@alisonjane7068]

i was thinking of this, too!

[@naomilasby7744]

In high school, there was a group of "popular girls" (read, upper middle class), that shoplifted all the time...I was actually shocked at the time when I found this out, something that had truly never even crossed my mind to do. At the time I couldn't understand why.

[@PaulinaGnecco]

I come from a higher income percent of chilean society, so my family and I have friends and acquaintances that have a shit ton of money, most of my friends are white, while I have a darker tone skin, and I have been a witness of shoplifting and when I asked them why they'd do it, they basically said because they could do it with no consequence whatsoever, and that's kind of true.... whereas if I walk around an aisle at ANY SINGLE FUCKING PLACE I SHOP, where I actually pay money, security guards actually follow me around haha, because apparently I'm too dark for just being a regular shopper

[@plutoschild134]

really interesting to hear this experience as a fellow latina who is on the poorer side :>

[@PaulinaGnecco]

@@plutoschild134 i'm not rich tho, pretty privileged my entire life, but we really struggled to keep up, I went to a private catholic school, per month we had to pay 150000 chilean pesos (roughly 150 usd) per child, and what blows my mind is that people that pay more than that per month for schooling steal stuff and have no real consecquences even if they get caught

[@plutoschild134]

@@PaulinaGnecco it’s sad how those with money could get away with anything and then blame the problem on the poor. I get you it’s cool that you still see the wrong even when you were near people who thought it was ok :3

[@PaulinaGnecco]

@@plutoschild134 well, money doesn't teach you values

[@Faye-Jane]

I’m British and I never Learned about this stuff. So, it’s really interesting to get to know about this. I did hear about shoplifting back then but it was poor people. Mainly the book Oliver Twist was the one that I got to know about shoplifting in the Victorian period (and more history videos).

[@Faye-Jane]

@@ANAM-----------2548 No 💞

[@rufiredup90]

I don’t think Americans or Canadians learn this stuff either. This is just a study for women who shoplift.

[@tahsina.c]

I feel like were much more discrete about it here idk. My dad used to do security work and he spent quite sometime working in a Topshop, idk if you've heard of it? apparently most of the thieves were undergaduate white girls, and shoplifting happened quite a bit

[@rufiredup90]

@mandy moo Where did you learn this stuff? Was it taught in school or at a tertiary education level? Because that’s what I meant in my initial comment. Highly doubt teachers teach this stuff in schools…

[@ninguem8947]

i can excuse shoplifting but i draw the line at *wealthy* people shoplifting

[@neuralmute]

I honestly don't see a problem with poor people stealing what they need from mega-corporate chain stores whose CEOs make billions every year. I think of Les Miserables - is it really a crime for someone who has nothing to steal some bread for their starving family? If it is, then society is the evil to blame, not the hungry thief.

[@neuralmute]

@🍒Fruity_lolipop🍬 Agreed completely, and that's sort of my point. Full disclosure here: when I was living on disability payments so scarce that all I had to eat by the end of the month was rice and beans, I'd sometimes run out of something like Benedryl for certain life threatening allergies, and my only option would be to lift it. I'd go to my regular pharmacy, because I knew they wouldn't suspect me there, and also because I knew that they were a massive chain who could afford to absorb the cost far more than I could afford to risk going without. Never got caught. I'm not proud of this, but I'm also not ashamed. When it's about survival, you do what you have to do. When it's overprivileged people looking for a thrill, *that's* what's shameful.

[@annalysasperduto8055]

@@neuralmute okay but for life threading allergies Benedryl isn’t good for that and may hide symptoms. I still have allergies to nuts, and was always told that because it makes you sleepy you can sometimes have a reaction in your sleep and could die. So please be careful, and see if you can get an EpiPen or Auvi Q

[@neuralmute]

@@annalysasperduto8055 Oh, I've got the Epipens; I live in a country with universal healthcare, and they're covered. It's just the complimentary antihistamines I can't get for free. Epis just buy you time while waiting for antihistamines to start working, and my allergist's instructions have always been to use the Epi, take the Benedryl, then call 911 if you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Good thing that the ER visit is covered too, or I'd be dead by now.

[@lesbiangoddess290]

Same. it's disgusting

[@emilynam6084]

I’ve literally learned more about world history and cultures watching these videos, than I ever did in the 4 years of high school world history classes. Thank you for all the time, effort, and love you put in your videos.

