Survey Results: Lolita Fashion & Lifestyles

These survey results are related to the Lolita Fashion & Lifestyles survey post. To find out more information about this survey, future surveys, and about this process, please check out the Research & Surveys page.

If you would like a PDF that you can print out of these results, please e-mail me and I will get them out to you. The PDF version includes visual graphs of each question. Warning - the large answer questions do not look great with the graphs I have! I would suggest putting the plain text data into your own graphing software to generate the graphs for the questions with 10 or more answers.

Note: Question 12 about life choices and their importance has been removed due to the inability to present its results in a readable way on the blog - if you would like to see its results, please request the PDF version.

This survey ran from April 12th, 2013 until April 19th, 2013. There were 373 responses in total, spanning over the following countries:

The demographics went by the following majority:

18 to 21 year old (by only 3 responses - 22 to 25 year old followed extremely close) females living in North America that primarily identify with the Classic Lolita style. They have been interested in Lolita fashion for 3 to 5 years, and have been actively participating for 3 to 5 years.

Below shows the exact percentages for each demographic question.

Gender Identification:

Male - 0.5%
Female - 97.5%
Other - 1.9%

Age:

13 years old or younger - 0.5%
14 - 17 years old - 16.7%
18 - 21 years old - 32.5%
22 - 25 years old - 31.7%
26 - 30 years old - 13.1%
31 years old or older - 5.5%

Time interested in Lolita fashion:

I have never been interested in Lolita fashion - 0%
Less than 6 months - 0.8%
7 months to 1 year - 4.4%
1 - 2 years - 9.9%
3 - 5 years - 43.0%
6 - 8 years - 27.1%
9 - 10 years - 9.6%
More than 10 years - 5.2%

Time actively participated in wearing Lolita fashion:

I have never particpated in Lolita fashion - 4.1%
Less than 6 months - 12.7%
7 months to 1 year - 13.4%
1 - 2 years - 26.6%
3 - 5 years - 31.4%
6 - 8 years - 8.2%
9 - 10 years - 2.3%
More than 10 years - 1.4%

Lolita fashion styles that survey responders identify with:

I have never been a Lolita - 0.8%
Gothic - 15.2%
Sweet - 18.3%
Classic - 22.0%
Hime - 3.4%
Shiro - 2.2%
Kuro - 6.1%
Country - 4.9%
Sailor - 4.6%
Guro - 0.6%
Punk - 4.2%
Ero - 1.1%
Pirate - 3.0%
Steampunk - 2.5%
Fairy - 2.1%
Deco - 1.6%
Kodona/Ouji/Boystyle - 2.4%
Aristocrat/Elegant Gothic Aristocrat - 3.3%
None of the Above / Something Else - 1.8%

Continent of primary residence:

Africa - 0%
Asia - 3.3%
Europe - 32.2%
North America - 56.4%
Oceania - 5.4%
South America - 2.7%

The following are the results from each section of the survey:

7) What would you consider to be a typical, average day in your life?

Doing whatever I want most of the day38 (10.7%)
Being at school most of the day136 (38.3%)
Being at work most of the day109 (30.7%)
Being at home most of the day62 (17.5%)
Being in a form of transportation (car, train, bus, airplane, etc.) most of the day2 (0.6%)
Does not apply8 (2.3%)

8) Please select any of the following that applies to your current life. If none applies, do not select any.

Full-time employment80 (10.9%)
Part-time employment90 (12.2%)
Temporary employment15 (2.0%)
Part-time school/university43 (5.8%)
Full-time school/university163 (22.1%)
Full-time Homemaker (staying at home with children, etc.)7 (0.9%)
Part-time Homemaker (staying at home with children, etc.)16 (2.2%)
Travel outside of my country frequently (more than 20 times a year)0 (0.0%)
Travel outside of my country occasionally (between 6 - 19 times a year)9 (1.2%)
Travel outside of my country a few times (less than 5 times a year)108 (14.7%)
Never have travelled outside of my country60 (8.1%)
Traveled to another country for work14 (1.9%)
Traveled to another country for leisure132 (17.9%)

9) Please select any of the following that applies to your current life. If none applies, do not select any.

