2 views
I’m sitting in comfort now
I’m sitting in comfort now because I prefer to wear oversized t-shirts and jersey shorts, leggings, jeans and trousers that are loose fitting and elasticated. I feel like I have to also justify why I choose to wear clothing this way; But when I think about the clothing I still see stacked on rails in shops and across retail websites that are “tailored and slim fit”, my whole body feels uncomfortable again. It reminds me of having stomach and back pain that I couldn’t understand. It reminds me of the faint breathing I had because of the restricted space my diaphragm and chest had to breathe. It reminds me of the shoulder bag I used to carry all of my school books in because the school I attended did not have lockers or space for me to leave my essential learning and personal materials at school; Without having to take it back and forth again. My shoulders were in so much pain and I knew it was the bag but did not want to wear a back pack because I would be called “a boy!!!”.
I can’t believe I used to ignore how uncomfortable I was in the clothing I wore because it was “fashionable” and because it “looks good!”. It is important to feel comfortable and it can be difficult to feel that way unless you also look good, according to the fashion of the time. But I’m sitting in my own comfort now; I’m tired of wearing clothing that doesn’t actually consider the woman’s body. I am tired of having thrush because everytime I wear a high waisted pair of shorts, jeans or trousers to cover my belly but still cover my bum too— it rides up my vagina and causes me even more discomfort. Then I am made to feel ashamed because of the unfashionable “camel toe”, that girls and women are bullied for by boys and men.
At least with oversized clothing I have space to cover my own personal space that is my body. At least if I wear elasticated, loose fitted and relaxing clothing, I can breathe through my diaphragm with my belly relaxed outwards, as it should be naturally, and not forced into my ribs like a corset; That women finally got rid of a long time ago; It has somehow made its way back and has been marketed differently… a bra and tight high waistline, “that keeps it all in; But still accentuates the parts of the woman’s body that is worth looking at”.
So I’m choosing to sit, stand and move in my own comfort; I’m no longer wearing clothing that restricts my vital organs or causes me discomfort. I’m going to wear what is comfortable for me.
I hope the idea of what is fashionable for a girl or woman to wear one day changes to being what is comfortable for a girl or woman to wear without restricting the internal organs and pushing the body inwards; I hope that feminists continue to challenge the fashion industry still run and distributed by men that keep on infantizing and picking apart girls and women. I hope one day women and girls are able to collectively decide the production, distribution and merchandise of what they wear; Without boys or men being involved; Because they are not girls and women.
© Lois Christina
I can’t believe I used to ignore how uncomfortable I was in the clothing I wore because it was “fashionable” and because it “looks good!”. It is important to feel comfortable and it can be difficult to feel that way unless you also look good, according to the fashion of the time. But I’m sitting in my own comfort now; I’m tired of wearing clothing that doesn’t actually consider the woman’s body. I am tired of having thrush because everytime I wear a high waisted pair of shorts, jeans or trousers to cover my belly but still cover my bum too— it rides up my vagina and causes me even more discomfort. Then I am made to feel ashamed because of the unfashionable “camel toe”, that girls and women are bullied for by boys and men.
At least with oversized clothing I have space to cover my own personal space that is my body. At least if I wear elasticated, loose fitted and relaxing clothing, I can breathe through my diaphragm with my belly relaxed outwards, as it should be naturally, and not forced into my ribs like a corset; That women finally got rid of a long time ago; It has somehow made its way back and has been marketed differently… a bra and tight high waistline, “that keeps it all in; But still accentuates the parts of the woman’s body that is worth looking at”.
So I’m choosing to sit, stand and move in my own comfort; I’m no longer wearing clothing that restricts my vital organs or causes me discomfort. I’m going to wear what is comfortable for me.
I hope the idea of what is fashionable for a girl or woman to wear one day changes to being what is comfortable for a girl or woman to wear without restricting the internal organs and pushing the body inwards; I hope that feminists continue to challenge the fashion industry still run and distributed by men that keep on infantizing and picking apart girls and women. I hope one day women and girls are able to collectively decide the production, distribution and merchandise of what they wear; Without boys or men being involved; Because they are not girls and women.
© Lois Christina