[@samaraisnt]

They are more likely to have something to lose. If you don't bring in wages for your family who lives in a slum apt/room then they'll either starve or end up in the streets. I mean there's a reason children had to work. Poor women would actually go to jail vs wealthy women who knew they wouldn't. (Also dept store owners were obscenely wealthy. It's like saying poor ppl shouldn't steal from Amazon cause it would effect Jeff Bezos' hardwork and love for his products 😂 They were getting close to slave wages (cents) at the time while the owners were millionares.)

[@graciew4828]

Girl let me put you onto Bailey Sarian and her Dark History podcast/KZbin videos!!! Sooooo interesting and fun!

[@cristell.a]

this is litteraly the most interesting history lesson i've ever had. you're incredible Mina!!

[@NukeNukedEarth]

Theres a candy shop near the only private school in my city, and the owner had to hire a security agent during their lunchtime because of the sheer amount of shoplifting

[@samaraisnt]

lmaooo

[@edgarallanpoe209]

I hate private school kids so much

[@mechanical-scarecrow3064]

This immediately made me think of aristocratic ladies who would go to the opera or whatever and pick the precious metals out of the embroidery on the clothes of the person who sat in front of them. I think it was popular during the 18th and 19th centuries? I wish I could remember what it was called.

[@samaraisnt]

oMGGG that's so interesting if you find out pls do tell

[@DrawciaGleam02]

OMG! Were there any case of those women getting caught by their victims??

[@GigiofGigi]

@@samaraisnt gold thread picking !

[@aaronpoole5531]

I remember when I was like 11 my friend shop lifted some hair clips and I spent the rest of the day thinking the police were gonna come after me. But honestly, checks out that people who have the money do it and really like the historical view on that. Shit doesn't change.

[@phineasfacingforward3460]

Hello, I am the police. Time for jail, Aaron.

[@LaReinaAlondra]

Yeeeaaah in highschool, I had a well off white "friend" who would use me as a decoy as she shoplifted because she knew the store owners or security would be watching me cuz..... discrimination *insert SpongeBob rainbow meme* 🌈 I dropped her as soon as I realized this. I didn't understand why she would shoplift when I knew she had the money 😕 Thanks for this video tho 😁

[@becnimi]

White privilege at it's finest. Glad u dropped her

[@blossomtrees271]

that’s horrible! so sorry that happened to you but glad you’re doing well now and left that toxic relationship

[@khazermashkes2316]

That’s awful! I’m glad they are an ex-friend

[@LaReinaAlondra]

Thanks for the support guys 💙💙

[@foopfoop8611]

When I think of rich Victorian women I think of someone who practically throws money away on lavished items, but I was wrong. Turns out that they just took whatever they felt like they wanted/needed lol

[@kimberlyterasaki4843]

Thank you for pointing out that there is no such thing as unskilled labor; only undervalued labor!

[@ruusamatilda4483]

Hey! we’d love if you did a video about history and ”evolution” of ballet clothing! how it went from quite typical renaissance dress to shockingly short 19th century swan tutu etc

[@khazermashkes2316]

Yes please!

[@neuralmute]

As an enthusiastic amateur ballet dancer (almost went pro as a teen before a serious injury, but have still kept dancing past 40!) I'd love to see this so much! One of my favourite little known ballet costume facts is that the word "tutu" comes from an old French slang word for "bum", because even in those long, early Romantic tutus, when the dancers raised their legs high enough, the gents in the front row could sometimes catch a glimpse of dancer butt! 🤣 The development of ballet shoes from dainty heels that were no different from fancy shoes that could be worn at court to today's heavily structured, block-toed pointe shoes could be an entire video of its own... Just don't Google pictures of "ballet feet"!

[@ruusamatilda4483]

@@neuralmute did you see the latest video?:)

[@neuralmute]

@@ruusamatilda4483 I didn't, but I must admit that I cringed when I saw the title. Call me elitist, but I don't want the art form that I've poured 30-some years of blood, sweat and tears into to just be another online aesthetic!

