Every collegiate can admit to having at least one guilty pleasure. While you might be guilty because you believe your interest could be potentially harmful to you, most of the guilt you feel about something you love is because someone has shamed you for it. But you and the rest of society should embrace “guilty” pleasures because they make us happy! If the guilty pleasure is not harming anyone, then there should be no judgment. After all, if a person cannot admit to having at least one interest that society deems “wrong,” then they are probably lying to themselves.
I felt that it was necessary to list the most judged guilty pleasures that people experience because even I can admit to feeling guilty over some of these. It is time to embrace guilty pleasures for what they are: something that simply gives you pleasure.
1. Loving the music of a controversial/bad artist
Many collegiates are often judged for their taste in music. Personally, I have been judged for still listening to One Direction and Glee songs, but what is wrong with listening to stuff that I enjoy?
Also, many people cannot separate the music from the person. If an artist has made bad decisions or done something illegal, people will shun their music. For example, when Miley Cyrus went through her rebellious phase, many people no longer wanted to listen to her music because she was not a good role model anymore and had shed her “good girl” Disney persona. She still produced very good music during that period—and many people did not think she did anything wrong in the first place—yet her music was still boycotted. Listen to the music you want to listen to and be proud about it.
2. Loving Reality TV
Today, reality TV shows are found across many different television networks. As a part of the Bachelor Nation, it frustrates me when people tell me that the show is stupid. Why can’t I enjoy watching people try to find love on TV? It’s almost like a movie or TV show, except they’re real people. There is nothing wrong with watching people live their lives. We follow celebrities like this all the time in magazines. TV is just a different format.
3. Cheesy romance
As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, I long for those cheesy scenes where the guy finally realizes it was her all along. Although it’s easy to get lost in the what is real and what is fantasy by setting your hopes too high, almost every girl (and I’m sure some guys) wants that picture perfect romance.
4. Enjoying too much food
Since coming to college, one thing I have noticed is that it’s easy to fall into bad eating habits. I personally enjoy eating meals at midnight with my roommates and friends, who happen to be amazing cooks. Although eating this much may not be the best idea, as long as you are taking care of yourself, you should never be ashamed of eating more food. Enjoy some Mexican rice or ice cream at 1:00 A.M.!
5. Watching strange videos online that make no sense
I’ve noticed that it is very easy to go down a rabbit hole when watching videos on social media. I know people who are obsessed with pimple popping videos, Mukbang or watching every audition video under the sun (I’m personally guilty of the latter). There is nothing wrong with the strange quirks that make you happy when you take a break from the mountain of work you have. Who cares if watching people eat makes some people happy? Strange videos like Vines rule the internet, and half of those don’t make sense.
6. Not shaving
When wintertime rolls around, girls rejoice over the fact that they don’t have to shave for three months. Shaving every part of your body is tedious and annoying. Honestly, why do girls even have to shave in the summer? Probably because we have been taught that body hair is not good, but if you’re confident enough rocking hairy legs with a skirt, then you should go for it.
7. Claiming to have celebrity partners
Many collegiates secretly have a list of people they wouldn’t mind marrying. If they don’t have even one celebrity on that list, then they’re lying to themselves. Whether they want a fetus Zac Efron, Channing Tatum in “Magic Mike” or even Anne Hathaway in whatever princess movie she stars in, there has to be someone you wouldn’t mind taking a trip down the aisle with.
8. People watching
I’m sure that everyone has sat around waiting and casually started watching the people around them. You start to wonder about their lives and sometimes go as far as to make up stories about them. People watching is a great way to pass the time and relieve stress. There is nothing wrong with wanting to know the secrets of everyone around you.
9. Procrastination
As I am typing this, I am realizing that I sort of procrastinated this article. There is nothing wrong with deciding to watch some Netflix or taking a nap before cracking down on all that work.
To note, just because some procrastination is healthy doesn’t mean that you should not do your work. All I’m advocating for is a little bit of free time before you do what you need to do.
10. Dating apps
I’ve constantly heard of girls being shamed for using dating apps such as Tinder or Bumble. There is nothing wrong with wanting to find someone. There is also nothing wrong with being validated for your looks—that’s literally the definition of these apps. If a girl wants to find someone, then they should be allowed to look however they want.
11. Social media
Many people are constantly advocating for less social media use. However, if you want to check your Snapchat, then you should be allowed. There are some situations when you should be respectful and not be scrolling through social media, like when you are in class, but there is nothing wrong with using some social media as a way to catch up on life or share important (or stupid) things.
12. Napping
I’m constantly surrounded by friends who take naps whenever they have the time. Although I personally do not take naps unless I physically fall asleep in the middle of work, we should be able to take a nap and not be judged because they aren’t doing their work. My roommates tell me that naps help them refresh themselves so they are able to actually get through their work. Sometimes, they just take it because they love sleep. Napping is a socially acceptable guilty pleasure.
13. Internet searching/stalking
Most collegiates have probably met someone new and casually looked them up on social media to gain more information. There is nothing wrong with you seeing what they are up to. It’s possible to find pretty much anything on the internet if you search deep enough, and looking up some casual pieces of information is nothing to be ashamed about.
Occasionally, you may find yourself at the bottom of their Instagram feed knowing the name of their pet or some other obscure fact. Remember that you must separate their feed from the person: people are different in real life!
As a girl who finds pleasure in almost all of these things, I hope that this list has helped others realize that having guilty pleasures is nothing to be ashamed about. Girls should be allowed to do what makes them happy, not what others deem is acceptable!
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