I find that being in my local comm gives me a deep sense of community that I wouldn’t have had without this fashion. I find other people who share interests and hobbies with me as well as people into things I would never have dreamed of personally. I adore getting to be part of my local in person community. I think it’s genuinely one of the biggest highlights of the Lolita fashion subculture that we have such an emphasis on going out with others and befriending those who are also in the fashion.
However, I can sometimes see the downside of this sense of community usually popping out online, with a high pressure to conform to others expectations once more but just in the same community. As well as on anonymous places where things like racism, classism, transphobia, and fat phobia that often discourage those who would be seeking to join the egl community.
I think this dichotomy is really interested because for me because to me egl is all about self expression and self love, finding a version of yourself that you can share with the world that has roots in a community. I also know that Lolita fashion isn’t the only subculture that deals with this sort of push and pull between conformity and individuality. I am not a member of the western gothic community but I see a lot of the same things going on over there.
However, there is something you can do to ensure a more positive experience in this community. You can curate the places you are, especially online. If a place is toxic and affecting you negatively, you don’t have to stay there. Especially when it comes to communities online, they will still be there but you don’t have to look at them.
If you’re someone new to the community, I hope you will enjoy your time in the greater egl community. Take your time to enjoy and focus on aspects outside of just getting new things, and enjoy this culture that had been decades in the making.
Luna By The Lake With Cake 