[@ruusamatilda4483]

@@neuralmute yeah i understand:/ Although, I'm not going to be mad when someone takes inspiration from ballet. i can really understand that because i would love the aesthetics wether i was a dancer or not. i would probably wear all the ballet flats and leg warmers i found😂 But for example, when someone tries to make a non-dancer model or actor to look like real dancer, it's just horrible and embarrassing….😵‍💫

[@BryonyClaire]

This whole video i was just getting flashbacks to working in retail for 5 years and having to watch out for shoplifters. The worst ones were the rich ones because they'd smile at you as they stole, I could understand people stealing more when it was out of necessity. As workers, we were penalized when people stole, it's another reason why shop assistants have to hang out so close to you when you shop, to stop you stealing and for making a sale. Heaven forbid your regional manager was there, it was hell. But this is all from over a decade ago, maybe things have changed

[@yurtcobain3337]

it's against the law in many countries such as the us for workers to be penalised for the price of things shoplifters have stolen. join a union n know your rights bestie that shit's not ethical or legal!

[@BryonyClaire]

@@yurtcobain3337 this was years ago, when I say penalized I don't mean we had to pay for the loss, we weren't eligible for bonuses or benefits if we had loss in the store. To my knowledge in NZ, we don't have unions for retail workers

[@samaraisnt]

@@BryonyClaire that is being penalized. Not eligible for promotion is one of the classic penalties a superior can (NOT) enforce on you. That sucks about no unions, too. :(

[@adrianj6795]

Huh this is really interesting to me because a lot of the people I know who shoplift and steal are generally well off people who don't even need to, and that's always really confused me.

[@lynn858]

From a different perspective, if you can’t afford enough, you can’t afford to steal. Looking poor means they’re watching you, and you’re more likely to be caught, and be punished, (because being a potential customer is a “better” reason not to bother prosecuting, that being in need), which will only leave you worse off.

[@McSnezzly]

The poor people I know who have stole did it because they needed to and had a lot of guilt. For example, someone who took a shovel from a construction site and returned it soon as he could. He was caught returning it. Meanwhile a well off person I know stole a bottle opener from a museum just cause he could, and said they deserve being stolen from for charging so much lol

[@adrianj6795]

@@lynn858 yeah that makes sense, I myself look all ratty and I'm scared to go into certain nice stores for fear of getting accused of being a thief. Kinda weird how that works.

[@DramateyesMe1]

The misspelling of kleptomaniac has me picturing someone obsessed with kelp. Like maybe we're also talking about fashionable mermaids that steal kelp and they're just like "yes, I got me some kelp!"

[@april-kn2vr]

for legal reasons, this entire comment is a joke. when I was super depressed I would shoplift a lot just to feel alive for a moment. now that I'm in a better place, I haven't shoplifted in a while, although it's a weird addiction because I get the urge to steal randomly but I've gotten better at controlling my impulsive urges. Maybe being told by a doctor I have ADHD helps me realize I don't need to act on all my impulsive thoughts. anyways this entire comment happened in a video game and I would never commit a crime :) edit: didn’t think my comment would get attention but to be clear im not excusing my past actions, im just adding to the conversation. i really enjoy minas content and i wanted to give my perspective because of how personal this topic was. obviously don’t steal. i just found it really interesting that other people experienced the same thing as me. that is… all in a video game 😮‍💨

[@lokalcrow1470]

A-ah yes I used to shoplift... i-in Minecraft o-of course... Jokes aside I'm really glad you're doing better. I never got a diagnosis but I did have a lot of symptoms of depression, and since starting therapy 3 years ago I can't believe the progress I've made. Keep up the work, you're doing great!

[@GrammarSplaining]

Yeah? Fvck that. Theft isn't cute, and other people's work isn't about you.

[@laoshuu]

@UCWZOeJLoGtMEfPIyCEsCjmw i don’t see their comment as them justifying their actions , more of a backstory. i believe they acknowledged that they were in the wrong in their own comment. they’re able to share their story without you comparing yourself to them :)

[@RR-on4sk]

@UCWZOeJLoGtMEfPIyCEsCjmw some ppl with ADHD have a more difficult time with impulse control. Not only that, but without help for it, untreated ADHD could cause depression and behavior issues. Acknowledging that these are possible struggles ppl can go through isn't the same thing as excusing certain behaviors or saying that it applies to everyone with ADHD.

[@april-kn2vr]

@@GrammarSplaining i was just giving my take on the topic because i had a personal experience with what mina was discussing. i never said theft was cute nor did i imply it is, i was simply adding to the conversation because i really liked the video and i don’t usually have something to add.