Living with a dog or cat191 (27.5%)
Living with a pet that is not a dog or cat65 (9.4%)
Living with my parents200 (28.8%)
Living with my significant other (boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, partner, etc.)101 (14.5%)
Living with my children6 (0.9%)
Living with other family (grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc.)80 (11.5%)
Living with friends32 (4.6%)
Living with an ex-partner (ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend, ex-spouse, someone who you used to be romantically involved with, etc.)1 (0.1%)
Living with strangers (roommates you met solely for living purposes)19 (2.7%)

10) Please select which of the following applies to your current life. Multiple situations could apply. If none applies, do not select any. !! Note: Married includes civil unions, commonwealth marriages, etc.

Single, never married176 (34.9%)
Single, married before1 (0.2%)
In a committed relationship, never married132 (26.1%)
In a committed relationship, married before4 (0.8%)
Soon to be married, never married19 (3.8%)
Soon to be married, married before3 (0.6%)
Married, in your first marriage28 (5.5%)
Married, not your first marriage (second or more)1 (0.2%)
Not actively looking for a relationship (not going on dates, etc.)95 (18.8%)
Actively looking for a relationship17 (3.4%)
Involved in a single casual relationship24 (4.8%)
Involved in two or more casual relationships5 (1.0%)

11) Please select the following that applies to your current situation. If none applies, do not select any.

Wearing Lolita fashion every day20 (3.5%)
Wearing Lolita fashion every other day16 (2.8%)
Wearing Lolita fashion a few times a week55 (9.7%)
Wearing Lolita fashion only on weekdays7 (1.2%)
Wearing Lolita fashion only on weekends35 (6.2%)
Wearing Lolita fashion once a week35 (6.2%)
Wearing Lolita fashion once every two weeks30 (5.3%)
Wearing Lolita fashion once every three weeks10 (1.8%)
Wearing Lolita fashion a few times a month69 (12.1%)
Wearing Lolita fashion once a month44 (7.7%)
Wearing Lolita fashion a few times a year48 (8.4%)
Wearing Lolita fashion once a year4 (0.7%)
Wearing Lolita fashion only at special occasions110 (19.3%)
Wearing Lolita fashion only to Lolita fashion meetups76 (13.4%)
I do not wear Lolita fashion10 (1.8%)

13) How do you feel about the choices you have made in your life up to this point?

Very Satisfied38 (11.3%)
Moderately Satisfied138 (40.9%)
Slightly Satisfied51 (15.1%)
Neutral49 (14.5%)
Slightly Dissatisfied32 (9.5%)
Moderately Dissatisfied23 (6.8%)
Very Dissatisfied6 (1.8%)
Does not apply0 (0.0%)

14) Do you have any tattoos?

Yes49 (14.5%)
No289 (85.5%)

15) Do you have any piercings?

Yes178 (52.7%)
No160 (47.3%)

16) Have you ever had plastic surgery?

Yes9 (2.7%)
No329 (97.3%)

17) Have you ever colored or dyed your hair?

Yes247 (73.1%)
No91 (26.9%)

18) Have you ever worn makeup?

Yes329 (97.3%)
No9 (2.7%)

19) Considering Lolita fashion and your life before you knew of its existence, how would you rate its impact on your life?

My life is completely different with Lolita fashion75 (22.2%)
My life is somewhat different with Lolita fashion146 (43.2%)
My life is slightly different with Lolita fashion85 (25.1%)
My life is no different with Lolita fashion29 (8.6%)
Does not apply3 (0.9%)

20) When I wear Lolita fashion clothing, my demeanor ...

Changes completely13 (3.8%)
Changes somewhat80 (23.7%)
Changes slightly115 (34.0%)
Does not change at all117 (34.6%)
Does not apply13 (3.8%)

21) Please select the phrases you feel is the most accurate to finish the following statement. You can select as many or as little as you want. Please select at least one. Lolita fashion is ...

Clothing306 (13.3%)
A sub-culture243 (10.6%)
Lifestyle choice112 (4.9%)
Provacative12 (0.5%)
Attention-seeking39 (1.7%)
Modest180 (7.8%)
Limited to certain personality types14 (0.6%)
Elegant254 (11.1%)
Empowering161 (7.0%)
Ageplay7 (0.3%)
Limited to certain ages18 (0.8%)
A growing movement138 (6.0%)
Inclusive44 (1.9%)
Exclusive68 (3.0%)
A passing trend4 (0.2%)
Happiness219 (9.5%)
Limiting26 (1.1%)
Creative279 (12.1%)
Stressful42 (1.8%)
Strict48 (2.1%)
Welcoming83 (3.6%)

22) Considering your involvement with Lolita fashion, what kind of influence has it had on your interest and participation in hobbies?

