The Lolita Complex: - Scholarly Commons Home

I believe that in succumbing to pressures, giving up her involvement in
a movement she is passionate about and thus changing her behaviour, the
Gothloli is abandoning her choice, her right, to be whom she wants to be,
and thus diminishing her power whilst transferring that power back to the
patriarchal hegemonies that she fights against.
Whether this “fight” is or is not conscious, a young woman, especially
in Japan, does not enter this subculture through ignorance. Although
motivations behind her participation may be quite simplistic, as in she may
just choose to be Lolita because it is pretty or cute, she knows about the
associations and connotations; they are “everywhere” and she is or becomes
all too aware of the dangerous territory she inhabits.
During my research trip to Tokyo in 2007 with my colleague Bevan
Chuang, we witnessed the dangers of parading on the street whilst we were
mingling and chatting with, and taking photographs of, other Lolita at the
Jingu Bashi (Jingu Bridge) Harajuku, the most popular site of congregation.
While Lolita are generally contented with photographers taking their
photos – as it is expected that this will happen due to the publicity of this
spot and thus an inundation of curious tourists in this area – the girls prefer
to be asked first and often will only give permission if the photographer is
considered to be polite (or felt to be “safe”). Just as often, though, they will
deny the request as, although they consciously place themselves in this
voyeuristic position, they do sense their subsequent vulnerability and
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