[@jessicawest8190]

I remember Amy Schumer doing a bit where she talks about how as a teenager, she shoplifted thousands if dollars worth of goods. She eventually got caught and immediately released, with the officers telling her she was lucky her uncle was who he was (Chuck Schumer, one of the most powerful lawmakers in the country.) And it just struck me how she seemed almost completely oblivios the amount of privilege she was displaying in her little monologue. Lower class women steal baby formula because it's a necessity and face very real jail time if caught, but a senator's niece steals thousands of dollars in high end clothes for "the rush" and leaves with a half-hearted warning.

[@Loulou______]

1,000%

[@anna-px3ty]

Mina being upset about misogyny, capitalism, and over-consumption is my favorite part about these videos, what an icon

[@No-sw5td]

really interesting to hear you talk about this! my MIL is a upper middle class white woman who talks about shoplifting all the time. its always been jarring and confusing to hear her talk about it like a fun little hobby when the last time i shoplifted was to get food from a grocery store so i wouldn’t have to settle for the random canned foods from the local food pantry

[@co_co_chantal]

I feel like you'd really enjoy the works of Deborah Cohen-- specifically her books "Household Gods: The British and their Possessions" and "Family Secrets: Shame and Privacy in Modern Britain"! She's one of the leading social historian studying the 19th/early 20th century middle class, and I had to read both those book when I was doing my history undergrad degree-- definitely some of the most interesting reads I had plus "Household Gods" expands upon some of the topics related to consumption you discussed in this vid if you wanted to learn more 👏

[@pvanpelt1]

Those sound really interesting. I love social history!

[@khazermashkes2316]

I just requested Family Secrets from my library. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@co_co_chantal]

@@pvanpelt1 I'm a social historian but my research is mostly focused on the early modern period-- the Victorian era is like my guiltly pleasure 😂!

[@teriksteele6798]

Shop lifting is like w/e if you doing it from like Target Walmart etc. I find really fucked up when people steal from smaller or local businesses, because a) actually ruining peoples livelihoods and b) its always people that can afford things that steal from shops like that.

[@hanna1463]

that's how i feel too ~ but i know some stores will punish their workers if there's missing product. as long as you're doing it out of need i feel it's justified.

[@rubywhitfield2881]

I feel like a minority here, I was insanely lower class during my shoplifting era. I used to steal clothes so I wouldn’t have to wear the same thing and get made fun of.

[@draalttom844]

I only steal food since I do have cleptomanic tendencies. So I only let myself go when starving and try to make my other necessities myself

[@celinelongworth9706]

mina is fr my comfort person she makes me feel safe ☺️

[@phineasfacingforward3460]

@@jakeinternet Can I be your comfort woman, Jake?

[@thedaydreamgallery]

Mina always gives us QUALITY CONTENT!

[@oranempel4014]

AISURU.TOKYO/cimoy #однако #я #люблю #таких #рыбаков #Интересно #забавно #девушка #смешная #垃圾

[@FairyBogFather]

i love how malls are just empty, spooky crypts of consumerism now. i would have loved to see a victorian mall, damn

[@dianagarcia7042]

Love when you touch this not so well known historical topics 😊

[@Tagimarat]

When I used to work in my local opshop we there were people shoplifting / swapping tags all the time, which was weird since since the shop was a charity shop... I live in a well of area so for most people there was really no need to be stealing, especially since it was all second hand and affordable stuff. Most people did it for the trill of it, then got super offended when they got caught.

[@chrissy3875]

ive seen so many (rich) people steal from thrift stores- its honestly so fucked up

[@emmabruh]

The way I love her videos, they’re always so well made and so interesting, she could probably talk about the colour of the sky during different eras and I’d still find it interesting

[@Deebles.]

My mom loves to steal clothes too but she definitely isn’t from the Victorian days

[@BelenAntonia1004]

xd good one

[@AE-ld9ck]

