Having previously talked about punk fashion and the punk movement,
I would be remissed if I did not talk about the Riot Girl movement. It was an underground hardcore punk feminist thing.
This was also known as the 3rd wave feminist movement from the late 80s to the early 90s.
It was women proving they were o' so much more than just singers in punk bands. They proved they could do all the things the boys could ;
playing bass, guitar, drums you name it.
They fought the over sexulization of women in the punk movement. They took a stand for women and issues such as rape,
domestic violence and the overall vibe of male dominisium along with the other -isms sexisuim racism you get my drift.
It was female empowerment at its finest.
Now I am by no means an authoritative affichant nor fully educated in all the details of this movement
I have done research that is just the tip of the iceberg, I however being mildly obsessed with fashion that has meaning,
style that stood for something can hopefully write a comprehence little snippet about this portion of the movement.
This fashion sense is very near and dear to me in the fact it encompassed a lot it was not one definable style.
It had a note of everything from grunge, metal, vintage to kinderwhore
(the sexy child like style, baby doll dress, knee socks with a whorish red lipstick extra..) and of course punk.
As there was no specific fashion, they more or less ended up making their own. Some of the contributors to this where bands such as
Bratmobile, Bikini Kill, L7 and Babes in Toyland and a hell of a lot more these are just my favorites.
Let's talk fashion and styling for this movement, we saw plaid skirts with knee and ankle socks,(you know kinda the slutty schoolgirl look).
babydoll dresses, to vintage shift mod dresses. There was also a lot of mini skirts, combat boots and plaid shirts.
Back in the 90's this term spelled a few different ways could be seen as Grrrl being scribbled on notebooks and carved in desks alike in school and fan magazines.
It wasn't as much about the music, but the total embodiment of fashion, empowerment, political statement, and embracing a bold and brash in your face I am here style.
The Riot Girl could wear makeup or not, she could dress like a dude or dress like a chic. She embraces everyone gay, bi, straight, transgender it is all about equality.
She is against rape, domestic violence and inequality. She empowers herself be it by learning to play an instrument to taking a self defense course to being an activist.
Her fashion sense is not dictated by what Kylie Jenner is wearing she is her own person.
Having been in a domestic violent situation myself and having not taken any action for over close to 8 years this movement is very dear to me. I want women to empower themselves and know their worth and value which is a great struggle.
You do not have to be a riot girl but there are some great things we can take away from this movment, I myself am not one but have the utmost adulation for it. Be free my friends.
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