refuse to conform
Authoritarian movements always enforce conformity. The rules usually lean towards military specifications for men and “modesty” for women, with strict gender rules. (Did you know the famous Nazi book burning was a library of transgender science?)
Practice non-conformance. As fashions shift, interrogate them for rules that will tire, exhaust and demoralize you. For women, this often means a return of extreme thinness, tight waists and longer, more time-consuming hair styles. For men, it’s hairstyles that require daily shaving and regular trims, along with a renewed interest in psuedo-military clubs and activities.
How to do it:
Think about the styles you gravitate to when nobody is telling you what to do, and consciously embrace them. Resist fashionable trends, particularly if they “just happen” to conform to old-style gender norms like long hair and restrictive waistlines for women or military-short hair for men. Push those boundaries as far as you want to — we’re not saying you should grow a beard if you hate facial hair. The whole point is diversity. But do the thing that maybe always felt a bit outre to you, that you wished you had the courage to do (or did once and let go.) Wear shorts if you’re a man, or get a suit in a bold colour like purple. If you’re a woman get a tailored suit for formal occasions or buzz-cut your hair. Go as far as you want in expressing yourself authentically, and in particular don’t let “what people will say” dictate your actions. That’s the whole point: conformity aids authoritarians, so don’t conform.
Again, we’re not saying do something that makes you uncomfortable…unless the thing that’s making you uncomfortable is social pressure, not the actual behavior. In that case, yes! Do the thing that people are trying to pressure you not to do!
