Girlhood is Taking Over the Internet: Yay or Nay
‘I’m just a girl’.
TikTok is Shaping Modern Girlhood
Girlhood is weaving its sweet magic across the globe, particularly on TikTok. Over the past year, trending terms such as ‘girl math’, ‘girl dinner’, and ‘girlboss’ have been buzzing around. This is known as girlification where many users slap on the ‘girl-’ prefix to everyday activities, creating a unique movement which has captured worldwide attention. For example, ‘girl maths’ is the illogical ‘mathematical’ method that allows women to justify their delirious spending habits (for example: I’ve bought this cute mug for $50 and had it for 50 days, therefore it is basically free because it is a dollar a day!). TikTok videos focusing on ‘girl math’ have been viewed 33 billion times, fueling the idea of a guilt-free indulgence. Similarly, ‘girl dinner’ is essentially a comforting, impromptu, home-cooked meal whipped up from anything in the kitchen when dining alone; cheese, fruits, 2 slices of bread, and leftovers would not just be dinner, but ‘girl dinner’.
Lastly, a ‘girlboss’ is depicted as a self-made woman who pursues her ambitions while conquering all obstacles in her way.
The spark igniting this culture of girlification was believed to be Megan Thee Stallion’s release of ‘Hot Girl Summer’ back in 2019. Her single focused on female empowerment and was an anthem for women to break free from the chains of societal norms. Similarly, ‘girl power’, one of the earliest expressions of girlification, can be traced back to the 1950s when girlhood emerged as a key symbol of unity in the wake of World War II. This concept was also established by the British Suffragette Movement led by Emmeline Pankhurst where she fought for women’s voting rights in the 1990s. Today, girlhood has evolved from revolution to a lifestyle trend.
Bows, Ballet, and Blush
It is not just girlification that is making waves on the Internet; aesthetics are also shaping and broadening the world of fashion and make-up. Take the coquette trend for example, which has attained nearly 18 billion views and 1.2 million creations on TikTok. The term ‘coquette’ originates from the French word coq and is culturally understood as a flirtatious woman. However, TikTok’s coquette aesthetic carries an entirely different connotation where users tie pastel-coloured ribbons onto anything and everything — as a hair accessory, house decoration, christmas tree ornaments, and even on martini glasses.
This trend is also defined by cherries, dainty lace, and a plethora of pink. The coquette aesthetic often goes hand in hand with the ‘ballet-core’ trend, otherwise known as ‘ballet-inspired fashion’. Young women draw inspiration from ballet motifs such as leg warmers, tutus, headbands, and pointe shoes, incorporating them into their outfits. Even within the trend exists microtrends. For example, Hailey Bieber, an American model and socialite, began the ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ make-up trend to showcase her new product which leaves a glossy, blushed and shimmering finish. Her tutorial on TikTok has garnered over 38 million views, with countless users recreating the look.
These trends go deeper than just cute bows and stylish appearances; it is a celebration of femininity. The popular TikTok audio ‘How I Love Being a Woman’ sourced from Netflix’s ‘Anne with an E’, is often paired with snippets of videos to showcase the joys of dressing up and engaging in girly activities, enjoying what it means to take part in girlhood.
The Not so ‘Aesthetic’ Side
Even though girlification and pretty pink things may appear harmless, some argue that it further reinforces gender stereotypes. The ‘girl math’ trend, for instance, has portrayed women as being incompetent in maths and budgeting, as they use frivolous reasons to justify their spending habits; which in turn depicts them as poor financial decision makers driven by emotion instead of logic, further accentuating outdated stereotypes. Jess Ramos, a senior data analyst and founder of Big Data Energy, expressed her views on a TikTok video, strongly stating that she would not be participating in the ‘girl math’ trend because she refuses to be made a mockery of, especially when she holds a degree in Mathematics. Similarly, the term ‘girlboss’ is receiving hate as well for suggesting that women are excessively praised for simple achievements, implying a lack of capability compared to men.
On the same note, many critics argue that these terms are transphobic as they imply that feminine activities are exclusive to women only. The usage of the word ‘girl’ is incredibly restrictive because it reinforces the notion that femininity is tied solely to a specific gender identity. This raises the question about the greater need for inclusivity in girlhood as it overlooks the fact that femininity is all encompassing.
More Than Just Pink and Pretty
As human beings, we would naturally have the burning desire to want to belong, to want to feel companionship. When something is labelled as a ‘girl’ thing on the Internet, it feels like a call to home because it creates a sense of relatability and familiarity, uniting all girlhood experiences online. No matter how much people belittle women as just being dolls who love to play dress up, girlhood means so much more than that.
Back in highschool, us girls would always head to the bathroom together, just because. It was less for the reason of actually using the bathroom, but more so due to enjoying each other’s company. Having a girls’ day out meant taking turns to snap endless photos of one another, making sure we all looked our absolute best in each shot. Even after we all went on separate paths, off to different colleges, some things never changed. We would still wait for each other at separate stations just to catch the same train home together. Those rides were filled with chats, catching up on life, and of course, spilling some tea. It was our way of staying connected, no matter how much life changed around us.
So if you ask me, I would say girlhood is a yay.
[Written By: Jo Ee, Edited By: Li Wen]
