One of my favourite parts of raving and festivals is deciding what I get to wear. From shopping for clothes online, to making bracelets and rave bras, and finally seeing how it comes together, nothing gears me up for a festival than assembling my outfits. I’ve come a long way since the first time I googled “rave outfit ideas” for my very first festival, and I now have a whole section of my closet dedicated to my rave outfits. But with the expansion of my closet and mindset, I’ve also become acquainted with the unfortunate dark side of festival fashion and slut-shaming.
I first learned about this dark side when I was waiting on the side of the road for an Uber on the way home from a festival. I was wearing my typical festival fashion choice, consisting of a rave bra, booty shorts, leg wraps, and lots of Kandi. Not paying attention, I nearly jumped out of my skin when a car drove by me and honked, the man in the passenger seat leaning out of the window to shout obscenities at me. Embarrassed and cold, I wrapped myself up in my arms, suddenly feeling stupid for my outfit choice.
That was the first time my eyes were opened to the negative mindset that persists concerning women’s fashion in EDM, but it wouldn’t be the last. From strangers grabbing my ass in the crowd, to observing people holding signs saying “GIRL WEARING PASTIES HERE” at festivals, to my own mother confronting me for posting my outfits on Instagram, I have been exposed multiple times to a sexist and slut-shaming attitude within the community. Whether it’s thinking that the way we dress is an invitation to make unwarranted advances, or seeing the way we dress as an indicator of a lack of self-respect, slut-shaming is pervasive within the EDM community.
If you dress for yourself, you’re feeding into negative sexual stereotypes. If you like the compliments, you’re an attention seeker. If you’re wearing less, you’re asking for it. If you’re covering up, you’re a prude. It’s a set of double standards that exists in the real world that is magnified within the rave community. With so many more women choosing to wear what they want, so grows the chorus of voices telling us that we shouldn’t.
No one should adhere to others’ expectations for how they should dress, or have to apologize for feeling empowered by celebrating their body. Whether you’re wearing a tracksuit or a swimsuit, if you’re comfortable and you feel good, that’s what should matter. Isn’t accepting and celebrating everyone and anyone what this community is all about?
*Featured Image via TomorrowWorld*