When I was little (about seven years old), I went to my wealthier cousins’ house in an upper class area (million dollar minimum homes), and one of their friends was legitimately fearful of people that were not from that city. Anyone deemed as less than/poor, her mother told her they were all thieves and murderers. So, naturally this girl grew up with terrible anxiety for even going to college and or traveling, and I do not blame this girl for this but I do wholeheartedly blame her mother for drilling that crap into her head at such an impressionable age. Anyway, her mom followed my other cousin and I around my Aunt’s house and told her that there were two strange girls in her house, which my Aunt replied with “They are my nieces. I picked them up to stay here for the weekend.”, and when this lady’s daughter came downstairs she saw us and ran upstairs to her Mom asking “Why are they still alive? You said they’d be dead already!”... yea. Another time, my youngest cousin was upset and my Aunt wanted me to walk her to the bathroom upstairs in her room, so I did and while I was waiting I was tumbling a bit and walking around like I was on a balance beam (post Olympics fever is big my family lol), and apparently this lady followed us upstairs and walked into my Aunts room and wanted to know why I was in there “Where did you get those clothes?” she literally gestured at my outfit and I said Kohls (because my Mom bought it from there and the early 2000s was peak Kohls-Core), she looked livid at me and said “OH, I’m sure you did.” and rolled her eyes. Next she started going through all the pockets from coats that were on my Aunt’s bed, and after that my cousin ran out of the bathroom (toilet flush and all) and pulled me by the arm back downstairs so we could go play, because you know we were literal children. I told my aunt that a strange lady was going through pockets upstairs and next thing I know, this freak show was like “I was just checking to make sure she wasn’t stealing anything!” and I’m pretty sure she left after that it’s her daughter. I’ve seen them a couple times after at that relatives house and the Mom is a bit nicer (I guess?) but like I said, her daughter still had debilitating anxiety towards anyone that wasn’t in the same wealth class as her, and it’s really sad because outside of that we all had a lot in common. I know she screamed when she saw me a couple times, because of how fearful she was. Honestly, it was so heartbreaking to see, because she seemed to genuinely try to make conversation but she ended up getting migraine because of how stressed she got. I have ptsd and social anxiety as well, and I know how frustrating that feeling is when you can’t stop your thoughts from racing or your emotions from taking on physical symptoms. I really hope for her own health and wellbeing (and happiness) that she will be able to work through those things and have less fear in the long term. I do wonder though if her mother was/is a kleptomaniac? That behavior was infamous and always odd even to other adults in their area that knew her.

[@snehadawla]

Dude that was quite a story.

[@ninguem8947]

i know that the typo in the thumbnail wasnt unintentional but its so funny where my kelptomaniacs at

[@edifrcovski2282]

Kelp forest gang

[@CremeBrulee543]

Eating kelp straight from the sea

[@MD-mh7bp]

kelp fandom is dying, repost if youre a true kelptomaniac

[@softwaifu]

When I was a freshman in High School, I started going to school in the rich part of town and got arrested for shoplifting the first time I ever went to the mall with my new rich friends; I thought I could get away with it because I didn't realize I was visibly racialized from them. I learned that day; I can't get away with it, they can.

[@liseyboop]

the “oh so confused” made me laugh for a quite a while 🥰😂

[@fifi237]

Early because after the day I’ve had I NEED fashion commentary content ASAP!! N e ways , love u Mina 💕

[@fauxyeahjandy]

I get so excited when she releases new videos!!! 💞🗣💞🗣 I can listen to them when I water and tend my plants, brush my teeth, read a book, Toilet! Love her

[@Skincareslug]

Tell me why I love her look in the "skilled labor" cut away. Natural realness for the win.

[@Momo-kun88]

The phrase, "Beat you like you stole something" has a refreshed meaning for me.

[@shelby8364]

did you color your hair? it's so beautiful, it always is and I'm always so envious. Shoulder length hair makes me look and feel like I'm still an awkward 11 year old lol

[@JP-ku5hw]

Who cares about someone's appearance? Only those with poor-mind.

[@ennuisolar]

@@JP-ku5hw calm down jp, we get it, no ones complimented you before

[@JP-ku5hw]

@@ennuisolar Your mother does).

[@ennuisolar]

@@JP-ku5hw my mothers dead

[@minominooo]

I know that the video is generally about shoplifting, but it is related to clothing and that is a topic on Mina's channel, but she could seriously talk about literally any topic and I would still stick to her videos Mina queen

[@АнастасияХамелеон]

You said about the connection between shoplifting and depression. Ugh, for me that’s damn true. I was in awful psychological state since childhood till my mid-twenties, and I was shoplifting regularly. Mostly cosmetics and bijoux. Now I understand it was to feel something - adrenaline rush, excitement, even fear - because my emotions were really suppressed and dull. Now I get treatment for my mental issues, and I don’t want those feelings that way anymore. I can have adrenaline and excitement in other ways, much more safe and healthy

[@melowlw8638]

i never thought id see shoplifting and victorian in the same sentence and yet here we are i love it 😎😎

[@jodybriggs7217]

I just had a conversation last week about why middle class people these days steal stuff they can afford. Turns out this behavior isn't new! Neat. Thanks for this video, it was very informative.

