Okay, first of all let me warn you: This is my honest and personal opinion, so if you disagree with it, I would like to hear your point of view. Feedback is important!
Lately I have been asked on several times why I wear like a 1950s/early 1960s young gal being a feminist myself. I’m kind of sick of getting asked about it, so I thought I would write a quick post about feminism and the vintage world. You’ve been warned!
- “Those women were treated like shit and had no rights” – some tell me. They are 50% right. My grandmothers lived well and loved their life back in the day. Not all women in the 1950s and 1960s were considered the inferior sex; some worked on their own despite the social pressure and economical difficulties for female workers. Moreover, in my country the situation was waaay worse with the dictatorship and the patriarchy stablished by a bunch of idiots. Working class families struggled to find resources to carry on, and some women had to go out in the streets and sell their bodies. Yes, that was real in downtown Barcelona, and I met brave women who, in the 1960s and 1970s, had to do that in order to earn something for their kids.
- Not all women are evil or sluts. In fact, none of us are. I am sick of hearing shameful comments because of the clothes a woman is wearing. “She’s a slut” or “Look at that virgin” shouldn’t judge us. Who are you to judge me and my privacy? Plus, If you don’t know me, don’t judge me. Got it?
- Virginity. What’s the fuss about it, really? Have you ever thought about what’s the deal with that thing? Do whatever you want with your body, don’t be ashamed to be or not to be, remember that society will always judge you. Just be yourself. On some days I like to wear a long skirt that people consider of a “virgin”, and on other days I wear either a mini or pencil skirt with back seam stockings. All are different looks, but I am the same individual.
- Rape culture. If a woman gets raped of harassed, it’s their fault because, as society says: “She was asking for it”. What the hell, seriously. We are strong individuals, as strong and valid as men, and we can do whatever we want and dress as prude or daring as we want.
- Make up and Lingerie. They are different subjects, I know, but some people tend to associate them with words such as “sex”, “couple”, “boyfriend”, “sexy”. Looks like if you are single and not dating anyone at the moment you are not permitted to buy and wear lingerie. Wear it for yourself and feel proud of who you are. Same thing with cosmetics. I love to get full make up, it really boosts my self esteem, but sometimes I just want to go natural. Doesn’t matter if you are seeing someone or not, do what you want.
- Avoid toxic relationships. If your partner doesn’t feel like you are a strong and independent individual, things might get wrong. Be sure to get away from someone who doesn’t treat you like it should. It might be hard to take a step, but don’t hesitate.
- Be confident all the time. I know it is hard to achieve, ’cause I get a bit depressed every once in a while. I am very sentimental and nostalgic, so I’m used to it though. It’s been +2 years since I started wearing vintage and each day that goes by I feel more confident about me and my body. I must admit I LOVE being stared at on the street 🙂
Personally speaking, I love who I am and my style. I have always been passionate about the past and its history, but obviously I do not agree with some ethics and social behaviors that were accepted back then. Society has changed for the better, but there is still a lot to do for us women. Just check HeForShe, the worldwide campaign by the United Nations led by actress Emma Watson.
I hope you all enjoyed my post, I needed to let this out. If you have more suggestions and tips, feel free to leave a comment!
xx
The Sixties Twist 