The amount of times I have been called basic is absolutely unreal. I’m not sure if it’s the way that I talk or what I wear, but the term “basic” is a ridiculous stereotype that is overlooked. We live in society nowadays where everything is believed to be offensive. I personally do not see anything wrong with being in a strong opinionated society that does not allow for stereotypes to be tolerated, but why is “basic girl” okay?
I still cannot grasp that I am referred to as “basic girl” and why drinking Starbucks and wearing yoga pants made me “basic.” I like to drink coffee, so does almost every other college student, males included. I like to wear yoga pants, one because yoga is the only physical activity I’ll do, and two they’re comfortable. I did not know that being comfortable and using caffeine to make up for my lack of sleep made me basic.
The sad part of this stereotype is the fact that our society has molded girls to think this is completely normal. Being basic consists of drinking Starbucks and wearing yoga pants, or talking selfies and captioning them with girly song lyrics. Our society molds this model for girls and then bashes them for it with a phrase like “basic girl.” It’s hypocritical for a society to condone these actions when they are norms created by society itself. Starbucks is coffee; you do not need to be a “basic” to drink coffee. Yoga pants and leggings, (yeah, I’m throwing leggings into the argument now too) are made for not only working out, but for going out in public and being effortlessly comfortable. You don’t need to be a “basic” to work out and be comfy. Last time I checked, the Pope had an Instagram and posts pictures of himself, so again you don’t need to be a “basic” to take selfies and have an Instagram.
From the term “basic girl,” society has allowed other slurs such as “basic b*tch,” and “basic white girl,” to also be okay. From these slurs the words airhead, mainstream, gold digger, bimbo, valley girl, and material girl have all become associated with being a basic girl. Behaving in the norms society has created does not mean I am a material girl or mainstream. Not to mention, bringing race and gender into the mix referring to a female as a basic b*tch only makes the stereotype worse. How is it by taking part in normal everyday behavior for a female, I suddenly become all these negative things?
Being basic should not define who I am or who females are. I’m sorry that drinking Starbucks is not some intricate activity. However, I also like reading, excelling in school, and spending quality time with my family and friends. Shouldn’t these things be more important than focusing on my coffee craving? Everyone enjoys “basic” things. However, instead of focusing on the little things women enjoy like caffeine or wearing comfortable workout clothes, society should emphasis the fact that each individual is unique in their own way and shouldn’t feel guilty for doing the simpler things in life. If I chose to do things that are looked at as “basic” AKA the norms of society, I should not be bashed for it. A girl is so much more than the coffee she drinks or the yoga pants she wears.