[@marvel096]

Oh my god, this is some BIG coincidence. The other day I bought When Ladies Go A-Thieving: Middle-Class Shoplifters in the Victorian Department Store, a book I saw once in my campus library and now I stumble upon this video? My mind is blown.

[@ANAM-----------2548]

AISURU.TOKYO/mizumi 💗 #однако #я #люблю #таких #рыбаков #Интересно #забавно #девушка #смешная #垃圾

[@ANAM-----------2548]

AISURU.TOKYO/mizumi 💗 #однако #я #люблю #таких #рыбаков #Интересно #забавно #девушка #смешная #垃圾

[@masondellacucci7879]

Always a joy to watch these tranquil, well researched and delightfully executed social and historical commentaries! Thank you, Mina!

[@marianne5055]

There’s been maybe a couple times where something small like a nail polish legitimately was forgotten at the bottom of the cart and I didn’t notice til I was already at the car. But other than that I’ve never consciously have picked something up and though “I’m gonna pocket this”. I don’t know I’ve just never thought it was worth possibly be caught and being banned from the store or worse.

[@brigittebardotreincarnated]

when i was younger i used to have a heavy shoplifting problem, it didn't matter what it was but it made me feel better emotionally for a quick second after getting away with it. i was eventually caught and didn't have to be questioned after my psychiatrist talked to the officers and the store decided to not press charges, i don't know what they talked about, but now what you're saying makes a lot of sense. i also was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder after i turned 18yo.

[@samanthasprague9715]

Mina, if you are reading this I just want you to know how much I love your videos! You are so thorough, and careful with your words. I know it is stressful being in the public eye, but I think you are doing a really amazing job with your channel. Your content is so seamless and intriguing. Before finding your channel I never found interest in Historical fashion and things revolving around those topics, and you have really sparked a newfound interest for me. I also think all of your video topics are super original and creative, and you are really helping to keep parts of history alive, remembered and appreciated! Also, I think you are super beautiful and have a very graceful demeanor. Hope you are doing well in life aside from your channel

[@clarimm6675]

Wait so is this the reason women's clothing (whether it's pants or skirts) lacks pockets? Just food for thought

[@elizabethb4168]

I think it was just to justify the purse industry

[@hotjanuary]

Pockets ruin the “lines” of the silhouette according to the fashion industry. It’s a sin to have bulging pockets, apparently. But you still need to carry stuff, so a purse is your salvation. I encourage everyone to sin and add pockets to their clothes. There are plenty of good tutorials on KZbin.

[@lucie4185]

@@hotjanuary Today I am wearing a green dress that I sewed 2 huge beige pockets onto the front. I LOVE THEM! Designers can stuff their lines and Silhouettes!

[@hotjanuary]

@@lucie4185 yay!

[@e.s.r5809]

@@hotjanuary Talking as someone with a fashion past, I'm sorry (kinda?) to say it's only even a smidge about aesthetics. Unfortunately, it's more to keep manufacturing costs minimal and profit maximal. Even for sweatshops with enormous buying power, a 4x4" square of fabric adds up quickly over 10,000 garments. Ditto with number of buttons, length of thread used, etc. Incidentally, that's also a major reason clothes never seem to fit right (even if your measurements are correct on paper!) The patterns themselves are drafted so the most pieces can be cut from a cloth. Eg a pair of trousers might have width taken off the side seams at the seat, and added back to the crotch curve. The crotch point (where the four panels meet) is moved a little further back. The panel is narrower, and the crotch "scoop" is shallower. The flat measurements are the same, but now the "cross section" of that garment at the seat is a sort of flattened oval. Most human beings' backsides project outwards and not sideways, lol, so the garment won't ever sit quite right. But it's potentially saved the manufacturer 100 yards of cloth (and left them with fewer scraps that they have to pay to dispose of).

[@KlSSES]

“gone shopping” slay

[@dashingtherouxthesnow4017]

Good to see my fellow notification squad members are here already

[@Loulou______]

You’d be surprised on how many rich Yt ladies steal from Bergdorf Goodman here in New York, it’s pretty wild.

