On Gatekeeping...
My analysis on both sides of the argument.
Gatekeeping commonly refers to the limiting of information, and in the world of fashion, it’s up to the “elitists” discretion. Depending on who you ask, gatekeeping could either be more prevalent than over priced T-shirts, or it doesn't exist at all. This article does not exist to prove one side or another, merely to draw attention to the fact that in this day and age, people try so hard to be unique, and one of the easiest ways to do so is to wear clothes other people don't have or know about.
I’ve gathered that gatekeeping itself has been around since the beginning of originality. It’s human nature to be unique. Pre-internet days, and into the early beginnings of chat rooms and forums, gatekeeping of fashion designers and knowledge was rampant. Fashion publications, magazines, runway shows, and even brands were defined by whether or not you were “in the know”. Even fashion companies would (some even now) gatekeep who could buy their pieces by setting exorbitant prices on their items.
Now with the internet merely a click away, resources are easier to find and more readily available. This is where the problem arises. People’s self images are fragile, and this makes many insecure. For some people, the thought of their favorite brand becoming “mainstream” is extremely disheartening, hence gatekeeping in a modern fashion age. I’ve seen gatekeeping everywhere from TikTok to Instagram, old forums and even in person. People nowadays are going so far as to hide information on the best websites to buy cheap high fashion from, or even what Japanese auction sites to use. I see this as a way to protect whatever shred of self worth they have by developing a superiority complex and projecting through it.
On the flipside, it seems as though anyone who cannot do some mid-level research believes they are being gatekept from whatever information they're striving to find. Everyone wants to be in their own niche and whether they realize it or not, gatekeep something in their daily life. I would argue this isn't necessarily bad, but a necessary evil of sorts. Gatekeeping is a way for brands to build notoriety and a following through supply and demand. Gatekeeping actually helps brands maintain a level of awe and prowess.
Additionally, just because someone on the internet has information you desire, does not entitle you to said information. This is my biggest gripe with the fashion community. I may just be a vain person, but if I have had to put in work to uncover some information, you cannot demand me to give it to you. Social media and TikTok has polluted the minds of people to an extent that they expect everything in life to be delivered on a silver platter, with no pushback, instantaneously. At the core, this is the bane of my existence. Do some work and figure it out yourself.
Touching back on the word itself, “gatekeeping” has an infamous preconceived notion of being a pejorative. However, if we are able to look past the negative connotation, I think we can see that it truly isn't as bad as it seems.
Measuring gatekeeping is very difficult. It is nothing more than a fluid idea used to describe insecure people. Fashion obviously isn’t the only thing that's gatekept. Any hobby or profession has some levels of gatekeeping and that's why there are experts in those fields. In order to become an expert you need to push through the gates and make it known that you will learn no matter the cost. Part of me believes that gatekeeping is a necessary good.
As much as it hurts to be gatekept from a community, it is merely just another obstacle you need to overcome to grow. Inherently, gatekeeping stems from insecure people, so in an ideal society there would be no gatekeeping. Unfortunately, this is impossible and the only thing we can do is to pry open those gates and march into the library of information.