The word "basic" has become such a common word in our everyday jargon. It's usually associated with a white girl who enjoys certain clothes, brands, and drinks. I understand that there is stereotyping in society, but let's be real here this is a bit too much. If you search "basic" on Google, the first thing that comes up is "basic white girl." It's amazing how society can take a word that used to refer to an element with a pH level of 7 or over, and make it applicable to a girl's preferences. Let's break down the "elements of a basic white girl" (no chemistry pun intended) and see the misogyny and stereotyping found in everyday life.
1. Starbucks Obsession
One way to "spot a basic white girl" is if she's holding a drink that has a more complex name than some words in the Spelling Bee. Why should anyone get backlash for getting a specific type of drink? If anything, people should be more upset about Starbucks' ridiculous prices. Also, why are white girls the only ones allowed to get pumpkin spice lattes? What if a guy really likes pumpkin flavor? Should he be deemed as feminine, which then would most likely result in backlash? Let's be real here.
2. Specific types of clothing
I'm sorry, but leggings are a staple in my wardrobe. I'm not the biggest fan of yoga pants, but props to you if you are. They're comfortable and easy to wear. It seems as though this is another way for people to shame women for their choice in clothing. I see plenty of people of different ethnicities wearing leggings/yoga pants, but when they do, they're labeled as being a basic white girl. I'm not worried about the word basic here, it's more about this label of "white." Why should clothing define your race? *The same also applies to Uggs and North Face. Let's be real here—they're just brands of clothing and they don't define you as a person.
3. Preference in TV Shows/Movie
Yes, I've binge-watched all six seasons of Gossip Girl within two weeks (impressive, right?) and I can quote "Mean Girls" on command. Does that define me as a basic white girl? When looking online, "basic" movies and TV shows that these girls watch are "Pitch Perfect," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Clueless," "Pretty Little Liars," "Friends," and that's just a few on the list! The problem with this is that men and women of different races/cultures are allowed to watch and enjoy shows/movies without being "basic." If only white girls who were defined as "basic" were watching these shows/movies, these industries would suffer. It's all about marketing to different groups of people, and if you're specifically targeting one group, you're going to lose a lot of money.
4. Saying "Literally" and "I can't even"
Why should the way I talk be used to define me as a person? I've been saying "oh my God" and "literally" and "can't even" for as long as I can remember, and now it's seen as negative? It seems as though even the little things we "basic white girls" do is scrutinized, and it's getting ridiculous. The gifs above show that men also say literally, and yet they don't get made fun of.
5. The way someone texts
Okay, this is a bit much. Emojis are great, and sometimes people may choose to use certain emojis to express themselves. This is just a form of self-expression, and yet it seems as though it's another target for misogyny.
6. Having certain forms of social media
This refers to the seemingly endless filtered selfies on Instagram or Pinterest boards of your dream wedding. Targeting one specific type of people is just not cool. Selfies can also just be an expression of self-love, and having vision boards is also shown to increase goal achievement. It's good to have aspirations and to love yourself, but according to society that's basic and you need to stop or you'll be ridiculed.
A famous French philosopher named Foucault talks about this idea of internalizing what other people think of you and making that how you perceive yourself. It's this vicious cycle of power, and it's 100 percent real. Being "basic" shouldn't be a negative thing, or even a thing. It's misogynistic and white-washed, and the topics listed above don't just apply to white women. Basically in other words:
