Tuesday, December 4, 2018

On Gender Play in the Goth Scene

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2017/06/23/goth_culture_needs_to_embrace_the_gender_identities_of_all_its_members.html

This has been kind of an issue for me.
I know folks who feel safer expressing femme in goth spaces, but then you get to the weird passing part - are you just a goth boy in a skirt or are you NB, it depends on how well you pass. Which is kind of shitty.
And goth is so strict about femininity. It’s all lace and corsets and clingy pvc and fishnets - even the standard men’s goth fare flares out around my hips and rests like a ballgown, stiff fabrics and a big butt acting like bustle. If you’re NB or transmasc the best clothing to take refuge in is from the worst sub-genre to spend time around, because while rivetheads may wear baggy cargo pants and flat-soled boots and have buzzcuts and skip the lipstick they also tend to be aggro the way only guys who fetishize the military can be.
It’s so weird, metal is more strict about gender binary, but that makes it easier for me to pass as male in metal spaces. A partially shaved head, a flannel, not even freaking binding (just wearing two sports bras), and a ballcap is good enough for me to pass as a guy. In goth spaces I don’t know that I could ever pass as anything other than “badly-dressed girl”/”tourist who didn’t even bother with eyeliner.”
Also holy shit. Goth Clubs. GOTH CLUBS. You are a haven for trans and NB folks. Trans and NB folks have been in and around the scene for fucking ever. MORE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS AT GOTH CLUBS PLEASE, PEOPLE DON’T FEEL SAFE GOING INTO SINGLE-GENDER BATHROOMS. I PROMISE MORE FOLKS WILL ORDER YOUR OVERPRICED DRINKS IF THEY AREN’T SCARED OF HAVING TO PEE AT THE CLUB.

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