Lolita fashion
Lolita as a fashion follows a more traditional Japanese manner of resistance by being subtle and subversive. Its aesthetics are demure and keep some elements of traditional Japanese beauty while also being clearly unusual and nonconformist by incorporating historical European aesthetics of beauty. In this way, while Lolitas are still very feminine and modest, they found a way to break out of the homogenous manner of appearance and begin toying with new forms of identity and femininity. Some have argued that the fashion fights against traditional expectations of marriage and a woman's role in family life by perpetualizing a childlike innocence (if not in manner, at least in appearance) to avoid the pressure of marriage and adult life in Japan. Many claim that Lolita fashion also fights the patriarchal system in subtle ways. For instance, molestation on crowded Japanese subways is a big problem in Japan, but the Lolita fashion incorporates a childlike or doll-like image as well as many heavy layers, both of which would make this action much more difficult. It is a manner of protecting oneself while not being outspoken, which is a subtle form of resistance.