[@CiaraRouege]

It's interesting how at one point department stores were like the highlight of some people's day...and now, besides Christmas, they're like ghost towns.

[@melissapotter8156]

I dunno, millennials looooove target

[@itsbasicboi]

this is extremely fascinating!

[@JP-ku5hw]

Tchaikovsky's works are better

[@khazermashkes2316]

I love this video

[@Patricia-sr4cu]

I don’t know if there is here some other Spanish fellas but if that’s the case, I’m sure Cristina Cifuentes’s name has came to your mind. FYI: Cristina Cifuentes is a Spanish ex-politician who had to quite her job as president of her party in Madrid due to (among other shitty things) had been caught on camera putting a couple of facial creams inside her bag.

[@carmenaguado492]

Huh! I did not know that! I'm Spanish as well but I was living abroad when the whole Cifuentes thing happened and the big thing that got across the border was the fake masters' degree!

[@Patricia-sr4cu]

@@carmenaguado492 it was really wild! But (as it use to happen with corrupted politicians here) she end up free of charges and participating in many tv shows

[@carmenaguado492]

@@Patricia-sr4cu That's politics for you. Not that it's remotely surprising in this country. The university is still reeling from the masters thing, though. I've got some coursemates that transferred from there ant they trash talk it all the time.

[@inlovewithwheein]

Ok now I'm more interested in History. All thanks to you Mina

[@anastasiamicha3407]

I don't really leave comments but: you are so bright and speak so alluringly and your channel is very unique and captivating. keep doing what you do!

[@KaylaNoelle1]

I feel like it’s a stress response to having no control over their own lives. 😞🙃

[@joshtavenner8083]

That you clarified skilled vs unskilled workers both being valuable but defitionally different shows how deliberate you are with words around these issues; thank you for giving a shit, it's quite refreshing.

[@mcwjes]

This is one of my favorite niche topics! Yes, Mina!

[@lawbnowercuj]

honestly im not surprised, my sister would shoplift for no reason at all. she would even rob homeless people because they were easy targets

[@gigitastic90]

The only time I have ever stolen anything was when I forgot to pay for Chapstick in my self checkout cart. I need to use the scooter carts and I think it was in a corner of my basket I couldn't see while sitting. I tried calling the store to pay for it but I was so terrified I would be banned.

[@jennyzarate7086]

When I was doing my community service at Apolo, in La Paz Bolivia (where I'm from) the people we were helping stole a lot of our clothes from our camp.

[@antoniarushingwaters825]

Mina! I love all your content! I love fashion and history and the social political content it lives it, and you know how to tie it all together ! I had a thought of researching how animals/pets as fashion commodities can be an interesting subject? I don't know! I can just remember Paris Hilton and other wealthy folks using their dogs as an accessory. Also, creating new breeds of dogs and cats was sometimes only for visually aesthetically pleasing reasons. Thank you for all your hard work, love you!

[@jfm14]

I've long said that nobody shoplifts more than middle-class White women, but I had no idea there was actual data to back that up. Great video!

[@seanreynolds2991]

Simply obsessed with you and the content you choose to make ✨ 💕✨

[@annabellekahle5230]

ive had a long week but I started up this video and was immediatley brightened by the thought "i am a beautiful dove :D"

[@Irisembermay]

Stealing was one of the few ways housewives could get an adrenaline rush

[@CarmellaMulroy]

Shoplifting can be a symptom of depression. Sometimes it can be a side effect of certain medication such as anti Parkinson medication. Pregnancy can stimulate people to shoplift and people with dementia tend to shop lift more than the general population. When I was a student I had a lot of experience with shoplifters. I just ran after them but I have no idea what I would do if I caught one.

[@13bunnylove13]

Would love to hear your ideas on what clothing would look like if we converted into a solarpunk way of life and fast fashion was no longer an option?

[@khazermashkes2316]

Yes please!

[@elisybug3895]

Oh my God I was literally about to comment how I feel like that horse from over the garden wall watching this entire video and then you play it 😂

[@kae6238]

15:03 the over the garden wall clip made me UNNECESSARILY happy, Happy Autumn!!!😩🍂‼️🍁

[@WhitneyDahlin]

LOVED this content! I was fascinated start to finish! I definitely want more quirks of history videos!