Punk Rock
I've been thinking more and more lately about gender roles in society. It's no secret that my recent fascination is thanks to the riot grrl movement and zine's like The Pulp Zine and my ever favorite Rookie Mag. For years I struggled to identify with a group and tried my hardest to be what my gender expected me to be, feminine, delicate and everything I as a woman was not. Fast forward to my attendance of many riot grrl shows, my ever growing love for Angry Femme Playlists and fitting in with a group of the baddest babes I've met in a long time who I can happily say I formed a band with. After surrounding myself with strong, fabulous women and some super supportive males who I claim as my closest friends, I am finally happy to say I've found myself; and I don't fit into any one gender.
If you're a male who wears a feminine pattern you're labelled as 'gay' if you're a woman who prefers to slouch around in t-shirts, leggings and boots, you're a 'dyke' but is it really such an offence to be labelled as a particular sexuality due to your clothing? Yes, because sexuality shouldn't be used in a derogatory way and it's 'social norms' in regards to gender that have put it in this position. It's taken me a while, but as soon as I stopped caring what I looked like or wore and started dressing for myself I felt an innate freedom. There's something so kickass about not caring about what people think of you and a fool proof way to do this is through your clothing choices or the hobbies and outlets you choose to express yourself.
If you've ever found yourself conforming to social or gender norms like I know I have been guilty of, stop! embrace what makes you feel alive, follow your own path and write your own rules. The benefit of completely being 100% authentic you is that you'll attract genuine friendships and situations into your life that are in line with who you honestly are. Being completely yourself isn't the easiest thing and I feel like it's something we all do embrace eventually at different times, the right time will just feel natural to you. One of the things that really got me thinking this week was reading a status by the very inspirational Chloe King who writes for The Daily Blog. Her focus in on women rights and violence against women, politics and she's just one fierce babe as it is. Her status is as follows:
"Fuck I have this new way of living life and it is called "being all in"... and this means being wholehearted, showing my vulnerabilities - no matter how excruciating this can be, and having the courage to say how I feel, even though this might mean being rejected or misunderstood. When I am doing anything whether it be writing or laughing with friends or falling for boys or making an artwork or just talking long into the night with a friend I remind myself to "be all in" to let people see me in that moment. It has made my life so much easier and so much more enjoyable. I used to wake up feeling disappointed, and now I usually wake up feeling joy and excited about being alive. I try to focus on loving people and remind myself on the daily that it is a privilege to be in people’s lives, to connect with them, and to walk beside my friends on their, and my own, journey. I still have those days that can stretch into weeks where I feel useless and worthless and like I, will ‘never make it or be good enough’ but mostly I just feel happy to be here, in the world. I think “being all in” is a rad and liberating way to be." - Chloe King
It's definitely one of the most uplifting things I've read in a long time and reminds me to surround myself with powerful individuals that have their very own strong sense of identity and sense of self. Clothing and makeup for me was always my choice of self expression, since joining the band I've become less materialistic and more authentic, this also reins true for this blog. Once you find your own voice and outlet you become more confident in who you are and what you stand for. So to all the bad babes out there that are reading this - remember with everything you do put your heart in it and align it to who you truly are. In a world with so many pressures and expectations it's hard, but have the confidence to listen to your inner voice and things will start to align.
