on trad wives and social media trends rooted in conservatism, the irony epidemic, and a plea to stop trying to tell me that "i'm just a girl" isn't harmful!
been having lotsss of thoughts about the girlification of the internet and you put them into words!! irony is a knife and it’s just self defense until you’re building a weapon to strike down the rights of your fellow women and other marginalized groups. unfortunately these weapons are wrapped in bows and served to us on tiktok and we didn’t even really know they were weapons until it was too late
You’ve said everything that has been needed to be put into words! Watching this conservative pipeline of the internet/ gen z is shocking and nauseating
"That belief system, call it what you want, its purposely based in irony and edginess, so whenever critiqued on the internet, the “god you guys just don’t get humor” card is played. The line between reality and persona was so blurred, the Nu-Right, the Dirtbag Left, it all sprung up as a result of nihilism and dissatisfaction with the direction the left was going, and soon enough, seemingly ironic conservative-posters turned into the poster girls for the New Right."
YES. Truly, everything you wrote in this post was so eloquently put, but this ^ quote had me shaking my fist in the air (in a good way)!!! You articulated the feelings I haven't been able to put into words SO well.
I share your rage and anger and disappointment and worry. This piece was beautiful and I’m so glad we at least have this community here so we can sit and listen to each other 🫶🏻💕 it’s hard, and the grief and anger seems to have no place and social media fuels it, seeing all the “right wing” content. I’m right there with all of you :(
Very well said, I couldn't agree more. I honestly believe the algorithm that is feeding us all what we ant to hear is further damning us. It has become borderline impossible to have any type of discussion with people who have different viewpoints; they both believe themselves to be 100% right. And the content they are consuming everyday, that is catered to their beliefs, further validates them. It doesn't matter what facts or arguments are made, both parties "know" they are right and there is no changing their mind. People will see what they want to see, without questioning where information has come from.
this was so well written! i've been seeing so much commentary going on around the signs within the culture that showed its shift torwards more traditional and conservative attitudes. something i wanted to add though as a side convo starter perhaps is that "milkmaid dresses & cottagecore" aesthetics is something i was seeing very early on in my lesbian and queer communities before it gained so much traction! It's was something that i feel was very subversive in comparison to what it has become now, which is sad to see. it use to be two women, fems, or queer individuals in love and frolicking around and now its turned into something used by trad wife and far right content creators. It's sad to see as a lesbian whom also enjoys a good cottagecore outfit lol. I cant put the right words to this but i thought it would be good to acknowledge that it didnt start off this way & that this is also example of queer culture being co-opted!
This is a great point — i recall a few years back there was a trend of pin-up / “vintage” content from women online and this was def seen as subversive and not attached to any deeper ideology at the time. It’s unfortunate that that is no longer true.
As a black woman, when i noticed most of the “24 years old teenage girls“ were white women wearing soft colors and crying about how they “were made to pick flowers and be beautiful” the “i’m just a girl” radicalized me.
I feel like this essay said everything I was feeling in my heart but was never able to put into words. The radicalization of Gen z men in particular feels so obviously but I somehow never thought about whether it outweighed the "more progressive gen-z" we've been hearing about for over a decade now
been having lotsss of thoughts about the girlification of the internet and you put them into words!! irony is a knife and it’s just self defense until you’re building a weapon to strike down the rights of your fellow women and other marginalized groups. unfortunately these weapons are wrapped in bows and served to us on tiktok and we didn’t even really know they were weapons until it was too late
"irony is a knife" exactly
like best piece yet, incredibly well researched...your magnum opus i fear
i love you so much
You’ve said everything that has been needed to be put into words! Watching this conservative pipeline of the internet/ gen z is shocking and nauseating
thank you so much! it's been so strange to witness
sarah this is INSANELY well written i'm so floored
agreed, it’s such an honour to read sarah’s writing so often
i adore you eve
💓💓💓
"That belief system, call it what you want, its purposely based in irony and edginess, so whenever critiqued on the internet, the “god you guys just don’t get humor” card is played. The line between reality and persona was so blurred, the Nu-Right, the Dirtbag Left, it all sprung up as a result of nihilism and dissatisfaction with the direction the left was going, and soon enough, seemingly ironic conservative-posters turned into the poster girls for the New Right."
YES. Truly, everything you wrote in this post was so eloquently put, but this ^ quote had me shaking my fist in the air (in a good way)!!! You articulated the feelings I haven't been able to put into words SO well.
thank you so much!! i'm glad this resonated!
I share your rage and anger and disappointment and worry. This piece was beautiful and I’m so glad we at least have this community here so we can sit and listen to each other 🫶🏻💕 it’s hard, and the grief and anger seems to have no place and social media fuels it, seeing all the “right wing” content. I’m right there with all of you :(
thank you! i appreciate you so much <3
I appreciate you!!
Very well said, I couldn't agree more. I honestly believe the algorithm that is feeding us all what we ant to hear is further damning us. It has become borderline impossible to have any type of discussion with people who have different viewpoints; they both believe themselves to be 100% right. And the content they are consuming everyday, that is catered to their beliefs, further validates them. It doesn't matter what facts or arguments are made, both parties "know" they are right and there is no changing their mind. People will see what they want to see, without questioning where information has come from.
thank you!! i wish i had something more eloquent to say than "social media is crazy" but that's all i can get out right now
this was so well written! i've been seeing so much commentary going on around the signs within the culture that showed its shift torwards more traditional and conservative attitudes. something i wanted to add though as a side convo starter perhaps is that "milkmaid dresses & cottagecore" aesthetics is something i was seeing very early on in my lesbian and queer communities before it gained so much traction! It's was something that i feel was very subversive in comparison to what it has become now, which is sad to see. it use to be two women, fems, or queer individuals in love and frolicking around and now its turned into something used by trad wife and far right content creators. It's sad to see as a lesbian whom also enjoys a good cottagecore outfit lol. I cant put the right words to this but i thought it would be good to acknowledge that it didnt start off this way & that this is also example of queer culture being co-opted!
this is such an incredible point and i’m so glad you added it to the conversation!
This is a great point — i recall a few years back there was a trend of pin-up / “vintage” content from women online and this was def seen as subversive and not attached to any deeper ideology at the time. It’s unfortunate that that is no longer true.
As a black woman, when i noticed most of the “24 years old teenage girls“ were white women wearing soft colors and crying about how they “were made to pick flowers and be beautiful” the “i’m just a girl” radicalized me.
i loved this so much - i've been thinking about this a LOT recently and i love how you put this so succinctly
thank you so much, hannah!!! 💓 it's such an insane thing going on across social media!
dude this is soo good
thank you griffin 🙂↕️ couldn’t have done it without you
I feel like this essay said everything I was feeling in my heart but was never able to put into words. The radicalization of Gen z men in particular feels so obviously but I somehow never thought about whether it outweighed the "more progressive gen-z" we've been hearing about for over a decade now
Thank you for saying what’s been on my mind my for so long! Great read!
such a well done article!! happy you illustrated how its others who are hurt by the wishful thinking of many on the internet
so incredible!
you are incredible thank you for this