What does it mean to be "Goth" or "Gothic"?
By gypsylady28
@gypsylady28 (945)
United States
September 26, 2007 6:43am CST
Our daughter who is 12 has decided she wants to be "Goth". I've told her no, that until she buys her own clothing, she doesn't have a choice about it. She says "Goth" just means the clothes you wear, but I'm not so sure about that. Can anyone fill me in on what it means to be "Goth"?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
26 Sep 07
In her 12 yr/old mind that IS what goth is about...she's far too young to REALLY understand what the Gothic Culture is about....Its a way of life, not a dress code/style by any means BUT many goths DO tend to dress in a none standard fashion for lack of a better way of putting it....I tend to love my blacks, deep reds and purples etc BUT I like softer prints/colours as well...HOW I DRESS has nothing to do with my being Goth...HOW I THINK/FEEL/SEE/APPRECIATE every aspect of life has everything to do with it....Thats a very basic rundown on what being Goth is about...Let me have coffee and I'll be more than happy to share more with you as will I'm sure a few others here at Mylot....but please dont fall for the "goth is bad" nonsense...its not..not at all....
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
27 Sep 07
"I told her that wasn't being "Gothic" that was being "Satanic"
Actually its not...Satanists DO NOT believe in the devil let alone worship it/him/her whatever...What your daughters classmates are telling her is that bascially they are confused, uneducated and just want to shock ppl for attention...Sad and seemingly harsh to say but very very true ;-) My kids have classmates who tried to pull that nonsense on them last yr until my kids put them in their place and gave them the RIGHT info (easy when your mom is someone like me and your aunts, uncles and cousins are like ours :-D)....
I would say your best bet is to give your daughter the PROPER info she needs to make the right decision for herself AND to be able to respond to her classmates when they spit out silly "I'm trying to intimiate you/impress you/get attention" comments like that
1 person likes this
@gypsylady28 (945)
• United States
26 Sep 07
That sounds like the gothic culture I grew up with. But as I hear more and more about what the "Goth" teens in the area are into, I'm kinda worried about it. She came home telling me that the girls who have talked to her about it say they worship the devil. I told her that wasn't being "Gothic" that was being "Satanic". But times change. So what I knew in high school 20 years ago, may be a whole different thing now.
@gwendovere (1279)
• United States
26 Sep 07
I'm not goth, per se. But I think she wants to make herself seen as her own individual person. I think that being "goth" or being a "prep" or a "nerd" or whatever means different things to different people. Goth can just mean a certain way of dressing... or it can mean being interested in different religions (like Wicca) or being interested in vampires.
I think it's wonderful to develop one's own sense of Self... to explore different things... as long as one doesn't get carried away into the darker stuff.
1 person likes this
@gypsylady28 (945)
• United States
26 Sep 07
I don't think it is her wanting to be an individual, as much as trying to fit in or impress the other kids. I was into reading about vampires and the such when I was younger, but I never did the all black clothing. I can remember painting my nails black, and having BIG hair. LOL I miss the 80's.
@sugarfloss (2139)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 07
hey gypsylady,for a 12year old I think Goth only defines the clothes she wears and maybe the music she listens to.as long as she stays with that,it's safe.if involves rituals involving a live goat or any bloody rituals,better advise her about being goth.hope this helps!
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
26 Sep 07
"if involves rituals involving a live goat or any bloody rituals,better advise her about being goth"
LMFAO except that has absolutely NOTHING to do with being goth ;-)
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
26 Sep 07
eeeek LOL I just took a look at the pic you posted and thats the colour I'm doin my hair next LOL..I love it!
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@kitty1234 (1476)
• United States
26 Sep 07
Gothic dress is a form of expressing ones dark side. The gothic look is total black clothing. The make-up and finger nail polish is also black. The gothis mode also has piercing of the eyebrows, ears and lips. It is not a pretty look, but some people do like it. Your daughter is way too young for this look!