Very Influenced59 (17.5%)
Influenced151 (44.7%)
Neutral97 (28.7%)
Uninfluenced18 (5.3%)
Very Uninfluenced11 (3.3%)
Does not apply2 (0.6%)

23) What would you say about Lolita fashion integrating into other parts of your life (different interests, your career, school etc.)?

Very Integrated31 (9.2%)
Integrated128 (37.9%)
Neutral124 (36.7%)
Unintegrated37 (10.9%)
Very Unintegrated11 (3.3%)
Does not apply7 (2.1%)

24) Is there a such thing as a "Lifestyle Lolita" ?

Yes149 (44.1%)
Somewhat159 (47.0%)
No28 (8.3%)
Does not apply2 (0.6%)

25) Do you consider yourself to be a "Lifestyle Lolita" ?

Yes25 (7.4%)
Somewhat83 (24.6%)
No223 (66.0%)
Does not apply7 (2.1%)

26) Do you know people IN REAL LIFE, NOT ONLINE that you would consider to be a "Lifestyle Lolita" ?

Yes58 (17.2%)
Somewhat52 (15.4%)
No218 (64.5%)
Does not apply10 (3.0%)

27) Do you know people ONLINE that you would consider to be a "Lifestyle Lolita" ?

Yes135 (39.9%)
Somewhat84 (24.9%)
No109 (32.2%)
Does not apply10 (3.0%)

28) What would be an accurate phrases describing a "Lifestyle Lolita"? Please select at least one.

Wears Lolita fashion every day168 (11.0%)
Wears Lolita fashion most days202 (13.3%)
Have hobbies and interests related to Lolita fashion289 (19.0%)
Are romantically involved with someone who likes Lolita fashion43 (2.8%)
Spends most of their time buying / selling Lolita clothing101 (6.6%)
Only drinks tea41 (2.7%)
Only keeps friends that are Lolitas38 (2.5%)
Speaks with a quiet, polite voice104 (6.8%)
Does not swear100 (6.6%)
Does not drink77 (5.1%)
Does not smoke110 (7.2%)
Fluent in Japanese13 (0.9%)
Has a blog about Lolita fashion108 (7.1%)
Enjoys dolls79 (5.2%)
Wears only brand33 (2.2%)
None of the above17 (1.1%)

29) What kind of life do you consider the "Lifestyle Lolita" life to be?

Very Easy10 (3.0%)
Easy36 (10.7%)
Moderate126 (37.6%)
Hard97 (29.0%)
Very Hard45 (13.4%)
Does not apply21 (6.3%)

30) When thinking about other Lolitas, do you find that you agree or disagree about what you think a "Lifestyle Lolita" is?

Strongly Agree1 (0.3%)
Agree77 (23.0%)
Moderate147 (43.9%)
Disagree44 (13.1%)
Strongly Disagree7 (2.1%)
Does not apply59 (17.6%)

31) What do you think about the affects of a "Lifestyle Lolita" kind of life to a person's career?

Very Positively Affected3 (0.9%)
Positively Affected19 (5.7%)
Neutral165 (49.3%)
Negatively Affected114 (34.0%)
Very Negatively Affected18 (5.4%)
Does not apply16 (4.8%)

32) What do you think about the affects of a "Lifestyle Lolita" kind of life to a person's romantic relationships?

Very Positively Affected3 (0.9%)
Positively Affected31 (9.3%)
Neutral213 (63.6%)
Negatively Affected64 (19.1%)
Very Negatively Affected7 (2.1%)
Does not apply17 (5.1%)

33) What do you think about the affects of a "Lifestyle Lolita" kind of life to a person's friendships?

Very Positively Affected6 (1.8%)
Positively Affected60 (17.9%)
Neutral222 (66.3%)
Negatively Affected30 (9.0%)
Very Negatively Affected2 (0.6%)
Does not apply15 (4.5%)

34) What do you think about the affects of a "Lifestyle Lolita" kind of life to a person's family?

Very Positively Affected1 (0.3%)
Positively Affected22 (6.6%)
Neutral244 (72.8%)
Negatively Affected48 (14.3%)
Very Negatively Affected7 (2.1%)
Does not apply13 (3.9%)