Goth People – Common Stereotypes



Goth people are a subculture born out of the United Kingdom in the 1980s during the rise of gothic rock music. Since then it has evolved as there are more goths now than ever before.

What makes gothic folks who they are? For the most part goths prefer not to be like mainstream society. Goths value being individuals with unique identities.

They are independent whereas they believe that the majority of society is made up of followers. Goths are a free thinking crowd that is stereotyped and criticized all the time.

Most goths turned goth because they did not feel that society was very welcoming. In fact, for most it is this feeling of isolation which makes them decide to forget about what everyone else thinks and go about their own route. For other goths, it is the music or the fashion that intrigued them first or they may have had gothic friends.

There are a lot of stereotypes surrounding goth people. The most common one being that all goths worship the devil. Many gothic people attend church and religious ceremonies and this accusation of Satan loving behavior is simply untrue for the majority.

Some goths are atheist or reject religion completely but they do not account for all goths. Many wear their crosses and religious symbols proudly.

Goths are an open-minded subculture. What most would find disturbing or taboo in mainstream society, goths are embracing and discussing it freely. That goes for spiritual mysticism, religion, life and death, magic and sexuality to name a few.

It is because of this freedom that the gothic community is very close knit. It also explains why many goths are of non-traditional sexual orientations.

Feeling as if they did not fit in, these members of the subculture found comfort and a place where they would not be harshly judged.

Goth people usually dress in fashions that are all black with black hair and dark makeup. However, there is no particular way in which they need to dress since the gothic style is all about individuality.

2 Comments so far

  1. jae on October 23rd, 2009

    although i am not goth i can relate to wanting to be unique

  2. xXyesac100Xx on July 26th, 2010

    the devil-worshipping stereotype is one that truly ticks me off. i am not really gothic, but im more of a social mutt being a gothic country bred nerd rocker… well you get the idea. but i am gothic enough, and have enough friends who are gothic to take offence when someone says that goths are satan-worshippers, sure some may be, but they are two seperate facts. thank you for posting this

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